American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-03-16
aeligious department.
Iseiectedl
Linked Armor for, Tempted Young
So1ls.

Napoleon, that most daring of war
riors, rarely ventured on the hazardous
measures which characterized his cam
paigns, without preparing beforehand for
every conceivable emergency. His most
brilliant victories were preceded by the
most studiously prepared precautions
against the'possibilities of defeat. This
habit gave him and his army confidence
in the hour of peril. His failure to abide
by it in his Russian campaign led to the
disasters of his retreat from Moscow
Had he begun his splendid military ca
reer with such neglect, it would have been
broken off at its beginning. lie would
have found his Waterloo at Austerlitz
Let me persuade you my dear reader to
adopt his habit of precaution in the gTeat
campaign of life. You have seen that,
in common with all your species, your ma
ture has tendencies to acts which may in
volve you in social shame, and bring You
to a disreputable grave. You nave also
seen how totally miserable your present
means of protection are. Seeing then,
that you are exposed to serious danger,
and are so unprepared to meet it, You can
not be without strong desire to know on
what you may rely for victory in this in
evitable battle. To suppose the contrary
would be to offer an insult to your reason,
because it would presume you to be in-
different to one of your most important
life results. You are not thus indifferent
You have desire to avoid the ruin Of
your earthly well-being. Having made
a prosperous entrance upon the stage of
life, you would ike to make your exit
from it at least without dishonor.
Suffer me, therefore, to point you to the
religion of Jesus Christ as the only relia-
bic means of selfconquest and Of victo-
ry over those tempters of the passions, de-
sires and affections which seek your ruin.
Hear what the Holy Spirit saith to you
on this subject Whatsoever is born of
God oyercometh the world. Who Is he
that osercomcA the acorld, but he that be-
EeooM that Jeyns Is He Son IF God !? lie
that is Jcyot,ca Of. God hccpeth himseE
aad Hat rickad one touoheh him rot
These are the words of Divine wisdom.
They teach you that a renewed heart sus-
tained by faith in Christ, and that only,
can secure you that victory over yourself
and the world which, as have shown, is
the condition of your moral safety Let
me now show you how renewed heart
fits its possessor for successful conflict in
the battle of life. Two facts, taken from
the lives of holy men, viii bring out one
Of its methods.
Three hundred years ago a weavcrs ap-
prentice, named William Hunter, was cast
into prison by the feroclous Bjshop Bon
aer for reading the Bible and protesting
his faith in its doctrines. After being
confined in the stocks and loaded with
chains, through nine weary months of life,
in a wretched dungeon, the youth was car
ried before the bishop.
"lf you recant, said that mitered mon
ster, " l will give you forty pounds and set
you up in business"
The youth modcstly bat firmly declined
the offer a. will make you steward of
my own house, . added Bonner putting all
the gentlcness of which his brutal nature
was capable into his voice aud manner
" But, my lord, )" replied the lad, ''if you
cannot persuade my conscience by Script
ure, l cannot find it in my heart to turn
from God for the love of the world; for |
count worldly things but loss in compari-
son with the love of Christ"
The bishop was enragcd: Will neith-
er threats nor promises ayail?'' he cried,
-" Then away with him to the fire 20
And to the fire he went, firmly, fearless
ly. jQyfully. Lam not afraid.," he shout
ed from amid the flames, and his noble
spirit assembled to heaven
My second fact relates to Gordon Hall.
God called him to the work of missions.
and he went to the East Indies. After
time his influence With the natives became
powerful. This, with his other qualifca-
tions, made his services desirable to the
East India Company. They offered him
thirteen thousand dolarsa year if he would
quit his missionary work and enter their
service. lie refused. They then offered
him fifty dollars week for occasional aid.
This also he declined in these noble words:
" No money can tempt me to relinquish
my work -
In these two facts you cannot fail to see
the more than regalsway which conscience
maintained over the souls of these good
n