The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1861-11-13

the knife He who would keep his con-
science clean, and his life holy, must wage
this life battle without compromise and
without quarter.
l. Let US otter few concise rules for
the conduct of this spiritual life battle
Our first counsel is-beaoare OF the silent
marches which the flesh will steal upon
you We are fearfully and wonderfully
made; the combination Of body aud spirit
is such that each one reacts upon the other
in manner that is most direct ard yet
most mysterious The encroacnnehts OF
the ''fesh" are astonishingly quiet and
insidious The cravings of healthy appe
tite may gradually lead the excesses of
glutton7 Put knife to your throat
Tampering with so called inrocent stimu-
lants has sent many professor of religion
to the grave of the inebriate. The cup
of coffee led to the glass of wine; the
wine to the brandy and the brandy TO
perditioh.
With all possibilities of self-indulgence
come temptations. Luxury steals silent
marches on Christians when prosperity
brings within their reach fine equipage,
or high living, or splendid embellishments,
There is hardly Christian who lives
when worth ten thousand dollars a-year
as he lived when nard toll gave him only
oae thousand or one hundred Men
change their habits gradually; not sud
denly. \ man may be converted IN
moment Backsliding is the process OF
months or of years By degrees tippling
grows into intemperance by degrees the
social evening entertainment prolongs
itself into the midnight frivolities of the
rout, the ballroom, and the play house !;
bv degrees a church member exchanges
the prayer-meeting for the opera. Beware
of the silent marches Of the enemy.
II. If you ind that the contact of
certain persons and places is dangerous
to your weaknesses, then dUotd those
persons and places, cost what it may If
you are temptlble by wine cup, then
keep out of convivlal company. If you
have tendencies to run mad with over
mirthfulness, then stay away from those
circles in which you are tempted to turn
the Christian into the harlequin. Il is
not every young Christian who can be
trusted even to ieaik through certain
streets in ctr great cities. A 'besetting
sin" may Turk in that very street.
\ mans besetting sin is the one that
iumps with his inclinations. Does he
love ease Then he always interprets
those Providences in his own favor that
allow him to sit still, or to ENJOY his ham
mock Does he love fattery and eclat !?
Then be ima5ine> that he is working for
God, when he is ouly working for human
applause Here is dangerous foe all
the more so from its wearing the guise Of
an honest friend Look out for selfish
ness It is the old Adam lurking De
hind every hedge Like Southern sla-
very, it will only keep the peace on condl-
ton of having its own way. If not, then
its stiletto is unsheatbed in moment.
1t is polite and plausible. but a goddess
spirit. Keep no league with it A Chris
tian is never safe unless he is continually
collariug every evil passion ST his nature,
and forcing it into unconditional subms-
sion
III. Finally, put on the whole armor
I OF God-the shield of faith, the breast
plate Of ri righteousness, anu the sword of
the Spirit. Leave no spot exposed Abab
was wounded through the joints of tn
I harness In the heat Of the conflict, look
to Jesus the Captain of your salvation ;
and neUer surrender Toward the sunset
of the long bloody day of Waterloo, when
the surviving remnant of the old Imperial
Guard were summoned 10 lay down their
arms, the Scared veterans of fifty uictori-
Gus fights cried out, The Old Guards
can die; 6ut they cannot surrender r.
~ I. Independent