The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-05-11


now considered complete is made up Of a
smattering of newspapers and the last
page of fashion magazine.
The parlor and the drawing room cannot
educate us. They may give us outward
adornments of manner, but getting valu-
able knowledge is like sweltering at a
forge, bellows in one hand and hammer in
the other-like digging in mines with
crowbars, prying under the ledge and the
constant bang of blasted rocks. Espe-
cially IS it true that no growth in grace is
possible unless like Daniel, are willing
to take up the cross, however heavyit may
be and rough with nails. Moses chose af-
Fiction with the people of God rather than
the pleasures of sin, and if we would be
anything like him we must be willing
sometimes to choose the hard bread of self
denial rather than the imperial clusters
from royal vineyards.
To get strength and depth enough in
rivers for turning mill wheels and manu-
factories, dams are built across them. and
then through the mill race the quick floods
leap ON the water wheel to turn it with
tremendous power. So natures that would
otherwise have been powerless and INSULT
cient by self restraint have been damned
back and deepened, until with consecrated
power they rush into the world, turning its
Important Inter
ests. Unrestrained men may have much
good in them, but it is so scattered that
you see no positive effects Electricity in
the air does not strike, but gathered in the
cloud with its bare red arm it cleaves the
mountain.
Passions harnessed and yoked make ex-
cellent beasts of burden. However at
tractive may be the sinful offers of the
world, though rich and luxurious as the
provision of the kings table, we must be
willing 10 refuse them if nothing be left us
but plain pulse. Oh, how want the
faith and courage of a Daniel and Paul,
but how we dread the hot atmosphere Of
trial, in which their graces ripened. The
richest fruits of religion grow in the sultry
tropics of trial. If you want pearls, you
must dive for them. If you want gold.
you must dig for it. The richest parts of
California and Australia are under ground.
Depend upon it, if no pruning, no fruit; no
climbing no elevations; no battle, no vic
tory; NO cross, no crown. Had there been
no observation-disclosures, there would have
been no Daniel Even so it has been in all
ages. The flames that have flashed up
from the stake have been so many illumina-
tions of Christian triumph.
When God would make a great light of
truth and holiness in the world, he often
takes great prosecutions and with them
strikes fire. The DEVILS hate is Gods
glory. Had it not been for the persecu-
tions of Emperor Valerian, the world would
not have known of the courage of a Cy-
prian, and if the tyranny Of Diocletian had
never been known, the triumphant grace
would not have been seen which made
Macmillan, when sentenced to death, ex-
claim, God be praisedP' Had not tie
hanIitG IF cd tho VOL.
denses through the valley of the Alps, and
the infuriate decree put to massacre the
Albigenses of France, the world would
have had fewer illustrations of Christian
heroism. Be Joseph before Pharaoh. Be
Paul before Felix. Be Daniel before
Darius.
BE PURE ALWAYS
Again let the story of Daniel teach us
the beauty of that youthful character
which remains umblemished and upright
when away from home. Had Daniel, on
arriving in Babylon, plunged into every
excess, his friends in Jerusalem would
never have heard of it. His dissipation
and remuneration of religion would not
have cast one sorrow on the family hearth
where he had lived or the old family Bible
which he used to read. But, though far
away from home, he knew that Gods eye
watched him and that was enough. 1t is
not every young man who maintains the
same character when absent that was
maintained at home.
Frederick watching his fathers sheep
among the hills or thrashing rye in the
barn is far different from Frederick on the
Stock exchange. How often does the kind,
retiring spirit become bold effrontery, and
the accommodating, self sacrificing dis
position once exhibited among brothers
and sisters becomes n cold and unrespon-
sive selfshness, and economy, wasteful-
ness and open handed charity, tight listed
stinginess, and the keeping of good hours
is changed to midnight revelry.
probably address young men now, dis
tant from their fathers house, and others
who still under the parental roof, look
forward to time when they will depart
alone to conflict with the world and among
stra myers be called to build up characters
for themselves. Happy for you, oh, young
man, if you shall, like Joseph, be the same
when living with wicked Pharaoh as with
pious Jacob, or Daniel as pure in Babylon
as in Jerusalem. There is no passage in
mans life Of more thrilling interest than
the day in which he leaves home and goes
off to seek his fortune. The novelty and
romance connected with the departure
may keep the young man from any poig-
nant sorrow, but parents, who have seen
the destru ction among strangers OF those
who were considered promising youths,
cannot help feeling that this step is full of
momentous Importance. Before the youth
left home all his conduct was under af-
fectionate guardianship.
Outbursts of folly, carelessness and i'm
propriety of manner and looseness of speech
were kindly rsproved, and although the
restraint seemed sometimes too severe, yet
hours of sober reflection have convinced
him that it was salutary and righteous.
But behold how the scene changes. The
father, through the interceding Of metro
politan friends, has secured the son a place
in some bank or store or Office. School
mates, on the night before his departure,
come to take their farewell of the young
adventurer.
That morning he takes a last walk
around the old place, and going past some
loved spot sly tear may start, but no one
sees it. The trunk is ON the carriage, and
after a warm goodby away they speed over
the hills. Set down amid excitements and
among companions not overscrupulous as
to their words or deeds, temptations troop
around the stranger. The morning comes,
but no family altar, and the Sabbath, but
no real quiet. and perhaps at the sanctuary
the faces are all strange and no one cares
whether he goes to church or whether he
does not go. Long winter evenings arrive,
how shall they he sDentS On his yyav