The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-06-17

vessel coming ana get OUT my small DOdl
and push toward her, and | shout
"Ahoy, captainl What are you going
to do with those shivered timbers? That
was beautiful ship when you went out
but you have ruined it," "Oh," says
the captain, 81 have a fine cargo on
board, and by this round trip l have
made ten fortunes"
So | believe it will be when the
Christian soul at last comes into the
harbor of heaven. 1t will come bearing
upon it the marks of great stress of
weather. You can see by the very looks
of that soul as it comes into glory that
it was driven by storm and dashed in
the hurricane, but by so much as the
voyage is rough, will the harbor be
blessed. eff We suffered with him
ON earth, we shall be gloritied with him
in heaven" Aim high. Do not be sat
isfed to be like the Christians all around
you. Be more than they have ever been
for Christ,
An old Arabian king was showing a
beautiful sword that had been given
him, when one of his courtiers said:
''This sword is too short. You cannot
do anything with it." Said the kings
son: ITO brave man no sword is too
short. If it be too short, take one step
in advance, and then it is long enough"
SO | say to any Christian who may feel
that he has poor weapons with which to
fight against sin and darkness and DEATH
advance upon the enemy. In the
strength of Christ go forward. God is
for you, and if God be for you, who can
be against you? Remember that GOD
never puts you in battle, but he gives
you weapons with which to fight"
POWER OF CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
My second word of counsel to those
who have recently entered upon Christian
life is, Abstain from all pernicious asso-
Citations, and take only those that are
useful and beneficent. Stay out of all
associations that would damage your
Christian character, Take only those as
sociations that will help you. A learned
man said, IF stay with that man Fene-
lon any longer, shall get to be Chris
tain in spite of myself" In other words
there is mighty power in Christian as
sociations. Now what kind of associa-
tons shall we, as young Christians, seek
after? | think we ought to get into COM
pany better than ourselves, never going
into company worse than ourselves. If
we get into company little better than
ourselves and there are people in
that company, ten chances to one we will
be bettered. If we get into company
little worse than ourselves, and there be
ten people in that company, ten chances
to one we will be made worse than we
were before.
Now, when young Christian enters
the church, God does not ask him to re-
tire from the world. The anchorite that
lives on acorns is no nearer heaven than
the man who lives on partridge and wild
duck. Isolation is not demanded by the
IteSle. A man may use tho zsos;l9l q, -gsritss
the restriction of not abusing it. But
just as soon as you find any surroundings
pernicious to your spiritual interest, quit
those associations. This remark is more
especially appropriate to the young. Now
it is impossible that the young and I'M
troubled should seek their associations
with those who are aged and worn out
AS God intended the aged to associate
with the aged, talking over the past and
walking staff in hand along the same
paths they trod thirty. forty and fifty
years ago, so | suppose he intended the
young chiefly to associate with the young.
The grace Of God does not demand that
we be unnatural. | do not want you to
take this caution | have given you as
that of a growing misanthrope, hating
hilarity. For you must have a spring |
bow if you want to make the arrow fly. |
But while this is so, want you to be es-
pecially on guard in this matter, and let |
the religion of Jesus Christ control YOU |
in all your associations. | know young |
people who have meant well enough, but |
they have fOated off into evil influences,
and they have associated day by day with
those who hated God and despise his
and their characters are
Ill depleted. can see they are changed
FOR the worse, but they are not aware of
It. Oh, young man, come out of that bad
do not know what it is. |
10 not know to what place you may
nave a private key. do not know to
what place you go without the sanction
IF those who love you very much.
do not pretend to point out any evil
but are there not some sur
ounding influences that are pernicious
o your growth in grace? Stand back
rom that furnace in which so many
-oung Christians have been destroyed
n this church there is large company
f young men and young women con-
ecrated to Christ. know of no better {
han they are.
Young convert, invite you into their
friendship. Contact with them will ele-
ate you. All hail, young followers of {
esus Christ, my joy and my pridel My
cart thrills at every step of your ad- {
ancement. | talked with you in that I
our when you most tried to break from
in, and now rejoice as see you put G
ng on the armor of a conflict in which 1
rod will give you present and everlast- {
lg victory. Stand off from all evil as 7
ociations. A man is no better than the +
Ompany he keeps. Go among those s
tho are better than you are, and you q
ill be made better On amOno thosa Z