Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-11-18
Temptation ! !

must rue you BsAsp bssas. siF3G . 6s5FFs
Mankind are all more Or lssss aarYvusdei. -
temptations. This is especially the 80, VIII -
young. and with the residents Of grsat eities. Ilk
To tho inexperienced 10 full Of bub6les II ~ 9h.
guage of an eminent prelats "thsts AZ Slaf6A
tions to selfrslance, ten ptations 70 6lEaueVp1m
temptations to selEindulgsnce. snd tsaueatlsoo p
seli-destruetion.' Who has NOT. sxpeeieeaeA n
some degree at least, the force of these onphs,E
truthsf We are tho creatures Of habits, of 1it6ds.
stances Of associations, Of psssions mdoe ppe6ep
diees aud Of the great multisnds whoaA Ah1ialsk
forget themselves and violate the laws Il eociekS
tho vast majority may bs regarded = ~ 1cGms
of temptation. Ambition and love, and pdwittY Snd
pleasure all ut tilnes calculated y WIN % A..
cinate, 10 intoxicate. and 10 sMbdus. lHuusu ~
ture is at best weak and fallible, end thsp ~
times and seasons when subtle aud syren tenp-
ter may with impunity enter the hunAhn kAah
corrupt, demornllze and lead Il TO destsuo(iof. =
Who indeed, cannot reoollect some period in his
history. when he paused between two paths--ons
loading to the right and the other to the vronr--
one marked by truth, and the the other d96fSnAr
ted by talsehood-onc that promised for the prt1
Ont every social and sensual snjayment, and the
other characterized by simplicity, integrity, and
trial. and yet brilliant in the end How many.
indeed arc Mt this moment hesitating between sn
honest and dishonest policy. The former is ar.
parently 40 difficult, and the latter 10 easy. The
one holds out an adequate reward affsr yesss Of
patience, perseverance,, and labor, and the other
whispers of sudden wealth, and oil tho honors and
gorics of this world. But. alas! for ths pcor
wretch who is tempted by the hollow mockefy, for
in tho end. he will assuredly he deceived a.a b.
trayed. Only fsw years have gone by, since =
worthy citizen. WAS actively engaged ip Sssinsss,
VIII" had already accumulated comp4tSheS, and
was getting along smoothy and quietly, ~usSenp!
ted by sone false friend. to enter the arssa of poll
tics. lilo WINS told that he was enlinently popular
that the highest honors Of the community were
within his grasp, and that he might not only b.
como u distinguished ofHcial but speedily fSahso
largo fortune. lla hesitated At first, bat ~ lase
yielded to the whispers Of vanity, and the penua-
sions OF few heartless parasites, and sndeAyore0
to become candidate for post of great responsi-
bility. Week after week elapsed his regulsf busi.
ness was neglected. his customers deserted him,
his forinneigradnnlly melted away, asdworse thau
ALL he not only los, the office. bat, he bsesue sd-
dctcd To incorporate habits, and gradually sank
into ignominy and tho grave Cases Of this Kind
are by no means rare. Tho paths Of lif6 are
beset with temptations. Few know them.
selves, or knowing, arc capable Of self1goyf
crnment 1t is the error of our nature 10
practice selfdcceit We deceive ourselves daily
and hourly. We fancy that this fascination may
be resisted and rcpolled and it is under such
II delusion that thousands are lost. Selc.caaauest
should be tho earnest effort of our lives II is on-
ly in this way that we con rcbukc and defy tempt.
nton. Let no man suppose that he is peculiarly
constituted that his power Of resistance II sextrsm
dinary, and that he may venture with sAiety
where others have fallen. Seli-relsuc>, ID yir-
tue that should be constantly ENCOURAGED; But
vanity. selfdelusion, and selfconceit, should bsaS
carefully avoided The temptations Of fashica ~
with many the most bewidering Of the tima., Thay
win their victims from ways Of moderation. ~
principles of economy and integrity, only % iSed
them step by step into some difficult or dfsiY pskS,
from which they cannot escape, and fsil uSsss =
rsc again. Tho temptations Of Asariee laes also
fearful, aud often terrible in their consequence.
How many in their eagerncss to accpmplats
wealth, have violated honor. trampled upon fikht.
md been compelled at last to abide the penalties
Of the law They were tempted by . crsvisg. sa
absorbing desire for gain. and in endeaypriNg n
secure too much, they lost ALL But, ws repeat
all are. to certain extent surrounded by tsmpta-
tion. They bcset US sometimes in one form, and
sometimes in another. How essential, therefore,
that we should watch and guard oursslvss, o.,
dstrustful Of our own powers of selEdenial, and
selfre-trnint, appeal to the Almighty, not only to
give us the knowledge to distinguish thS right
from the wrong, but the moral courage 10 choose
wisely between them, and to pursue the psth of
integrity aud ivrtue.-FAitadelphia lnqsi,er. 70