The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-04-10


ance. DO you remember the life the blessed
Master led on earth? Did you ever follow
that life from the carpenter shop along the
rough and tOrtuOuS journey until He died
on the cross. He sought out those in the
humble walks of life and sinners whom
others had rejected, fand they followed
Him as their Master. He does not drive
any away. but lifts them up. and if you will
follow Him. He will lift you up. When
we come to the door of that other world
will He ask us what our position in society
has been? What will God ask you and me?
He is going to ask us what we have done
with the character he gave us. l suppose
many of us would like to leave our character
behind, but we have got to take our char
acter with us. When you leave this place
you may perhaps go where you are I'M
known and there will be none to know
what your past life has been. But where
ever you may 90 there is one who will
know your life, and that one is God and He
will judge you not by your acts alone but
He will remember the temptations you re-
sisted. He will judge you by your char
acter. What will that character be? Will
it be character given to unrighteOuSness
or will it be character standing as wit
ness telling how you worked out your sal
walton? 1t behOOves you to make a good
|
will be a witness for you instead of against
you. If the news should come to you that
rich gold mines had been discovered in
| Alaska or in some other inhOSpitable region,
| would you not undergo exposure, privatiOn
and danger in order that you might reach
that country and secure that treasure. In
the heavenly beyond there is a treasure of
| infinitely more value awaiting us; and does
it not behOOve us to make every effort in
order that it may be ours?
We all have our weaknesses and God
knows what they are Why can't we say
to Almighty God, l have done wrong, l
have turned from good to evil; l will turn
back and begin anew. None of us can be
perfect, but we can grow better than we
are. But if we wish to grow better we
must keep ourselves in an atmosphere of
good, and then we can no more help becOm-
ing better than the tree can help growing
when the surroundings are favorable.
Another thought: The influence we have
over others around us. You may say you
have no influence, but there is no one in the
world but has some influence over some
soul. We are all influenced. Did you learn
sin of yourself? Did not some one tempt
you and lead you into sin? The vices of
others opening before you, and being of a
weaker will perhaps, you were borne along
the downward course. You have come
in contact with sin and vice and know its
dangers. Let your influence be such that
when you appear before your God and feel
your unwOrthness He may say: when
you were on earth you tried to help some
one. Let him know, that he which con-
verteth the sinner from the error of his way
shall save soul from death. and shall hide
multitude of SINS" Can you not try to
help some one out of darkness and sin to
hriu % ic frv
ing.
During the late Egyptian war the Eng
lish army wished to march upon the enemy
encamped at Te-el Kebir. The way laid
across parched desert and there was only
one man in the whole army who knew the
way and could guide them there. This man
was young officer. They started at the
close of day and as they marched through
the night the other officers asked him re-
peatedly if he was certain he was leading
them right. He always answered, Il have
my eye on yOnder STAR" And so he lead
them on mile after mile, men dropping here
and there by the way from heat and eX-
haustiOn. On and on they followed that
young man until at the break of day they be-
held the town. With mighty shout they
charged the fort and won a victory. AS
they rushed upon the enemy bullet
pierced that young mans body, and as he
laid there, his life blood ebbing away, his
General came and leaned over his PROSTATE
form to hear what he might say, and his
last words were: Ibid | not lead them
right?" The thought that he had lead the
army to victory was recOmpense enough and
he was willing to die. He knew his course
and followed it to victory. We too have a
course to pursue, battle to fight and vic
tory to win that is better than the victories
of armies-it is the freedom of the soul and
everlasting life.
l have simply presented to you the pos
sibilities of better life. Pray God to give
you pure heart. pray God to give you true