The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-12-14

OF illlal affection and regard We
see it in his desire 10 supplant
his father in his foul conspiracy. ia his
unnatural desire to lake the life Of his
father, who had loved and dotted on him
The youth who refers to his father as
'the old man, "the governor etc, is
taking the first step in Absalom's down.
ward course.
EXTRAVAGANZA
is another feature of the character am
delineating. David was not man of
show. But this young sprig of royalty,
who is living on his fathers bounty keep
his dashing turnout. and rides through
the streets of the city attended by fifty
out runners. His old fogy father may
90 on. if he chooses, in his plain, quiet
way of living, singing his psalms and Of
fering his prayers and attending to all the
duties of a religious life; but as for Absa
lon, he is bound to make dash and cut
figure IN society.
Observe the utter unscru pulousness
the entire want of moral principle, which
marks the conduct OF this hot headed
youth. He has all aspiring nature, and is
ambitious to rise to high honor and pow
er. A true ambition is II noble eleme Mt
in the character of young man. Absa>
lom wished to sit upon the throne, and he
scrupled not at the use of any means to
crafty this unhalowcd desire. The
basest treachcry, the most heartlcss graf
itude toward an alfectionatc father-al
this was the price he paid TO secure his
end. Let us notice the inducing
causes that produce this character
AbsalOm was born into a condition of af-
fluence. To be reared in the lap OF lux
uty, and never know the heaithtul disci>
pline of want, never feel the mighty in
elements of necessity, never experience
true independence, which personal effort
inspires, is not best for a young man. a
fortune is to most young men "A positive
misfortune The early
MORAL AND RELIGIOUS CULTURE
of Absalom was sadly neglected. David
was Il busy man. as fathers usually are,
and found too little time for the religious
training of his children. | would it were
not so, but it is the fact, that upon the
mother rests the burdcn-justly or IN
Justly of imparting religious instruction
| to the children of the household, and il
she fails in this holy service, the failure
| is too often fatal. His mother Was q
| heather princess, aud, without doubt, the
gods of Gesheer were worshiped. The
only instance of IL religious act in Absa'
Ions history was his request to go to
Hebron for the fultillment of u vow, and
then he used religion as a preteXt to
hide. rebellion Parental indulgence
| David, with all his virtues, was an over
fond father. The young Absaom was
never sub jcCted to the rigorous discipline,
the restraints, the self denial aud self
| government essential to the foundation 81
a strong and virtuous character. DaviC
rcaped at length the bitter fruits of I'M
wise Indulgence, as every parcnt VIII. q
PARENTAL SIN.
Dayd's own life had not been pure
David knew it, and his family knew it
No man can sin as David did and main
tain unbroken his hold upon his children
reverence. God forgavc David, but GER
tain natural consequences followed which
wrung his heart with dreadful pangs anC
AbSalums rebellion is possibly 10 be
reckouCd one Of them. May God pity
and strengthen the parents, Ca! bless
and save the sons and may neither
have occasion to lament the errors of I
misspent life.