The New York herald., 1872-12-22

sons 10 show them the way Of iife He bade
them have the fear OF God and the , rear ,n .,
man before their eyes ae dd not 'e une NTH ~
because he knew that the fear Of man Is great
and powerful motive In determining human con-
all strive more or less for the applause OF our iel-
tows. and are gratined when we receive ana dis-
pleased IL we TAIL to obtain it. But we are not
rnly eager to do ali we can to gain the appreciation
Of our fellow men, but to keep II alter we nave Be-
Cared il. Hence we say
II Thu vOx PoPULI is THE vox DEL.
Many a man has been restrained from doing evil
BY the fear OF what his negh5ors would say. The
n"ne actions perior@ed which MI our minds and
our souls with admiration because OF the popular
applause. There are some who don't do much
themselves and who impute everything done by
Others to this principle. Very, wel. This Is
mot 80 bad. True, selflove is the handspring;
s1s s1 thst 1ne is sne main point He Wno cares
not for the good opinion OF his fellows does nothing
worthy OF praise, and the good Is by HIM let un-
habit and favorite, SO that men 40 it whether
they receive the applause OF the public or not
Duty becomes thus q second nature 10 them, ana
they cannot get along in life without doing good.
II the uor p0pt NOT, therefore, the voice OF the
Spirit itself, IT quckens the conscience ana tne
heart to listen to ana obey the UOc Del.
But this mighty public opinion becomes danger
Gus IN its alterations. In good society vice be-
comes shy and careful but 1t Is bold and fearless
the presence OF those who applaud 1t. Our hearts
are battle fields for the contendng forces OF good
and evil, and the victory depends on which shall
airest struggle the heart comes In contact with
good society there is no dangers but n comes In
proof and the white flag OF innocence VIII be
trailed in the dust and the banner OF vice will
noat high in the air. There are
MANY EVILS IN SOCIAL LIFE,
hut little is done 10 cure them And yet there are
means OF healing them as simple ana old as the
Bible and as profound as tne me WISDOM , oI Goa rom
tanned in the first part OF this text-thou shalt not
follow the multitude to do evil. Many a young
xxystk
iuldl the highest hopes and fondest wishes OF his
parents He labors diligently by day, and when
evening comes he must leave with the rest. He
goes where others CO. and as II is natural for men
10 strive after the applause OF his fellows he does
10 in his circle. But unhappiy his circle is COM
posed OF those who do not applaud until he has
soul, and then you begin to notice that
duty becomes irksome ana is neglected by him,
and all his delight Is In the pleasures OF the world
and the applause OF the vicious multitude who
have led hlm on TO his ruin. To such comes the
TO do evil. 1t has, however, special significance
for parents, who should make their homes scenes
Of innocent pleasure, and should have every hour
OF their chidren's time properly accounted for.
Innocent home joys are like the genial warmth OF
Spring. which gives vitality and beauty to flower
and shrub but doubtful pleasures, doubtful or
sinful amusements are like the burning rays OF the
tropical sun, and need the dark mantle oil conceal
ment to be spread over them. This error is COM
mitted by the old as well as the young Why is it
that
THE IDEAL OF MATRIMONIAL BLISS
30 soon vanishes away from many household
Why must all the precious food OF married life be
bartered away for the worlds mess OF pottage2 Ii
there an excuse for itf There is. They must live
as others do. When the Judgment OF God is pre-
sented you should not hesitate to make the choice
even though you stand alone. When Moses came
down from the mount the people were worshippine
golden calf, and he alone stood for God. But he
triumphed over the multitude. When Joshua
aeolared that, as for him and his house
he would serve the Lord. Gideon was
Bne but he broke down the altars Of Baal not fear
ing the multitude, and Elijah on Carmel alone O
the prophets OF Jehovah stood before 500 of the
priests OF Baal and the groves and triumphed ovel
them in the name Of the Lord. These men did mo-
iOll0w'th multitude to do evil; but, on the con
trary, they sngly protected the true faith agains
the many, and the deeper sentiments OF the people
were with them. And we're these Scripture pre-
cepts before us more constantly, and did not Ou
iufges and jures incline after many and follow tn,
multitude, the evils oil society Of which we com
plain w0uld very soon cease from among US.