Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-13


TO 10 with those shivsred tmnsrs. Tat
was beautiful ship when yoa went out.
bGE yoa have ruined il. '-Oh.' says
the captain. Il have = fne cargo on
board, and by this round trip / have
made tea fortunes
So | believe il viii be when the
Christian soul AZ last comes into the
haxbor Of heayea- II win come bearing
upon il the marks OF great stress OF
weather. You can see by the very looks
of that so9l as il comes into glory that
il was driven by q storm and dashed Ii
tbs hurricane. bat by 80 much as the
voyage l. rough. viii the harbor be
blessed "lf ye suffered with him
on earth. We shall be glorified with him
In heaven" Aim high. Do not be sat-
isfed 70 DO ike the Christians all around
you. Be more than they have ever been
for Christ,
An old Arabian king was showing q
beautiful sword that had been given
him, when one Of bis courtiers said:
This sword Is too short You cannot
do anything with it." Said the king's
son: TO brave man no sword is too
short II il be TOO short, take one step
In advance. and then IL is long enough"
So say To any Christian who may feel
that be has poor weapons with which 10
fight against SIN and darkness and death:
Advance upon the enemy. In the
strength Of Christ 20 forward. GGd is
for you, and if God be for you, who can
be against your Remember that God
never puts you in battle. but he gives
you weapons with which 10 light"
POWER OF CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
NY second word of counsel To those
who have recently entered upon Christian
life Ia, Abstain from all pernicious asso-
Citations, and take only those that are
useful and benedcent. 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-
lions shall we. as young Christians, seek
after? l think we ought to get into COM
pany better than ourselves, never going
into company worse than ourselves. II
we get into company little better than
ourselves and there are ten people in
that company, ten chances to one we will
be bettered- II we get into company a
little worse than ourselves, and there be
ten people in that company, ten chances
to one we win 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 soorns is no nearer heaven than
the man who lives on partridge and wild
duck. Isolstion is not demanded by the
Bible. A man may use the world with
the restriction of not abusing it. But
just - soon - you find any surrounding
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 tho aged, talking over the past and
walking stat in hand along the same
paths they trod thirty, forty and fifty
years ago, so l suppose he intended the
young chiefly to associate with the young
The grace Of God does not demand tina
We be unnatural. ! do not want you Il
take this caution ! have given you q,
that Of q growing misanthrope, hating
hilarity. For you must have q sprinl
bow il you want to make the arrow fly
But while this Is 90. want you to be es
pecially on guard IN this matter, and he
tho religion Of Jesus Christ control yor
in AL your associations. I know youni
people who have meant well enough, bu
they have fioated of into evil influences
and they have associated day By day will
those who hated God and despise hi
commandments, and their characters ar,
all depleted. can see they are changes
for tho worse, but they are not aware o
It. Oh, young man. come ont Of that bst
association. do not know what it is.
do not know to what place you ma,
have private key. / do not know Il
what place you 60 without the sanction
of those Who love you vary much.
lido not pretend to point ont any evi
influences, bat aye there not soane sur
rounding influences that are perniciou
to your growth IN gracef Stand bacl
from that furnace In which 70 man,
young Christians have bean destroyed
In this church there ID largo compan,
of young men and young women con
secrated 10 Christ. Iknow Of no bette
than they are.
Young convert, invite you into thsi
friendship Contact with them viii ele
vate you An hail. young followers o
Jesus Christ, my JOY and my pridel n.
heart thrills at every step Of your I'd
vancement. talked with you IN tina
hour when you most tried to break from
sin, and now rejoice ~ see you put
ting ON the armor Of conflict in whicl
God viii give you present and everlass
ing victory. Stand OF from all evil az
sociations. A man Ia no better than tn
company he keeps. Go among thos
who are better than you are. and yol
will be made better. Go among thos
vino are worse than you are and yo'
viii be made worse.
BE BRIGHT AND CHEERFUL
Ny next word Of counsel is that yol
be actively employed see grea
many Christians with doubts and pei
pleusies. and they seem 70 be proud O
them. Their entire Christian life
msds mp Of gloom, aud they seem .
cultivate thar spiritual dependency
when l will undertake to say that i
nine cases out Of ten spiritual despond
ency 10 a Judgment Of God upon idle