The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-05

like parchment-scrolls, upon which
we are writing every day. AS the
earth revolves. these writings are
rolled up days length may not see
it. BY and by, perhaps at death, GER
tainly in eternity, we shall see the
scroll unrolled from end to end, and
read it all again. How careful ought
we to be as to what we commit to
memory.
II.-The memories of early life will
either help US or injure us in the flu
ture.
There are memories which are q
blessing. A passage of Scripture
"Thou God seest me"-lodged in the
memory, has saved boy or girl from
lying, stealing, etc. A young man
has been saving from yielding to
temptation to enter the theatre, sit at
the gambling table or 60 in the way OF
the vicious and young woman has
been saved from joining in the dance,
associating with bad company and fall
ing into immortality, by the memory
of teaching received at home or at the
Sabbath school.
have seen black people in the West
Indies with charms upon neck and
arm, worn to save them from the
'evil eye" and make them successful
in life. It was a foolish custom and
could do no good. But have known
individuals upon whom the memory
of the piety and purity of their pa
rents have acted better than charm,
guarding them from evil. They have
remembered their parents, and have
been ashamed to do anything false,
mean or unjust.
The recollection of teaching received
in the Sabbath-school has led to the
conversion of an abandoned sinner far
on in life. have read of an old man
in the backwoods of America. far
away from Christian teaching, who
was awakened and led to the Saviour
through the sudden recollection Of
sentence in sermon which he had
heard when boy. The memory of
good things will 60 on with us into
heaven and will make us happier
there.
While there are memories which
bless, there are others which are a
curse. A good man goes into his
closet to pray, or to some religious ser
vice to wait upon God. He wants to
fix his attentionon good things, when
suddenly the memory of some bad
look, book, word or action crosses his
mind, and he is disturbed and panied
thereby. A gentleman tells how, one
day when he was a boy, a bad book
was placed in his hand. He only
glanced at the pictures for few NOM
ents. II would give worlds" says
he, eff I could get those pictures out
of my memory again. I can see them
when 60 to prayer and when I at
tend the Lords table; and they give
me great uneasiness and pain"
The memory of an ungodly home
home where there is no family pray
er and where business and worldli-
are first thought of and talked of is a
very painful and injurious memory.
We ought to be very sorry for chill
dren whose parents are ungodly, for
there are so many difficulties in the
way of their salvation.
The memory of false professors of
religion is very injurious. There are
some to-day who scarcely believe in
religion at all, because the only form
of it of which they know anything
is what they saw in the life of 80
called Christian who did not really
possess true religion. They are ready
to call all religion sham.
III.-This subject furnishes lessons
both for children and parents.
Children should learn to avoid ev-
erything that they would not like to
be familiar with in days to come.
Peter would never have been 30 quick
ly betrayed into cursing and swear
ing in the Judgment hall if he had
not learned it upon the Lake of Cali
lee when he was boy.
Avoid bad companions and those
silent evil companions-bad books.
Get the mind stored with Gods Word
and hide it in the heart.
Parents should learn carefully to
guard their children as far as possible
from contact with evil.
Be careful to maintain piety at
home. Let children see religion
there in all its beauty and attractive
ness. Try in every possible way to
make the memory of home fragrant
and blessed for ever.
Cultivate self.control. Be careful
how you act and speak in the presence
of children. Let nothing be done or
said before them that you would avoid
if you thought they understood.
They will remember it again when
they can understand. Endeavor by
precept and example to train them in
tha nurture and admonition of the