I moved on to the third evening lecture and literally burst out loud in laughter but a few moments into it:

There is a general tendency among young people to value the beautiful language and style of an author more than the contents of his writing. That is a dangerous tendency. you must always have a greater regard for the matter (quid?) than the manner (quomodo?) of a treatise. (21)

I laughed because my FIRST comment on this book was about the writing, about the words! No young person today cares a whit for words. They would rather use some acronym or partial spelling to hasten their writing task. They care not for the difference between "beach" and "shore." It's all sand to them!

Perhaps this 1884 admonition should be changed a bit:

There is a general tendency among young people to value the step-by-step processes that will garner them self-sufficiency and even self-pride in their faith. Give them a plan, packaged in the specious wrapping of isolated verses, that will make them "better" Christians and they will lap it up, swallowing hook, line, and sinker. That is...until the next pop culture spiritual meal comes along.

Was that too harsh?

SIGH.

One bit for you:

This point of doctrine, viz., the distinction between the Law and the Gospel, we must needs now because it contains the sum of all Christian teaching. Let every one who is zealous to be godly strive, then, with the greatest care to learn how to make this distinction, not only in his speech, but also in truth and in his experience, that is, in his heart and conscience. The distinction is made easily enough in words. But in affliction you will realize that the Gospel is a rare guest in men's consciences, while the Law is their daily and familiar companion. For human reason has by nature the knowledge of the Law. Therefore, when the conscience is terrified by sin, which the Law points out and magnifies, you are to speak thus: There is a time to die, and there is a time to live; there is a time for hearing the Law, and there is a time to be unconcerned about the Law; there is a time to hear the Gospel, and a time for acting as if you were ignorant of the Gospel. At this moment let the Law begone and let the Gospel come; for now is not the time to hear the Law, but the Gospel. (27) [emphasis mine]

Now is not the time. Oh, how I need to hear the Gospel...oh, how I long for forgiveness...oh, how I crave the true body and the true blood of Christ....