The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1888-12-21

now he has pleasant friends, now
he has moro money than he knows
how to spend; everything goes brighr
and we'll with him. But trouble comes
there are many young mer in the
house this morning who can testify
out of their own experience that some
times to young men trouble does come
his friends are gone, his salary is
gone, his health is gone, goes down.
down. He becomes sour, cross, queer
misanthropic, blames the world
blames society, blames the church,
blames everything, rushes perhaps tc
the intoxicating cup to drown his
trouble, but instead of drowning his
trouble browns his body and browns
his soul.
THE PART OF A CHRISTIAN.
But here is Christian young man.
Trouble comes to him. Does he give
up9 No. He throws himself back on
the resources of heaven. He says
"God is my father. Out of all these
disasters I shall pluck advantage for
my soul. All the promises are mine.
Christ is mine, Christian companion
ship is mine, heaven is mine. What
though my apparel be worn QUIT
Christ gives me a robe Of righteous
ness. What though my money be
gomez I have a title deed to the
whole universe in the promise, All
are yours What though my worldly
friends fall away2 Ministering angels
are my bodyguard. What though my
fare be poor and my bread be scant9
I sit at the Kings banquet.
Oh, what poor, shallow stream is
worldly enjoyment compared with
the deep, broad, OVERLOOKING river of
Gods peace, rolling midway in the
Christian hearth Sometimes you have
gone out on the iron bound beach of
the sea when there has been a storm
on the ocean, and you have seen the
waves dash into white foam at your
feet. They did not do you any harm.
While there, you thought of the chap
ter written by the psalmist, and per-
haps you recited it to yourself while
the storm was making commentary
upon the PASSAGE God is our refuge
and strength, a very present help in
time of trouble. Therefore will | not
fear though the earth be removed, and
though the mountains be carried into
the midst of the sea; though the waters
thereof roar and be troubled, though
the mountains shake with the swelling
thereof. Selahr' Oh, how indepen-
dent the religion of Christ makes a
man of worldly success and worldly
circumstances! Nelson, the night be-
fore his last battle, said: Tomorrow
l shall win either peerage or grave
in Westminster Abbey" And it does
not make much difference to the
Christian whether he rises or falls in
worldly matters; he has everlasting
renown any way. Other plumage may
be torn in the blast, but that soul
adorned with Christian grace is fairer
than the dove, it's wings covered with
silver, and its feathers with yellow
gold.
You and have found out that peo-
pie who pretend to be happy are not
always happy. Look at that young
man caricxturingf the Christian re-
ligion, soothing at everything good,
going into FOSTERING drunkenness,
dashing the champagne bottle to the
floor, rolling the glasses from the bar
room counter, laughing, shouting,
stamping the floor shrieking. Is he
happy2 l will go to his midnight pill
low. l will see him turn the gas off.
I will ask myself if the pillow on which
he sleeps is as soft as the pillow on
which that pure young man sleeps.
All, no! When he opens his eyes in
the morning, will the world be as
bright to him as to that young man
who retired at night saying his prayers,
invoking Gods blessing upon his own
soul and the souls of his comrades, and
father and mother and brother and
sister far away9 No, no. His laughter
will ring out from the saloon so that
you hear it as you pass by, but it is
hollow laughter; in it is the swapping
IT heart strings and the rattle Of
prison gates. Happy that young
nan happy9 Let him Gil high the
BOWL; he cannot drown an upbraiding
conscience. Let the balls roll through
he bowling alley; the deep rumble
md the sharp crack cannot overpower
he voices of condemnation. Let him
vhirl in the dance of sin and tempta-
ion and death. All the brilliancy of
he scene cannot make him forget the
asst look of his mother, as he left
home, when she said to him: "Now.
ny son, you will do right; l am sure
you will do right; you will, won't
7ous That young man happy9 Why,
lcross every night there fits shadows
IT eternal darkness; there are adders
'oiled up in every cup; there are vul-
ures OF despair striking their iron
,eak into his heart; there are skeleton
myers of grief pinching at the throat
come in amid tho clicking of the
classes and under the flashing of the
handeliers, and l cry: "Woe! woe
he way of the ungodly shall perish.
here is no peace, saith my God to the
wicked. The way of transgressors is
ard" Oh, my friends, there is more
oy in one drop of Christian satisfac-
ion than in whole rivers of sinful de-
ight. Other wings may be drenched
+ the storm and spiashed of the tenn
est, but the dove that comes in
Trough the window of this heavenly
rk has wings like the dove covered
nth silver, and her feathers with vel
ow gold.
Again l remark, religion is an
dornment in the style Of usefulness
lto which it inducts a man. Here