The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1886-04-29
our EVENING SERMON !
See then that ye walk circumspectly
not as fools, but as wise."-Eph. 5-15.

not as fools. but as e."-Eph. 5-15.
In giving this advice to the Church at
Ephesus, the Apostle Paul had nothing
in view but the good of the people, espec-
tally those whom he regarded as faithful
followers of Christ. The burden upon
him was the welfare and keeping of the
Church. The advice was for their good
not for PauIs safety. Much misery
has been caused in this world by the neg
lect or refusal to heed advice. Even the
faithful followers of Christ are often
neglectful of many essential points in
the Christian character, and needless of
advice. To take the advice of others, in
no better standing in the world, perhaps
at least in our own estimation-has an
air of seeming humiliation, to which we
are 10th to subject ourselves. The world
is too apt to grasp the '1ogic" of the wag
who said lone man is as good as another
and little betterr' The world travels
fast, and many people soon come to be-
lieve that they are too old to learn, and
that advice can only be for those young
er and more inexperienced than they.
Many a man believes himself to have
reached that point where his fellow men
can teach him nothing, and that he has
only to behold the world, with all his
countless difficult studies. to understand
them all. We have heard young men,
fresh from College, use some such express
sions as this: 81 have finished my educa-
ton, and will soon settle DOWN. Why,
dear friend, you are almost as far from
finishing your education now as you
were before you started into your course
of training. You are just now ready to
begin your education. AS long as man
lives upon the earth he is going to School,
and as long as he lives there are those
who can give him valuable advice.
The world is the great School where
the most practical, as well as the most
difficult lessons are taught. We once
heard College Professor use this re-
mark in lecturing before class: 81 can
not learn you anything-I can onlysteach
you how to learn" He was himself will
ling to accept any advice that might be
offered him, and profit by it if meritori-
OtlS. uO clOCI
School, is just beginning to take the pri-
mary lessons in the great School of ex-
perience and practical life. To him,
more than all others, perhaps, the admon-
ition of Paul has great significance, and
useful lesson, for it seems to be more
difficult for the young man of to-day to
walk circumspectly and not act the fool,
than for any other of Gods creatures.
Unfortunately there is too great tend
ency in many of our educational ms titu-
tions towards supplanting knowledge
with impudence. The youth comes forth
after delivering his commencement-day
grafton. and the self-conceited manner
ity, is the subject of ridicule and con-
tempt by the very world he seeks to
charm. To ask such an one to walk cir
cumspectly, would be the most laughable
of mistakes-to him. To ask him to quit
acting the fool, would in many cases be
asking him to die. He is beyond the
point of taking advice, and you must per-
NIT him to bump his head for a few
years against the walls of experience,
and learn just what you are telling him
now.
We met young man who had fami-
ly dependent upon him. He was under
the influence of liquor. He was friendly,
and desired to talk "This," said he, sis
the last time you will eyer see me drunk.
1 shall quit to-day, and stay quit" We
could only give him our advice to walk
circumspectly, and be a man. Yet the
next time we met him he was as drunk
as ever He had passed beyond the point
of receiving beneficial advice. He is still
going to School. learning little each
day by hard experience, and will come to
a realization, after while, that he has
been doing just what Paul urged the
Ephesians not to do. The world cannot
respect man who will not walk circum-
specify. He may have Temporary show
of success, and seem excessively popular
for the time-but foolish course will
gradually undermine his popularity, and
when he comes, amid the reverses of for
tune to the point where he needs friends,
he cannot find them. He must be the
guardian of his own character. He must
shape it by his individual acts, and the
world will accept it for just what. he
makes it. If he be wise man, he will
act as circumspectly in the absence of
moral teachers, as in their immediate
presence. but he will not reject the ur-
gent advice of those who seek but his
good.
| We knew man who engaged actively
in politics, and who was seemingly sue
cessful, yet those who seemed to control
the element in which he moved, did not
walk circumspectly. The most disreput-
able methods were resorted to, and those
who should accept advice of more cool
headed men, expressed but contempt fol-
what they regarded as political ignorance
on the part of those who plainly foresaW
the mistake which was being made
That advice was rejected. and brought
the consequence of ejection-defeated
ambition. Though the will may shape q
course directly opposite from the path OF
truth and justice, the world will require
correct life, or at least a life devoid OF
appearances of evil, when bestoWing
honors. And if the world is thus exact
ing, what must the angels be? What
must be the conditions of success giveI
by the Divine Ruler of the Universe
One says to us, "in giving what you tern
good advice, you may mean well enough
but you do not understand what you are
talking about" We have to wait but {
short time for the enlightenment of that
one. The world may put up with great
deal of wrong-doing, the church may b'
lenient with regard to offenders, the Gre
ator of men may be merciful, and slow tt
anger; but there is great under-curren1
of truth and righteousness flowing con
stantly, and the man who mocks at th
appeals of friendship, or the solemn con