The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-06-29

Will be when tie Christian soul AT last
comes into the harbor of Heaven. 1t
will come bearing upon it the marks of
a great stress of weather. You can see
by the very looks of that soul as it
Genes into glory that it was driven by
a storm and dashed in the hurricane;
but by so much as the voyage is rough,
will the harbor be blessed. IF We suf-
fered with Him ON earth, We shall be
glorified with Him in Heaven" Aim
high.
Do not be satisfied to be like the
Christians all around about you. BE
more than they have ever been for
Christ. An old Arabian king was show
ing beautiful sword that had been
given him, when one of his courtiers
said: This sword is too short. You
can not do anything with it." Said the
kings son: TO brave man no sword
is too short. If it be too short, take one
step in advance, and then it is long
enough" So l 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"
My second word of counsel to those
who have recently entered upon Chris
tian life is: Abstain from all pernicious
associations, and take only those that
are useful and beneficial. Stay out of
all associations that would damage
your Christian character Take only
those associations that will help you.
A learned man said: IF l stay with
that man Fenelon any longer shall get
to be Christian in spite of myself" In
other words, there is mighty power in
Christian associations. Now what kind
of associations shall we, as young Chris
tians, seek after? think we ought to
get in company better than ourselves,
never going into company worse than
ourselves. If we get into company
little better than ourselves and there
are ten 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 be-
fore.
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 de-
manded by the Bible. A man may use
the world with the restriction of not
abusing it. But just as soon as you find
any surroundings pernicious to your
spiritual interest, quit those associa-
tons. 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, l suppose, he in
tended 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 ar
row fly. But while this is so, want
you to be especially on guard in this
matter, and let the religion of Jesus
Christ control you in all your associa-
TONS ] know young people who have
meant well enough, but they have float
ed off into evil influences, and they have
associated day by day with those who
mated God and despised his command
ments, and their characters are all de-
pleted ! can see they are changed for
the worse, but they are not aware of it.
o young man, come out of that bad as
ISOLATION. l do not know what it is. !
do not know to what place you may
have private key.
do not know to what place you GO
without the sanction of those who love
you very much. l do not pretend to
point out any evil influences, but are
there not some surrounding influences
that are pernicious to your growth in
grace. Stand back from that furnace
in which so many young Christians have
been destroyed. In this church there is
a large company of young men and
young women consecrated to Christ |
know of no better people than they are
Young convert, invite you into their
| friendship. Contact with them will
elevate you. All hail, young follower.
of Jesus Christ, my joy and my pride
My heart thrills at every step of YOU
advancement.
talked with you in that hour wher
you first tried to break from sin, and
now rejoice as see you putting on tn,
armor of conflict in which God viii
give you present and everlasting
victory, Stand off from all evil as
sociations. A man is no better than tn,
company he keeps. Go among thos,
who are better than you, and you will
be made better; go among those whc
are worse than you, and you will bt
made worse
My next word of counsel is that yo,
may be actively employed. I see
great many Christians with doubts an,
perpleXities, and they seem to be prouC
of them. Their entire Christian lif
is made up of gloom, and they seem t,
cultivate that spiritual dependency
when l will undertake to say that il
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