The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-03-15

WA lTlbl our Illo-pONl W ln' htA
with neither ore nor sailH
\ doubtful life doubtful death
oh, Lord forbid II No,
We choose 10 court Thy gracious smiles,
And thy protection know
~ T. IPiioe,,.
Example.
No one can correctly estimate the in
huence of example over others. We
know it has u wonderful influence, an
influence 50 great that all after teaching
can scarcely ever eradicate it. 1t hangs
over the mind as a living reality, never
to be cast aside or forgotten. There are
many things done by others which we
want to forget, but somehow they will
not leave our memory. There is the pic.
ture, dark and dismal, ever before III,
indelibly impressed upon the mind. 1t
belongs to our history, and forms part
Of our being.
There is a strange feature about these
impressions, We remember bad impress
sions more wildly and longer than the
good. The things we often want to for
get never leave the memory, and the
things we want to remember and never
forget are often forgotten. This phe-
nomenon Of the mind ought TO receive
the profound attention ofeyery christian,
that all may 80 direct their actions ns
will result in the greatest good to hu-
manity. We who have had any con
siderable experience, know these things
to be true beyond cavil. The mind il 50
constituted, with its present environ.
ments, that the evil il more easily re-
tained than the good. But out Of this
complexity the mind wills to do right,
and strives often, earnestly for the mas.
terry. 1t is not always successful, on ac-
count Of the evil To be encountered,
Christians are subjected to these trials
more or less all through life; but the
more spiritual and Christ-like they be.
come, the more power will they possess
to overcome the evil A growth in the
divine life is the only attainment that
will insure them 70 come Oft conquerors,
How, then, ought christians TO live
that they may he successful, and set Il
good example before others? Many do
not fully reaizn what their influence il
over others. They do not consider that
they are teaching, for good or evil, all
the time by their aCtious and some do
not care very much what their examples
is before othrrs, We have some instruc-
ton in Gods word as to how we should
walk. Paul, writing to the Philippians,
says: " Brethren, be followers together
Of ms, and mark them which walk so as
yc have us for an example" James
says; Take, my brethren, the proph-
cts, who have spoken in the name Of the
Lord, for an example of suffering affiic'
ton and of patience Paul, in address
ing Timothy, uses the following pure
counsel: BE thou an example Of the
believers, in word, in conversation, in
charity, in sgiri., in ttljth in purity
Then Peter speaks of CArist ON this wise:
"Chr-t ssl suffered Tor us leaving Us
an example, that ye should follow his
steps; who did no sin, neither was guile
found in his mouth; VIII ., when he was
reviled, reviIed not again when he sui
tered, he threatened not" etc. These
quotations are sufficient to show IA what
the example of christians should be.
Anyone who will read can understand,
and know how he ought TO walk before
the world.
Every christian ought to take Christ
for his example, and follow him to the
best OF his ability. Thi, being done,
pure aud holy lie will be- the result, and
the example set before others will be
such as the Lord will approve. The per-
son who lives thus will be proud Of the
record he has made, and will bless God
for the privilege OF living such lie.
THUS he will become more and more like
the divine Pattern as he neari the day,
and the heavenly home. The burden,
of life will be easier, the fight of Gods
truth will shine brighter, and the earnest
OF the heavenly joys will fill his heart
with unspeakable consolation and pleas.
ure.
But how many christians are following
this great Pattern. How many are liv-
ing pure and devoted lives? BY my ex-
ample have | led any away from the
! Savior? Have led any to the intox-
icating bowl, and thus to a drunkard' :
lie, with all OF its woe and shame
Have ! emboldened any 10 continue in
sin aad disobedicnce 1t may he by my
example some have absented themselves
from the assembly Y of the saints, and thus
have been led back into the world, Or,
by my loose, irreligious life, some may
have looked upon christianity as a
! mockery, and gone into infdelity. What
has been my influence in these things
! We turn the picture over and examine
the other side Just for moment: Have
| led any to Chris; by my example, both
in business and church-liIe? Have LED
any away from the Intoxicating bowl
and pointed them to better lie? Have
| told any OF SaviOr's dying love, and
of the mansions pure and bright in thu
better world? Have | encouraged any
/ in the livine life Ivy being faithful my
{ self in all my church relations? Have
kept my promise in sustaining the cailSt
of Christ, or have failed to give oi my
means as the Lord has prospered me
The Lord knows just how all these
things stand, and how much true mah-
hood I have. He knows all nv Pur-
poses. AMI comprehends me altogether.
lie will make allowance for all my
fih'r4 bYt will hold me accOuntablc Tor
p,y s,gs ~ nave hyed right, it have