Listen FREE! Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men, read by Douglas Bond

Merry Christmas! I have benefited so much from reading and rereading John Charles Ryle's incomparable little volume THOUGHTS FOR YOUNG MEN over the years that I finally decided to do it as an audio book. My friend Rich Young (former heavy-metal guitarist) plays his original classical guitar renditions of some of my favorite hymns in the background. I hope you and the young men in your family and life will benefit from listening. Access them by clicking on the link above or here: J. C. Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men, read by Douglas Bond.   

Here's how Ryle begins:

"When the Apostle Paul wrote his Epistle to Titus about his responsibility as a minister, he mentioned young men as a group requiring particular attention. After speaking of older men and older women, and young women, he adds this advice, "Encourage the young men to be self-controlled" (Titus 2:6). I am going to follow the Apostle's advice. I propose to offer a few words of friendly exhortation to young men.

I am growing old myself, but there are few things that I can remember so well as were the days of my youth. I have a most distinct recollection of the joys and the sorrows, the hopes and the fears, the temptations and the difficulties, the mistaken judgments and the misplaced affections, the errors and the aspirations, which surround and accompany a young man's life. If I can only say something to keep some young man walking in the right way, and preserve him from faults and sins, which may hurt his prospects both for time and eternity, I shall be very thankful. There are four things which I propose to do:
I. I will mention some general REASONS why young men need exhorting.
II. I will note some special DANGERS which young men need to be warned about.
III. I will give some general COUNSEL which I beg young men to receive.
IV. I will set down some special RULES OF CONDUCT which I strongly advise young men to follow. On each of these four points I have something to say, and I pray to God that what I say may do good to some soul."