g others from the corrupt example of the fleshy Esau,
said, "Lest there be any fornicator or profane person as Esau, who for one
mess of meat sold his own birthright. For ye know that even afterward, when
he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, he found no place for
repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears." Terrible and
striking words are these. His birthright sold for a mess of meat. The
fearful costs of sin--yes, that is the thought, particularly the sin of
fornication! Engrave that word upon your memories and hearts--"One mess of
meat."

9. THE HARLOT'S MESS OF MEAT.--Remember it, young men, when you are tempted
to this sin. For a few minutes' sensual pleasure, for a mess of harlot's
meat, young men are paying out the love of the son and brother; they are
deceiving, lying, and cheating for a mess of meat; for a mess, not seldom
of putrid flesh, men have paid down purity and prayer, manliness and
godliness; for a mess of meat some perhaps have donned their best attire,
and assumed the manners of the gentleman, and then, like an infernal
hypocrite, dogged the steps of maiden or harlot to satisfy their degrading
lust; for a mess of meat young men have deceived father and mother, and
shrunk from the embrace of {419} love of the pure-minded sister. For the
harlot's mess of meat some listening to me have spent scores of hours of
invaluable time. They have wearied the body, diseased and demoralized the
mind. The pocket has been emptied, theft committed, lies unnumbered told,
to play the part of the harlot's mate--perchance a six-foot fool, dragged
into the filth and mire of the harlot's house. You called her your friend,
when, but for her mess of meat, you would have passed her like dirt in the
street.

10. SEEING LIFE.--You consorted with her for your mutual shame and death,
and then called it "seeing life." Had your mother met you, you would have
shrunk away like a craven cur. Had your sister interviewed you, she had
blushed to bear your name; or had she been seen by you in company with some
other whoremaster, for similar commerce, you would have wished that she had
been dead. Now what think you of this "seeing life?" And it is for this
that tens of thousands of strong men in our large cities are selling their
birthright.

11. THE DEVIL'S DECOYS.--Some may be ready to affirm that physical and
moral penalties do not appear to overtake all men; that many men known to
be given to intemperance and