1. The most valuable and useful organs of the body are those which are
capable of the greatest dishonor, abuse and corruption. What a snare
the wonderful organism of the eye may become when used to read corrupt
books or look upon licentious scenes at the theatre, or when used
to meet the fascinating gaze of the harlot! What an instrument for
depraving the whole man may be found in the matchless powers of
the brain, the hand, the ear, the mouth, or the tongue! What potent
instruments may these become in accomplishing the ruin of the whole
being for time and eternity!
2. In like manner the organ concerning the uses of which I am
to speak, has been, and continues to be, made one of the chief
instruments of man's immorality, shame, disease, and death. How
important to know what the legitimate uses of this member of the body
are, and how great the dignity conferred upon us in the possession of
this gift. On the human side this gift may be truly said to bring men
nearer to the high and solemn relationship of the Creator than any
other which they possess.
3. I first deal with the destructive sin of self-abuse. There can be
little doubt that vast numbers of boys are guilty of this practice.
In many cases the degrading habit has been taught by others, e.g.,
by elder boys at school, where association largely results in mutual
corruption. With others, the means of sensual gratification is found
out by personal action; whilst in other cases fallen and depraved men
have not hesitated to debauch the minds of mere children by teaching
them this debasing practice.
4. Thousands of youths and young men have only to use the
looking-glass to see the portrait of one guilty of this loathsome sin.
The effects are plainly discernible in the boy's appearance. The
face and hands become pale and bloodless. The eye is destitute of its
natural fire and lustre. The flesh is soft and flabby, the muscles
limp and lacking healthy firmness. In cases where the habit has become
confirmed, and where the system has been drained of this vital force,
it is seen in positive ugliness, in a pale and cadaverous appearance,
slovenly gait, slouching walk, and an impaired memory.
5. It is obvious that if the most vital physical force of a boy's life
is being spent through this degrading habit--a habit, be it observed,
of rapid growth, great strength, and difficult to break--he must
develop badly. In thousands of cases the result is seen in a low
stature, contracted chest, weak lungs, and liability to sore throat.
Tendency to cold, indigestion, depression, drowsiness, and idleness,
are results distinctly traceable to this deadly practice. Pallor
of countenance, nervous and rheumatic affections, loss of memory,
epilepsy, paralysis, and insanity find their principal predisposing
cause in the same shameful waste of life. The want of moral force and
strength of mind often observable in youths and young men is largely
induced by this destructive and deadly sin.
6. Large numbers of youths pass from an exhausted boyhood into the
weakness, intermittent fevers, and consumption, which are said to
carry off so many. If the deaths were attributed primarily to loss
of strength occasioned by self-pollution, it would be much nearer the
truth. It is monstrous to suppose that a boy who comes from healthy
parents should decline and die. Without a shade of doubt the chief
cause of decay and death amongst youths and young men, is to be traced
to this baneful habit.
7. It is a well-known fact that any man who desires to excel and
retain his excellence as an accurate shot, an oarsman, a pedestrian,
a pugilist, a first-class cricketer, bicyclist, student, artist,
or literary man, must abstain from self-pollution and fornication.
Thousands of school boys and students lose their positions in the
class, and are plucked at the time of their examination by reason
of failure of memory, through lack of nerve and vital force, caused
mainly by draining the physical frame of the seed which is the vigor
of the life.
8. It is only true to say that thousands of young men in the early
stages of a licentious career would rather lose a right hand than have
their mothers or sisters know what manner of men they are. From the
side of the mothers and sisters it may also be affirmed that, were
they aware of the real character of those brothers and sons, they
would wish that they had never been born.
9. Let it be remembered that sexual desire is not in itself
dishonorable or sinful, any more than hunger, thirst, or any other
lawful and natural desire is. It is the gratification by unlawful
means of this appetite which renders it so corrupting and iniquitous.
10. Leisure means the opportunity to commit sin. Unclean pictures are
sought after and feasted upon, paragraphs relating to cases of
divorce and seduction are eagerly read, papers and books of an
immoral character and tendency greedily devoured, low and disgusting
conversation indulged in and repeated.
11. The practical and manly counsel to every youth and young man is,
entire abstinence from indulgence of the sexual faculty until such
time as the marriage relationship is entered upon. Neither is there,
nor can there be, any exception to this rule.
12. No man can affirm that self-denial ever injured him. On the
contrary, self-restraint has been liberty, strength and blessing.
Beware of the deceitful streams of temporary gratification, whose
eddying current drifts towards license, shame, disease and death.
Remember, how quickly moral power declines, how rapidly the edge of
the fatal maelstrom is reached, how near the vortex, how terrible the
penalty, how fearful the sentence of everlasting punishment.
13. Be a young man of principle, honor, and preserve your powers. How
can you look an innocent girl in the face when you are degrading your
manhood with the vilest practice? Keep your mind and life pure and
nobility will be your crown.
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