The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-12-09


from one another. The one heathen, the other
a jew. The heather an Officeri the Jew rs
prisoner. The one belonging TO Ihe proddest
aud mic hiest people on earth. Tue other to
the m ost deepIsed and miserable, Julius, If we
Judge according TO his modest rank, yet young
in years. Paul Fastening towards the naturally
not far distant termination OF his life, IN old
age. We know not what Paul had said or done
to elicit from the heather the loving veneration,
the hearty gratitude he manifested, as outside
of their present mutual external relations we
kno " nothing of any intercourse between them.
But Panl is a true Christian. Since his conver-
sion he has never ceased to be one; and he is one
everywhere and at all times. Not only when
preaching to his congregation; he is one to his
servant. He is also a Christian on shipboafd,
among wild warriors, among rough crimnsls.
Aud If man is q Christian from the depths of
his SOUL from the bottom Of his heart, that is
manifest in all that he says, or does, or leaves
undone; for Christianity permeatcs the entire
life; it impresses upon its disciples mieu Of
majestic subimity that never fails In its con-
tinuous working upon those by whom he may
be surrounded.
Youth Is particularly susceptible then; more
than at any other periodic life IS the influence
of commanding character felt. Neither
words, nor instruction, nor books exert so much
influence upon youth as the indirect uncon-
scious influence of the sentiments, disposition,
and habits of life of a determined character
with whom they are connected, and this infu-
ence is as mighty for evil rs for good. How
often the entire direction OF life depends
upon the character OF the older friends with
upon the entrance OF their children into the
world, tremble at the thought With whom do
they associate Whom do they avoid What
counsels do they heed
In the Apocryphal Books, it Is represented
that when the young Tobias, at the request of
his father, started upon journey, "the good
angel Of Godp in the shape OF man, "aCcompa-
MED him, ordered all things well that were done
about him, so that he should return to his
parents with ioy.n Who does not desire, if it
were possible, guardian angel to guide his
child upon the journey OF life? Are there not
evil and good angels stationing themselves at
the most critical periods of life, whose influence
for the right or wrong exerted upon the heart
shall tell upon the whole future OF their lives,
upon the eternity of their being? What so i'm
pOrtant as that they shall shun the evil and
cleave TO the good, that they discern beneath
the robes OF light the Satan who thus trans
forms himself that he may lead a5traY; and
recognize the angel whose loving guidance
points TO the strait and narrow way? Parents,
ou may do muc h to assist such recognition.
So long as your children are under the parental
roof you should soicltOusly watch over them
that they contract no friendships that shall lead
them astray; aud Notwithstanding your watch
fulness, an evil misleading companion shall OBJ
trude upon them, you shall have cultivated in
them such devotion to YOU, have4astened them to
you with such sincere loving confidence IN you,
that the expression Of your slightest wish shall be
to them determining power that they may not
be able to keep back from you the poison which
the seducer has sought to cast into their souls,
that by your loving words they may be purified
of the offensive contamination. Parents, you
should associate with your growing, developing
children as with friends opening to them your
heart Of hearts as their nature unfold, sharing
their sports and pastimes, keeping your interest
keen in all their pursuits and pleasures, taking
as much of your own Doyhood and girlhood as
you can on with you through life, so that be-
cause OF your communion of spirit with them,
| you may by, judicious counsel, so sharpen their
| judgments oi human nature that they may
| readily distinguish between the good and bad
companions whom they will meet later in life,
Companions they must and will have. II is
! not good for man to be alone. The mind OF
man is not constituted as that in itself aud of
| itself and from itself it shall draw the strength
| necessary to It's struggles. Man must have have
friends born for his adversely. Happy that
| youth who, in the hour Of searching, OF strife
drawn up in battle array and the struggle may
not be POSTPONED, has companion in whose
been awakened, that in the mutual striving of
sincere, earnest minds they may overcome
together the most seduetively beautiful tempta-
tions: Happy the youth who in such fellow
ship is taught the great lesson OF life-"Kuow
! Thyseli!"
In the harvest of treasured spoils, of a mature
manhood, won in such soul conflicts, how ioy-
fully grateful are such friendships, such soul
companionships, recognized as the greatest
blessings of the past life; that fellowship of
kindred minds in which, bearing one another's
burdens of spiritual strife and struggle we passed
securely the dangerous trials OF youth.
My young friend, you need, you must have a
friend; some one OF like passions with yourself,
but also with similar spiritual desires and pur-
poses, that, bearing with one other, admonish-
ing each other, carrying each other pray erfully
upon the loving heart, each reading the heart
of another as an open book, and in that open
confidence OF love finding help. Oh beautiful
friendship of loving, youthful souls, tightening
each the others sorrows, multiplying each the
others joys Would God that while 1 speak
! thus strongly my seEse of the worth OF an
earthly friendship, cemented by purity of pur-
! pose, u at might also speak the word of warn
! ing TO. guard you against contracting such
! friendships as pollute and destroy. By the
strength Of your emotions, by the eXcitements
fsense, you are at your period in life subject to
! so many dangers, that you need the help of the
! good and cannot with lmpunity associate in
! timately with the viles
| l speak to those who have listened to the
| voice OF God saying, "GiYe me thy heart ~
! whose souls have been quickened into
spiritual life by the breath of God
| breathing on them; in whose ears Gods Word
| has been ringing like an echo from home, say
! ing Come unto me,n Who obedient unto the
| divinely welcoming call, have set out to travel
| Zionward. Dangers threaten you; it were un-
| wise, unmanly, to conceal from you that your
| journey thitheIward will not be all sunshine,
| over smooth, uDrui1led seas, beneath smiling
| heavens, with only gentle, tayoring, propelling
| winds.
| Must not stem the flood ?"
Clouds will datken the SKIES The tempest
! winds shall blow. Y ou must experience that
! hom which the careless crew and companions
OF the ship could not save themselves.
Their journey, thus far has been safe and
! prosperogs. From C@sarea to Sidon the heavens
| nave been blue above them, the sea quiet and
! tranquil beneath. But II continues not thus,