, 1879-07-05
now MAR:

A gentleman wanted TO hire a coachman.
There were number Of applicants for the
place He put to each of them this question !:
How near can you drive to the edge of a pre-
cipice and not go over" One thought that
he could drive within foot; another said he
could go 4 great deal closer than that ; another
told how in tryin. to pass slower coach, on
narrow road, he had gone safely within an
inch of the edge; though the bank began To
crumble under his wheels, he was so skillful IN
managing his horses that he came aropnd all
right He thought than an inch to spare was
enough for first class coachman. While the
other applicants were landing their skill and
relating their exploits, one was silent The
gentleman at length turned to him, and said ::
well, my man, how near can you drive:
81 don't know. sir, was the reply :" never
tried | always keep as far from the edge OF a
precipice as can. :" Right, " said the gentle
man, you are the coachman | want.
were reminded of this ol story by visit
from one Of the young ladies In our church.
There was to be little dancing party on May
day, and she wanted to 60 Yet her conscience
whispered that perhaps it WAS not right ; and
as the minister was absent, she came to talk
with us about it. We told her the story of the
coaehmen- She saw the point at once. and We
had a long talk about conformity to the world.
Ht .tita9 viz SsfA'Se 10y 80 ~
christian is to ep as far from the dividing
line between the Kingdom Of Christ and that
Of Satan as We can.
A good many professors Of religion are always
asking: Is there any harm in this, Can't
90 to the theatre now anu then: Can't l IN
dulge in q social glass now and then. Can't
participate in social dance now and then,
without violating my covenant VOWS: Per
hals Won can, Just Is q coachnan could drive
within An inch OF the ed sse OF a preep,ce. Bnt
there is risk in it, and is 1t worth while to
run that risk; You cannot, after scene OF
doubtful indulgence, enter your closet without
realizing that Your spirit Is less devotlnnai.
that the Bible IS less Interesting, that you have
less desire fnr communion With God, and Tor
growth in graca-
Paul intimates that things which are lawful
may not be expedieat. 1t is lawful for man
to drive. close t. every precipice along the
road :: but it Is very foolish to do SO. The
least shying of the horses, or crumhing of the
bank, would send him to destruction. Where
the road is wide it is better to keep in The mid
die # it; where il IL narrow We ought To keep
as close u the safe side as possible. Our way
to heaven IS said by our Savior to be . straight
and narrow But it is broad enough for pru
deRt.trayellers.
There is entirely too El':ch close drsvipg and
too much fast triTm. on tins narrow road now
days The directions which Christ and his
apostles gave seem to be regarded as obsolete
Hence, every few days we read of the sad fall
of some christian. We thought he was wiser
than Paul, that lie lid not need to regard those
warnings aboat espediency and conformity to
the world. He could go within an inch and
not go over But suddenly the edge of the
road erumbles, one wheel goes over, and drass
carriage and driver down into the abyss Bet
! TOR to exercise a little self-denial; better be
laughed at 4 little as over strict and puritani-
cal, than to run the risk Of such catastrophe.