Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-12-13

ing at once to what is right There is al
ways some form in which the test of
| principle is presented TO young man as
he enters life, and the way in which he
meets that test commonly determines his
course Sometimes it is the tempter of
the wine-cup, sometimes il is the tempta-
ton of the gambling house, with its fierce
snd terrible passions, sometimes it
Is the temptation to cover some act of
shame, and sometimes the temptation 10
commit fraud. The first sin of our COM
mon parents was trifing in subject but
involved the question of right and wrong;
and SO the young man is often called upon
to decide he QUESTION of supremacy of
principle. If the young man resolutely
says no, he will increase IN stability of
character and gradually take his stand
among the Tever1d- of the sons of earth.
If not he viii steadily descend in that
path of ruin which scDmany have run, for
want of stability of principle. Hence, 1
beseech you to learn to say no
10 every temptation to swerve
from the path of rectitude, and say it
resolutely. Say it persistently; say it to
your dearest friend, if he would lead you
TO do that which your conscience tells
you you ought not to do.
Again, urge stability in the pursuits
of life. Wben Newton was asked how
he made such vast discoveries, he replied,
''By thinking" and then remarked that
if he had rendered the world any service,
it was due to industry. The secret of
the failure of many of the most gifted
men that have ever lived is
the want Of stability. Many of the
most gifted and brilliant men that have
lived in this and in adjoining States with
in the last twenty-five years have failed
and gone down to premature graves sim
ply from want of stability. They pur-
sued one thing for while and failed, and
then turned to another, with the same re-
suit. A coed man once said, 'You can
be anything in this life that you resolve
TO be, if you follow the commands of God,
for it is true that God helps those that
help themselves. Place your aim high,
and then without swerYing from the right,
through toll, through trial, through sun
through shade, through disappointment
and through SUCCESS, fixing your eye on
the goal, you shall reach it, or at least
you shall reach something far greater than
you would have reached otherW
The Doctor concluded his remarks By
urcilg upon young men the iaporta. c.
of firmness and stability of purpose in
seeking lhe salvation of their souls
Any man on earth could become
a Christian if be resolutely deter
mined to be one, in Gods wsy
and By Gods method. But no man on
earth could become a Christian without
stable and firm determination. The
want of this stability causes many TO halt
between two opinions, until the case is
decided by the coming of death, OF by the
withdrawal of he Holy Spirit.
Finally, continued the preacher, be
ssech you, young men, who are Christians,
and especially The young men of this
chu-ch, stand up for Jesus, stand up for
the cause of the Master that you serve,
AID go right forward, remembering
that the great Captain Of your
salvation is looking upon you, and will
truly reward you for all your services.
And 10 all, aud cspt Cialiy to those of you
who have not yet secured the salvation of
your souls, do, l say, be sJlemnly firm
and determined il this work. You never
will be a Christian, until in the fear of
God you make up your mind that you will
90 right 10 Jesus, just as you are; bot if
you cOainue this irresoluie and undecided
and hesitating course, The end of it viii be
that you viii lose your souls.