The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-12-07
The Devil Aims High!

The present age is so full of fascina
tions and allurements, and its tcmpta-
tions so increased by social surround
ings, that it has become matter of
unspeakable importance that the young
men who arc growing up should be kept
pure and yirtuous, and strong in their
whole being for the service of God and
the well-being of others. The influence
of evil companionship, for instance, is
one of the most dangerous and powerful
in the world; and when we call to mind
the enticements in operation in connec-
ton with strong drink, and how the
gilded bait is thrown OH the stream OF
life, into whatever channel it is flowing,
we cannot but feel how deep the neces-
sity for watchfulness and prayer, and
the casting about them of every safe
guard to keep them from falling.
The devil is no fool in his plans of
working. lie wants the best, and,
therefore, he aims to gather within his
tolls the young men of lofty minds and
generous impulses, toward whom both
the world and the Church are so expect
antly looking for whatever there may be
of good in their future. He aims high,
but, alas! lie drags down deep.
1t is the young man of vigorous
health, of warm heart, of generous soul
and honest grasp, susceptible of all
genial influences, and who can scarcely
minglc among his fcllow-men without
showing how much there is in him of
the bright and beautiful and loving-it
is such who are most in danger of being
drawn under the dominion of that
power which, having twincd its bonds
around him drags him from one depth
to another, until he finally sinks into
irretrievablc ruin-a fall all the more
terrible because of the bright hopes
which had once been cherished of his
future. Within the course of the past
few months, some sad illustrations of the
terrible effect of yielding to sinful influ-
ences in any form whatever, have been
brought prominently before the public
mind. We have seen those who have
been fugitives from homes of splendor
and magniiicence, and those who have
plunged from home comforts and enjoy
ments into the deepest depths of degra-
dation and untimely death.
Among these victims thera have boon
young men whose future seemed to be
full of glorious promise and golden
fruitage. Their downward course was
a fearfully rapid one after the first step
had been taken. 1t took a long time to
climb to the rocky pinnacle where they
meant TO stand and cut their names, all
bright and deep in the crystal rock on
which their eyes had been fastened:
and they had toilcd through heats and
cold, and mists and darkness; but,
alas! ii took but moment TO bound
down into the gulf of destruction, and
be lost forever.
What, then, shall keep our young
men safe from this terrible and deadly
shaft OF Satan? Intellectual discipline
and requirements have not the needed
power. Only this can save; the grace
of Jesus Christ! No other agency has
worked, and still works, such awful
and widespread ruin in this world as
intemperance. 1t is Satan's master
stroke. lie aims high in his devilish
design, for he aims TO sap and under
mine all that is manly and good in our
young men. o, young men! by all
that is worthy in this life, and by the
hope of that better life to come wheA
this is done, be not wounded by this
arrow dipped in hell!-[Christian al
Work.