Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-07-16
Ifrom the Christian Repository,
"Ghou shalt Say No."

Short az is this word, il Is soma times
very difficult 10 speak it with a win and
determination that shall make It's utter
ance barrier 10 evil, II not only takes
sometimes a strong man 10 say II, but IL
makes one strong Ia say il, OF course IT
ought 10 IL uttered after full deliberation,
intelligently aud camnly We -honld
never say No, when duty calls, when rea-
son urges, or when conscience dictates.
And il in the phrenzy Of passion, or UNI
der the promp,ings OH impulse, or under
the misguidance Of Ignorance we say
No, when We should have said nothing, or
held our decision in allegiance Tor the calm
moment Of clear perception. II becomes us
10 reoant the hasty decision, and disol-
plinc ourselves To more accurate modes Of
thought, and better modes Of mind, Men
who 80 wrong. usually do so, rather from
impulse than from careful consideration,
II did not think how wrong il would b.,
what risk was taking, what evil might
do" explains the cause and gives the eS-
eusc Tor much Of the evil in the world,
The cause is avoidalle-the excuse poor,
We should, therefore, think. think care
fully and praycrfuliy, before We decide in
any case which Is debatable,
/ Thinking does much, almost everything,
/, make our characters fixed and our
course decisive Men can be obstinate
without much thought, But obstiuacy Is
not, Of itself, safe guide, Decision OF
character comes from discipline of mind
aud heart To cultivate this quality Of
decision, rather this power TO decide
should be- the great end OF moral educa,
tion. No one can feel how often he may
be called upon to exercise this power, OF
under what circumstances. ENigencie-
uuthought oi, or thought of as impos'
sible,- come upon Us, and then We
shall need it sorcly.
To say, No, under these circumstances
may be essential TO happiness. But W,
1 may not 10 able, because We have no,
applied ourselves with the force Of
character that thought, meditation, and
discipline supply, Another thought
He who says No, from mere fear, will say
Yes, when no cause for alarm is apparent
Character, then, must be based ON prinoi,
pie, on culture, or ON = right education
How many have suffered because they
would not say the little word, No: How
many are moulded almost entirely by
outside forces, or by external influences
because they have no efficient, counter
vailing force within. \ desire 10 please
a fear Of ridiculc, transient pleasure
have drawn or driven many souls to per
dition. Appetite uncontrolled, deprive
us of the lower to say, No. lntempor
aucc, especially, destroys the power t
will, or If II remains, il Is in much feeble
ness while no power remains to execute
even its feeble and iitful behests. MOI
should we mistake willfulncss for Ia,
great conservative principle OF decision
uf character. Williumess Is the loves
and basest form of mental force; decision
If character is the highest training of th
moral and mental powers of human IA
turc.
Tosay no, often requires, therefore, NOR
real courage than it does to face the can
mons mouth II requires courage tina
shall care more for clean soul and a
honest purpose, than for plaudits ON III
one hand, or Scorn ON the other. II IT
quircs, too, often, a quality greater thar
courage, a soul guarded against hattery
vanity, and ambition, 50 that were all tn
kingdoms of the world and the glory o
them offered US in exchange for servilit,
and self degradation, We can say, &c
thee behind me, satan"
To form character, one can best succeed
with perfect model. The perfect model
is one Master, from whom We may lear
under all circumstances of evil prompt
ings, let them come from within or with
out, to say-No g. W.
| Rutland, Vt.