American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-02-03

The Social Hazards of Sinful Life.

"Self love is the greatest of all fatter-
ers." Itdoubless whispers words of safe
ty in your ears, assuring you that however
other irreligious youths may. have rushed
on ruin, you are safe. Well perhaps you
are. True you are advancing along a road
bristling with the steel of countless foes,
yet it may be you carry a charmed life,
or you wear linked armor, socially fitted,
and of such rare proof that no fiery ar
rows or stout broadsword of temptation can
pierce or break it. 1t may be so and it
may not but since the peril is great, and
the consequences of mistake inconceiv-
ably fearful, would it not be well for you
to look at your means of defense Suffer
me, therefore, to ask you, On what do you
rely for moral safetyin this path of world
ly pleasure which you have chosen?
Let me portray scene from history
A beautiful valley, situated between two
small hills, was made a battlefield by two
armies, whose white tents and futtering
pennons crowned the opposite heights
In the middle of the vale there strobe a
colossal warrior, full nine feet in height,
and with frame duly proportioned. He
was cased from head to foot with armor of
brass. In his hand he bore a spear. With
Wanting words he dared the bravest of his
foes to meet him in single combat.
Responding to his challenge, there came
slender youth in shepherds garb. He
was beautiful though. small in stature
His step was light, his form erect. He
wore no armor, he carried neither sword
nor spear. His only weapon was a sling.
His gigantic adversary sneered bitterly
at his weakness, and thought to make him
an easy prey. But the STRIPPING, step
ping boldly forward, said " | come to thee
in the name of the Lord of Hosts" and
slung stone which, striking the giants
forehead, caused him to fall on his face
dead man.
Now, my dear young reader if, you were
advancing like David, toward the gigantic
dangers which stand in your path, ,oih he
' Lord Of Hosts" to help you, l would
not cherish particle of anxiety in your
behalf But alas alas that Divine aid,
which is the only help sufficient to secure
any man the victory in the battle of life,
you deliberately refuse. Like David, you
are obviously inferior to your foes, but you
reject David's helper; while, with none
of Goliah's might, you cherish his self
suficiency, and are rushing on to the con-
ficts Of life, trusting in your own puny
strength. Let us see wherein your power
to overcome lies.
You have, | presume, well educated
conscience, which, it must be admitted, Is
a powerful guardian. Millions have been
saved from ruin by giving heed to its mo :
nitions. Yours would restrain you from
ruinous follies, if you would but enthrone
it in your heart, and do it homage as to
the viceroy of heaven. But this you will
not do, as your rejection of God as your
supreme good plainly shows. Just here
there lies your danger. You have already
dethroned your conscience. Its voice has
little or no authority over your desires and
passions. Your enslaved will forswore al
legiance to it, when it yielded itself to the
sway of your worldly lusts With what
propriety, then, can you depend on this i'll
treated faculty to restrain you in the hour
of fierce temptation ? When your love Of
creature good shall have placed you in the
pillory of folly, when some Circe shall dis
play her meretricious charms and stir your
passions with her songs when your ador-
ed and worshiped world shall tempt you to
the embraces of some hitherto unemploy-
ed, but wicked perhaps profitable delight,
what aid will your poor, abused, tongue
tied, narcotized conscience be able to af-
ford? You will be on the brink of des-
truction. Like the ancient Romans when
they had banished their noblest and
only chief capable of saving them from
their terrible enemies, the Gauls,you will
be counted happy if, like them, you can
recall your deliverer to his seat of author
ity in season to save yourself from ruin.
Is it prudent to run the fearful risk
Many persons there are whose pride of
character, or as they would improperly
name it, self-respect, restrains them from
doing gmean, degrading, or criminal actions.
They partake ofthe spirit of Scotchman
named DoUGLAs. This fool-hardy hero
commanded British ship-of-war, and be-
ing stationed in the river Medway to re-
sist the advance of Dutch feet, he was
ordered to defend his ship to the last ex-
tremtiy, but in no case to retire from his
position. Bravely he fought, until his
ship took iIe but even then, when the