The Evansville journal., 1870-03-15


And lead as not into tenaptation:"
ST. MATT, VI: l3.
Such was thc prayer prescribed for
US, by the Son OF God. BY him who
knoWeth at human hearts and human
needs, and all human Affections, and
all human trials and dangers
A prayer far the child at his moth
er's knee: aud q prayer for the saint
on whose aged temples hang the bios
sons Of the grave. Lead rs not
into temptation" What, we ask, can
God tempt us to sin in any case? No,
beloved, this Is not the prayer, but,
knowing our weakness; how easily
are we enticed; how often it is that,
for US to be tempted, is for US to fall
therefore. we are taught by this to
pray that We may not be led into any
circumstance of trial. Pray God that
no tests be made of our conStdncy.
That we be rot exposed to trial of
car fidelity. cur faith, our love and
our purity.
For though blessed is the man that
endureth temptation" yet, let no
man" says st. James. say when he is
tempted, / am tempted Of God; for
Col cannot be tempted with evil,
neither tempteth He any man; bit,
every man IS tempted, when he is
drawn away of has O1Cn tust, and en-
ticed."
To as, therefore, in our fallen con-
dition, with all our powers and facili~
ties enfeebled by sinfulnes; to as,
with this innate lust" for what IS
qCroRg and displeasing to God, to
US, especially Jolloaoers-children OF
Gcd-With faces set heGUeRl0drd and
under schooling for its spiritual ac-
ceptation, to US this warning. depre-
eating prayer, is given. And coun-
sci like it comes from the same lips,
= Watch and pray lest ye enter into
temptation" lest ye yield yourselves
voluntarily, Wilfully, to exposures
which may try your Christian charac-
ters. And because this is a prayer
for all times and all people, desire
now to show you its peculiar fitness
under those special trials which are
often forgottOn-tr to which VIC
and our children are exposed IN
society and its Gn1usenlelsts. In doing
this / shall deal with entire plainness
/ have spoken of the general duty oi
keeping ourselves and our children
from idols of the necessity to the
Christian of doing all In the name
Of the Lord Jesus" I wish now tC
descend to some particulars to which
the obligation applies.
The complaint of our day Is thai
society is FAST by which is meant {
general lack of restraint. l am nc
aware that in the expression any dis
criminatiOn is intended between
Christians and those who obey th'
Prince OF this world. IF not. then i
only proves that In the popular judg
ment avoWed principles are httl'
regarded, and that the line of dis
tinetion between those two classes
fading away, leaving no perceptiblt
boundaries between what should bl
the kingdom of the Lord Jesus AM
the kingdom of evil.
In the first place, the charge j
brought against the yeaHg and yet 1t i
obvious that the fault here, is reflected
from their elders, either by indulgence
or connivance or example.
It has been said that we have M
boys and girls; there are only babies
and gentlemen and ladies. From th'
nursery to the drawing room there il
no intermediate stage. Precociou
iuvenility puts on the airs of maturity
while the bloom of modesty aDC
charm Of childhood are sacrificed b.
parents themselves to hasten the UR
ripe smartness of their children.
We have now infant parties, an
beardless clubs; boys whose ruddy
lips are decorated with cigars ant
oaths and vulgarity, criticisipg thei
fathers, and speaking of things the
ought not to know. Girls who ough
to be playing with dolls, are alread
old in knowledge of the world; hack
neyed in society, flirting and dress
ing, and strutting through the street
unattended; !; talking of balls and mid
night revels and fashions as if lif
had no other value.
Teachers; day after day, are com
PEELED to bear with children who com
toschool from these scenes of youth
full dissipation. sleepy and exhausted
and utterly unfit for study, with tn
seeds of nervous disease permanentl
established, giddy and conoeited. anC
disrespectful.
The evil goes to Church and Sunda.
School. Children of Christian pa
rents, who have promised for then
TeRuRcidtion of The aCorld, are heart
before and during Sunday School
discussing, with all absorbing in
terest, the last dance, retailing it
tattle and gossip, comparing view
upon the wine, and music, and waltz
1T Is needless to say that these no
house plants are too wise fer thei
teachers. If advised or gently ad
menlshed, it is promptly resented q
an objectionable insult to this greer
manhood and womanhood.
Boys and girls who have takel
their fathers and mothers in han,
and got them we'll broken in, ar
not generally disposed to plac
the direction Of themselves i
the hands of q teacher or pas
tor. Need / say that all this dis
gusting forwarduess is the fault G
parents, who do not try to keep thei
little ones from temptation?"
Children of to- day are not wors
by nature than those of a generatio
ago. There is no reason why childre
uader eighteen should not be taugh
to respect the judgment and wishe
of parents. If not, what is the ne
cessity of parents, aud experience
and wisdom? I know that anythin
I can urge will not be likely to inhu
ence parents to a different course
But I think the prediction may b
safely hazarded that, so long as par
ents allow this thing, and sanctio
these excesses by even providing fo
them at unreasonable hours and wit
unreasonable frequency, often with
out their own presence, this slightin
process will go on.
Tt is well known that we impol
our fashions from France. It
not, perhaps, so well known
but is not less true, that v