The Osceola times., 1877-03-10
Exss snpic.

| We choose 10 court my gfnciOuh smiles,
And tiny protection know.
~ T. iIuness.
| Example.
No one can correctly estimate the in.
huence Of example over others. We
know il has wonderful influence, al
influence so great that all after teaching
can scarcely ever eradicate it. II hang
over the mind as 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 US
ind ''ly impressed upon the mind. II
be to our history, and FERNS a part
Of being.
re is a strange feature about these
in ssions. We remember bad impress
siohs more vividly and longer than the
good. The things VIC 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 Of every christian,
that all may 10 direct their actions as
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 is 10
constituted, with its present environ.
ments, that the evil is more easily re-
talned than the good. But out Of this
complexity the mind wills to do right,
and strives, often, earnestly for the mas
| tary II l.. NOT al MN vs a, ,ccaaaf,tl nm oe-
count of the evil TO be encountered.
Christians are subjected 10 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 to como of conquerors.
How, then, ought christians to live
that they may be successful, and set a
good example before others? Many do
not fully realize what their influence ID
over others. They do not consider that
they are teaching, for good or evil, all
the time by their actions; and some do
not care very much what their examples
is before Others We have some instruc-
ton in Gods word AZ to how we should
walk. Paul, writing to the Philippians,
says. Brethren, be followers together
of me, and mark them which walk 20 as
ye 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 sfiiic-
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 spirit, in faith, in purity"
Then Peter speaks of Christ on this wire; ;
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us
an example, that We should follow his
steps who did no sin, neither was guile
found in his mouth VIII, when he was
reviled, reviled not again when he 60f-
fered, he threatened not" etc. These
quotations are sufficient to show us what
the example of christians should be-
Anyone W no 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. This being done, a
pure and holy lite will be the result and
the example Sc, 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 life.
Thus he will become more and more like
the divine Pattern rs he nears the day,
and the heavenly home. The burdens
OF life will he easier, the fight Of Gods
truth viii 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 l led any away from the
Savior? Have led any to the intox.
icating bowl. and thus to a drunkard',
lite, with all of its woe and shame
Have / emboldened any to continue II
sin and disobedieDce II may be by my
example some have absented themselves
from the assembly Of the saints, and thu
have been led back into the world. Or
by my loose, irreligious life, some ma,
have looked upon christianity as |
mockery, aud gone into infdelity. Whs
has been my influence in thess things
We turn the picture over and examine
the other eide Just for moment: Hav,
] led any to Chris: by my example, both
} in business and church-li'cf Have l let
/ any away from the intoxicating bowl
, and pointed them to better lie? Hav,
| told any of a Savior's dying love, ant
: of the msnsiens pure and bright in tn
3 better world? Have encouraged an.
/ in the divine life hy being faithful my
t self in all my church relations' Have
kept my promise in sustaining the caus
/ Of Christ, or have failed to give Of N,
2 means AZ the Lord has prcspertd me?
$ lord knows just how all thes
a tied go X and how much true man
/; hoc 81 EHe knows all nv pur
poscs, ri }, ~,ls p me altogether
: l@iius Il ''' ''S'e 8 {.