A Cyclopædia of Sacred Poetical Quotations / Consisting of Choice Passages from the Sacred Poetry of All Ages and Countries, Classified and Arranged, for Facility of Reference, Under Subject Headings; Illustrated by Striking Passages from Scripture, and Forming Altogether a Complete Book of Devotional Poetry.

by Unknown

YOUTH.

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to Thy word.—Psalm cxix. 9.

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.—Proverbs, viii. 17.

Rejoice O young man in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgment.—Ecclesiastes, xi. 9.

Thrice happy he whose downy age had been

Reclaimed by scourges from the prime of sin;

And, early seasoned with the taste of truth,

Remembers his Creator in his youth.

Francis Quarles.

Something of youth I in old age approve,

But more the marks of age in youth I love.

Who this observes, may in his body find

Decrepit age, but never in his mind.

Denham.

Youth lost in dissipation,—we deplore

Through life’s sad remnant, what no sighs restore;

Our years, a fruitless loss without a prize,

Too many—yet too few to make us wise.

Cowper.

Grace is a plant, where’er it grows,

Of pure and heavenly root;

But fairest in the youngest shows,

And yields the sweetest fruit.

Cowper.

Youth’s a soft scene, but trust her not;

Her airy minutes swift as thought,

Slide off the slippery sphere;

Moons with their months make hasty rounds,

The sun has passed his vernal bounds,

And wheels about his year.

Watts.

For pleasures, vanities, and hates,

The compact we renew,

And Judas rises in our hearts—

We sell our Saviour too.

How, for some moments’ vain delights,

We will embitter years,

And in our youth lay up for age

Only remorse and tears.

Miss Landon.

Days of my youth! ye have glided away;

Hairs of my youth! ye are frosted and gray;

Eyes of my youth! your keen sight is no more;

Cheeks of my youth! ye are furrow’d all o’er;

Strength of my youth! all your vigour is gone;

Thoughts of my youth! your gay visions are flown.

Days of my youth! I wish not your recall;

Hairs of my youth! I’m content you should fall;

Eyes of my youth! ye much evil have seen;

Cheeks of my youth! bathed in tears have you been;

Thoughts of my youth! ye have led me astray!

Strength of my youth! why lament your decay?

Days of my age! ye will shortly be past;

Pains of my age! but awhile can ye last;

Joys of my age! in true wisdom delight;

Eyes of my age! be religion your light;

Thoughts of my age! dread not the cold sod;

Hopes of my age! be ye fixed on your God!

C. Tucker.

Come, while the blossoms of thy years are brightest,

Thou youthful wanderer in a flowery maze;

Come, while the restless heart is bounding lightest,

And joy’s pure sunbeams tremble in thy ways;

Come while sweet buds, like summer flowers unfolding,

Waken rich feelings in the careless breast;

While yet thy hand the ephemeral wreath is holding,

Come—and secure interminable rest!

Come, while the morning of thy life is glowing,

Ere the dim phantoms thou art chasing die;

Ere the gay spell which earth is round thee throwing,

Fades like the crimson from a sunset sky;

Life hath but shadows, save a promise given,

Which lights the future with a fadeless ray;

O, touch the sceptre, win a hope in Heaven;

Come, turn thy spirit from the world away!

Willis G. Clark.

Live that thy young and glowing breast

Can think of death without a sigh,

And be assured that life is best

Which finds us least afraid to die.

Eliza Cook.