Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1880-02-26
some Mistaken Ideas.

Some mistaken IDEAS.
This was the subject Of Rev. Viii
sons third sermon to young men
and even exceeded in interest those
preceding it. 1t Is impossible to
give in so brief synopsis as this
must necessarily be an adequate idea
of the full interest of the sermon.
It Is q mistaken idea that religion
requires q man to rellnquish every
pleasure-we talk of the restraints OF
religion, but it imposes none which a
calm judgment does not approve.
The skeptic may have more liberty
than the christisn--liberty to de-
grade and destroy his own nature
to sink himself into mere brute
to blsst his intellect and wither his
affections-to make his reputation
bankrupt sacrificing to his own
qualification the most sacred ties
which bind man to mamie may do
all this yet be consistent skeptic.
In this respect he has the most per-
feet freedom freedom we don't
want. 500 thyself and others no
HARM" is the only restraint which
christianity imposes. 1t is a SIAN
derous falsehood to represent it as
requiring men to forego, in any de-
gree, the innocent pleasures of life.
Some think that the more man de-
nies himself these, the more he shuns
recreation, the more religious he is.
Some measure a mans piety by the
length of his face. II he walks the
street with stopped shoulders, down
cast eye and heightened connte-
nance, some consider him a walking
holiness. Children are afraid of
him; the young don't like him; the
middle age avoid him. Away with
such religion.
Another mistaken idea, that reli-
gion is unfavorable to industry. A
sufficient reply to this notion is that
we can challenge men to point to
any age or country as prosperous
without christianity. 1t is not among
unchristianized nations that we may
find tubular bridges or railroads net
working the land or telegraph wires
executing the errands of men. In
imical to industry is charge
that can never fairly be brought
against system which tells its ad
herents that if man will not work
neither shall he eat.
A third mistake is the idea that
q young man is at liberty to do
things which would not only be
thought to be unwise but sinful in
those more advanced. 1t is not to be
expected that young man will man
ifest gravity of age, or be distin-
guished by the wisdom which exper-
ience alone can teach.
He is a churl who would frown on
youthful pleasures and crosk when
others rejoice, looking sour on scenes
of gladness and by his prognostica-
tions of evil, lead the young to an
ticipate life's corroding cares. Pro-
fame be the hand that would prema-
turely write one wrinkle on young
brow. But youth can never justify
Q man in doing what the law of God
forbids or his own conscience con-
demns. Youth and inexperience can
not make wrong right.
Another mistaken idea that pub
lie opinion determines what is right.
1t is possible that public opinion
may be right, but 1t is just as posi-
BILE that it may be wrong. What
your own sanl ntters in the depths
that Is the voice of men-the prevail
ing sentiment of humanity, though
it may not be the expressed opinion
of the public--you are no man if the
fear of ridicule or curses or desertion
can turn you from course which
you believe to be right. You must
learn to stand at bay like the stag,
defying the ours which bark at your
heels. :
More popular, perhaps, than any
of the foregoing, is the idea that
wealth is the standard ofrespectabil-
ity. Riches, of course, sometimes
betoken the existence of merit,
whereas poverty is too frequently the
result of idleness, or extrayagance,
or dissipation. But be honest, up
right, true men, and then, wherever
you are, be not afraid to say boldly,
fearlessly, frankly, 81 am poor"
Lastly, the greatest fallacy, the most
universal of all these mistaken ideas
shat TO become rich is the proper OBJ
ject in life. Young men, the world
to come is to be your home-tha'
concerns you most-your sojourI
here is small space on the scale o
your existence. 1t is nothing com
pared with eternity. / pray that nov
in the morn of your life you may hay'
grace to spurn and detest this ide'
as the great object of your life.
The subject for next Sunday eve
ming is the Infidelity of the Times.