The times., 1886-06-25

vel that such aimless lives are so often
strarded on the hot. blistering shores OF
scepticism, or engulfed in the maelstrom
of worldliness and licentiousness?
'The wise man, says the Bible, walks with God
Surveys, far on. the endless line of life;
Values his soul; thinks of eternity;
Both worlds considers, and provides for both"
Here is grand and lofty purpose of life,
TO procide for t,co soorlds, the seen, and the
unseen, the temporal and the eternal, and
the earlier this becomes the settled, en-
throned purpose Of every youthful heart,
the better the chances will be for greatness
in thought, character. and destiny. The
young man who constantly says to his
Maker, "TA0u shalt guide me qcHh Thy
counsel, and gtteraoard recejce me TO glo,y,"
has before him the most rational and noble
purpose of life. Not a set of circumstances,
or the blind forces of nature, but God is
the best guide over life's treacherous, peril
Gus sea. The flower which opens most
beautifully is the one that has lived in the
clearest sunlight, and breathed the purest
atmosphere. And the development of the
most beautiful youthful life, is that which
has taken place in the atmosphere of
prayer, and under the clear shining of the
Sun of righteousness.
Many young men have visions of sue
cessful and glorious life, that are as unsub-
stantial as the day dreams of golden shores,
enchanted isles, honors, and untold wealth.
Life, however, is no day dream, but some
thing made up, of stern realities, fierce
struggles, and blessed is the young man or
young woman who resolves early and con.
stantly to build out of its rough materials,
pure solid, lofty character. When the
heart becomes the home of pure thoughts,
holy aspirations, aud fixed purpose TO be
man or woman, of the better, nobler sort,
greatness and strength will be sure to come.
This is TO quit ones self like man. Rise
then, 10 the highest planes of thought and
action, or you will loose ground. Do not
cease to grow in knowledge and strength
when your school life ends. You have
formed habits of study and discipline,
press forward with firm and steady step.
| Work is the law of life and nature. From
Him who said, "My Father worketh,
hitherto, and / work, to the lowest form
of life, labor, is the benefcent law of their
being. From the archangel to the micro.
scopic coral insect, the universe of living
creatures is one vast workshop. The mind
must be cultivated, or there can be no
health, progress or happiness The stag
nant pool breeds malaria and pestlence
the indolent mind becomes feeble. Men
tai, physical, and moral work clears the
intellect, arouses the conscience, enlarges
the memory, strengthens the will. Labor
is health and life, inactivity is disease and
death. Highways of knowledge and use
fulness are now, and will be, open before
you, walk in them as long as you live,
then intellectual eEergy, beauty. dignity
and maturity will be your rich inheritance
in old age. But you say, THAT means
labor, incessant labor, and there are so
many difficulties along the path of great
ness, honor and usefulness" Of course
there are, but graphing with difficulties
gives tone, health and vigor TO the soul
1t is an essential condition of strength and
greatness. Love becomes wild, daring, re-
sistless and romantic while battling with
difficulties. Christian character becomes
SOLID, firm and beautiful by perpetual con-
flct. You know the old aphorisin-"n
cessity is the mother of invention" Think
how she has leveled forests. built bridges,
tunnelled mountains, laid iron pathways
from sea to sea, called the lightning from
the skies and sent it with messages to the
ends of the earth. 1t was the fierce armies
of Gaul and Britain that developed in
Caesar his skill. 1t was the snow clad Alps
that made Hannibal fertile in expedients.
Do not, dear young friends, shrink from
difficulties. Gross the Rubicon, bind your
souls with the strong cord of obligations,
then meet them, and thus ''Quit you ike
men," This is the only way to attain
| greatness of intellect and moral character.
You cannot jump into either. Great re-
suits, whether physical, intellectual or
moral, are seldom the products of giant
| pONSis, puo VI Oiuiuuis pOWCio We'll tic-
veloped and trained by exercise. The
| lamp lit cave, and seaside declamations,
preceded the omnipotent eloquence of
Demosthenes that thrilled the Athenian
Senate and summoned a nation to arms.
Genius that is not accompanied with earn
est. persistent labor, is more frequently q
curse than a blessing. Rest not on mere
possession, but on the best use of your
powers, then your talents will multiply,
and you will rejoice in consciously increas
ing power for good.
Again, and again. we are reminded that
the present age is the grandest of all ages.
But, to arrive at such conclusion, we
have to look at the best educated speci-
mems of physical. intellectual and moral
manhood. 1t is said that London, Eng.