. Was Moses a wise man or a fool? James Smith, Moses or The Young Man's Choice, 1856.

Moses chose to suffer affliction along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. Hebrews 11, 25.

The choice is done. Moses is determined. He has counted the cost. Instead of honor, shame. Instead of praise, blame. Instead of respect, contempt. Instead of plenty, poverty. Instead of a princely portion, a slave's lot.

Was this wise? Was Moses a wise man or a fool? What do you think of Moses? Was he right or wrong?

But if Moses was right, as I suppose you will admit, allow me to ask, have you acted rightly? Have you made the same choice? Have you looked at the world at its best, and at true religion at its worst, and have you seriously, deliberately, and prayerfully decided to renounce the world, and embrace the despised religion of Christ, with all the scorn, contempt, and sufferings to which it may expose you?

Moses made his choice between the children of God and their sufferings, and the Egyptians and their pleasures, and you must make your choice between Christ or the world, sin or holiness, the path to heaven or the road to hell.

Choose this day whom you will serve. A master you must have, and it must be either Satan or Christ, serve you must, and your service must be either sin or righteousness.

Look, then, at the world, at its honors, wealth, and pleasures. Look also at the church, at its poverty, contempt, and sufferings. Look at hell with its bitter reflections, deep sorrows, and indescribable torments. Look also at heaven with its sweet thoughts, pure enjoyments, and endless felicity.

Now make your choice. Do you choose the world and its pleasures now, along with hell and its horrors for ever? Do you choose rather to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time than to serve and suffer with the people of God, though you know your end will be as bitter as wormwood and as dreadful as the just wrath of a holy and unchangeable God could make it?

If Moses was wise, then what can you be but a fool? And your foolishness now will increase your anguish and agony to all eternity.