Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-11-20


Hence you will find in large cities bands O
,ne nobiest Christian men and women, who's,
mgn ann Is to aid the poor, succor and encour
age tne vlrtuous, reclaim the wandering, ant
| neip the faint to bear life's heavy burtlen-t,
distribute religious knowledge, and labor ir
boabbath schools. These works cultivate tn,
heart, increase brotherly love and enlarge char
lty Tor those who are not of the same demon
ination. III go
In these circumstances, the little peculiari
ties ana narrow -mindedness that are wont te
snoot out and grow upon the Christian in ar
Isolated position, reforming his character and
preventing his growth into the full stature O.
perfect man In Christ, are overshadowed
smo.herea, ana die OFT. Lateral rays, spring
ing from 6lgotry and an improper sectarian
Ism, are shut out, and the Great Sun of Right
| eousness streams down his beams from above
and draws the Christian upwards One sus.
talns another, and, as in solid phalanx o.
soldiers, each fights better because he feels
himself shoulder to shoulder with his com
pnnions in the same great conflict. All mer
know that there is strength in union. and j,
numbers; this is true in religion as in othe,
things, and blessed is that Christian who find,
himself surrounded and sustained by those o.
| like spirit. 49,. .......
But where so much good is to be obtained
there are also great evils to be overcome. and
strong temptations to be resisted The young
man IN the city is exposed to peculiar dan
gers; dangers that are not to be despised. fol
| they have cast down and ruined thousands
not merely OF the ignorant and simple, bal
young men OF talents and education, and fol
| whom their friends looked for bright and
glorious future ..--....-.
There are two great armies in every CITY
arrayed IN deadly conflict In every street
ana lane OF the city, in every office and shop,
IN every drinking saloon and gambling house,
wherever men meet for business or pleasure
victories are being gained, over which angels
VIII rejoice, or devils exult, eternally. Satan
has his strong holds and his elnissarieS here
pleasure holds out its sparkling cup to the
young man; companions urge him to drink
with them i'll the saloons that stand gaping a,
every turn; the theatre, the gambling house
and every resort for sinful indulgence, has its
charms and its temptations. The young man
who would escape these must not linger at
their threshold, but avoid them as he would
the serpents coil. Young gentlemen, there
are powers unseen that would drag you down
to the companionship of the lost; there are
higher powers that would lift you up, and in
due time exalt you to everlasting honors and
blessedness. But in the strength of God, and
clad in the armor of the gospel, you need not
fear. Our Lord has provided armor offensive
and defensive; put that on, and you may as
saut the powers of darkness, and stand I'M
scathed amidst all the shafts of temptation.
Serve God only, and you will find great
advantage in city life, Here your relig ious
privileges are greater, you have superior IA
cilties for becoming intelligent Christians ;
you may have the constant companionship of
Christians of your own age, as we'll as those
of ripper experience. In view of these things.
are we not justified in saying the highest type
OF Christianity is to be found in cities =? In
them we find the highest developments of
man as an intellectual being; the best scho.
ars, the most eminent lawyers and successful
merchants, and for the same reason, the most
useful christians. The young man who dwells
il the city hoe wider field of usefulness. a
f'o S,'ion more commanding wider theatre
hence in ihe City Is tiindtce III the State or
the Nation.
AS the character of city is but the aggre-
gate of the character of its citizens, men
should have a care for the reputation of theu
city. If our city were called a city of sharp
ers, you would each be watched as if one O.
them; if city of honorable men, you woulti
be regarded as honest and honorable. The
influence of the city is the aggregate influence
of its people, and how far reaching and impor-
tant is that influence? All who make city
their place of trade, carry away impressions
made upon them there, which must influence
them, and others through them, for good OF
evil This thought should be pondered by
the Christian man. Your customer, your
client, or your patient, is not merely stran-
ger in whom you have no interest but to sell
him your commodities or your skill, and re-
ceive the pay; he is an immortal being, who,
with yourself, will soon stand before the bar
of God. What motives to influence him with
some good impression The urbanity and
superior address of citizen are talents for
which he is accountable, and as they give
him advantages for doing good to others, he
should improve these, and send his fellow
man away with some good resolution that he
will carry home. These suggestions cannot
be supposed to have much influence upon men
who have no feeling for the eternal welfare of
themselves or others, but we address Chris
tan young men, and those whom we would
fondly hope to persuade to become such.
Until you are able to contemplate man as an
immortal being and this life as given only to
prepare for higher life, you will not be pre-
pared to fulfil the important position you Oc-
cupy as residents in city. 1t is far better
to shrink from position that imposes great
responsibilities than to take that position, and
disregard those responsibilities; but it is bet
ter still to occupy the position, and faithfully
discharge the duties incumbent upon U.s.
There are men in al the walks of life who
seem to live oblivious of the fact that peculiar
relations impose peculiar duties: fathers
that neglect their highest duties to their chill
dren citizens that feel no claim of the State
upon them, and members of the Christian
Church who do nothing to promote its inter
ests or its prosperity. Were all to act upon
this selfish principle, neither State nor Church
nor any other society could long exist.
Religious young men should not forget that
the Churches in the city are the centre of in
fluence in religion to all the churches around
them. Let city churches aboundin activity and
works of benevolence let piety in them be
warm and ardent, and the churches in the
country will follow their example. Let our
young men be active in doing good, and their
good works will provoke many, and influence
hearts far removed from them.
Young man, have you determined what
shall be the character of your influence; what
use you will make of your commanding posi-
ton? Willyou help to swell the tide of evil,
and send abroad streams of death ? Or will
you aid in sending forth from this young me
tropolis moral and religious influence that
shall make glad all the surrounding country
Shall your example be such as to corrupt the
young men of the State Or shall it be such
as they may follow with safety? You can
take no more honorable position than to plant
yourselves firmly upon the principles of the
Gospel, and become soldiers in that army that
is bravely breasting the powers of darkness,
and seeking to subjugate the world to that
King who shall reign in righteousness.
All great teachers and reformers have
recognised the Importance OF cities aS
centres of influence Into these great
seas of human souls they have ever
sought to infuse their principles; know
ing that from these they would raaiate
to all the surrounding country. Our Lord
himself when he came to preach peace on