He was a young man, he was also a captive and that rendered it the more remarkable that he should come to such a decision. It was his glory that he so thought that he came to a purpose, and he purposed, not with a kind of superficial “I will,” but he “purposed in his heart”, and gave his whole self to a certain definite purpose which he deliberately formed. If he does not think then, it will be of small avail for him to think afterwards.ĭaniel was a young man, and he did think. If there is any time when the farmer should think, it is surely in the early stages of the ploughing and the sowing. Then think how you will sow it, and when you will sow it for, if you do not think about the sowing,.

See whether there is not better corn to be found than wild oats, and try to sow that. They say that they must sow their “wild oats.” No, no my dear young friend, think before you sow such seed as that, and remember what the reaping will be. I had far rather hear of thoughtless old age, when a man has done his work but what excuse can be found for a thoughtless youth? The time for thought is at the beginning of life, and there is no period which so much demands, or so much necessitates, thoughtfulness as our early days.” I would that all young men would think so.

He says, “People often say, ‘We excuse the thoughtlessness of youth,’” but he says, “No, it never ought to be excused. Buskin’s, that I remember to have read, though I cannot quote it verbatim. VERY much of our future life will depend upon our earliest days. “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank.”- Daniel i.

Sermons on the book of daniel