Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-04-12
EVIL THOUGHTS.

A mans heart is his greatest enemy, and
Christ says "Out of the heart proceed evil
thoughts" (Matt. XIV. 1917 Therefore Da-
vid says: "Create in me clean heart, 0
God, and renew a right spirit within me-"
psalm 81. 100 And Paul eXclaims: 80
wretched man that I am who shall deliver
me from the body Of this death?" Rom.
vii. 24.)
Evil thoughts arising in the heart may
result from three causes l. From the cor
ruption of the human heart itself 2. From
the influences brought to bear on the soul
of man by the senses. 8. From the power
and devices of Satan.
There rests upon every human individual
a responsibility to repress and restrain evil
thoughts, and if the question arise, care
we able to govern our thoughts, to restrain
them," the answer is, "With the aid of the
Holy Spirit we cam"
Like an importunate creditor, or an i'm
pertinent guest, they will obtrude them
pursue us even to the sanctuary, and assault
us at the very altar of God.
But there are some simple rules, which,
if strictly followed, will assist in preserving
purity Of thought and holiness Of life.
l. Draw nigh to God in constant and fer
vent prayer. Prayer, in its very nature, its
retirement from the affairs of the world, its
conservation to God, aids in purifying the
heart. By it we gain relish for spiritual
things, and it makes the soul averse to all
evil.
2. Avoid idleness. A thousand ill things
come into the mind Of an idle man. The
most desirable opportunity the devil has to
inject wicked thoughts or temptations sue
cessfully swhen man has nothing to do.
3. Avoid bad company. Experience
teaches US that when we hear any leWd or
profane conversation, or see any base action,
we are apt to repeat the evil in our thoughts.
CIVIL communications corrupt good man.
ners." q. Cor. XIV: 33.)
t. Avoid the reading of such books and
papers that are likely, in any way, to in
still evil thoughts or motives into US.
5. Frequently examine yourself. If we
do not know ourselves, how can we govern
ourselves?
6. Make a covenant with your eyes and
senses, keeping them from unlawful objects,
or not letting them dwell upon them. If a
fortress is to be kept from the enemy, it is
necessary for the defenders to have special
care over the avenues and gates. Now, the
senses are the avenues of the soul, the gates
by which the evil enters the mind. The
whole world is hung over with nets to en-
trap us, and the devil knows how to set his
traps SO as to subdue the spirit by means of
our flesh.
7. If evil thoughts do arise, do not let
them remain in you. An Immediate resis-
tance will weaken an evil thought, and by
God for strength, the danger will for the
time, be overcome. Augustine truly says:
ga man cannot prevent a flock of birds fly
ing over his head, but he can prevent their
alighting on his head"
S. Watch your thoughts, especially on the
Lords day. This day is peculiarly dedica-
ted to God, and is given unto us, that by
proper use of the means of grace, we may
become more like God.
8. BE watchful especially over your own
thoughts whea dlone.-IHe Workman.
THE CHRISTIAN CALLING.-The idea of
a calling individualises not only the Chris
tian obligation, but the Christian. Paul
had no conception of social Christianity
apart from the personal righteousness of the
men that make up society. That is one of
the plausible tictions of the people who find
speculative distractions more to their taste
than the self;denying drudgeries of daily daily
substitute for Christianity in the heart. 1e
see the calling, Paul says, and it is yotT
calling. This is personal language. 1t is
addressed to individual men and women.
1t is the uniform and thorough dealing of
the Christian doctrine. That truth knows
nothing of public virtue except as it is
found in the breasts and the conduct of pri-
vate persons, who take their virtue with
them, and keep it with them, when they
enter into public relations. 1t reaches So
ciety and institutions only through the souls
that are open to it's persuasion and loyal to
it's control. 1t is quite vain for us to con-
gratulate each other on state of general in
tegrity and order, if we tolerate depravity
in ourselves, or excuse it in the usages of the
class to which we happen to belong. If we
have community Of a thousand people in
which we want to see the Christian graces
flourishing, our only way is to go to work
and turn one and another Of the thousand
into a Christian person, each beginning with
himself.-Dr. Huntingdon.
A HOLY LIFE.-A holy life is made up of
a number of small things. Little words,