The Portland daily press., 1892-06-18

VESSEL COHluS dL10 gov Ouui DtitJ
and push towards her, and I shout:
"Ahoy, captain! What are you going to
do with those shfvered timbers? That
was beautiful ship when you went
out, but you have ruined it." co."
says the captain, 81 have fine cargo
on board and by this round trip I have
made ten fortunes" So l believe it
will be when the Christian soul at last
comes into the harbor of Heaven. It
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 suf-
fered with Him on earth, ye shall be
giorified with Him in Heaven" Aim
high. Do not be satisfied tc be like the
Christians all around abut you. Be
more than they ever have 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
cannot 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 I say to any Christian
who may feel that he has poor weapons
to fight again sin and darkness and
death: advance upon the enemy. In
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
association; and take only those that
are useful and benefcent Stay out of
all associations that would damage
your Christian character. Take only
those associations that will help you.
A learned man said: ''If stay with
that man Fenelon any longer 1 shall
get to be Christian in spite of myself. )"
In other words there is a mighty
power in Christian associations. Now,
what kind of associations shall we, as
young Christians, 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 com
pany, ten chances to one we will be bet
tered. If we get into company little
worse than ourselves, and there be ten
people in that company, ten chances to
one we will be worse than we were be-
FORE
Now, when a Christian enters the
church, God does not ask him to retire
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-
tions. This remark is more especially
appropriate to the young. Now it is i'm
possible that the young and untroubled
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 I suppose he intended the
young chiefly to associate with the
young. The grace of God does not de-
mand that we be unnatural. l do not
want you to take this caution have
given you as that of a growing nissan
trophe, hating hilarity. For you must
have spring-bow if you want to make
the arrow 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 as
sociations. I know young people who
have meant well enough, but they have
fioated off into evil influences, and
they have associated day by day with
those who hated God and despised his
commandments, and their characters
are all depicted. I can see they are
changed for the worse, but they are not
aware of it. Oyoung man, come out of
| that bad association. do not know
what it is. do not know to what place
you may have a private key. I do not
know to what place you go without the
sanction of those who love you very
much. 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 "a which
so many young Christians have been de-
stroyed. In this church there is a large
company of young men and young
women consecrated to Christ. I know of
no better people than they are. Young
convert, invite you into their friend
ship. Contact with them will elevate
you. All hail, young followers of
Jesus Christ, my joy and pride! My
heart thrills at every step of your ad-
vancement. talked with you in that
hour when you first tried to break from
sin, and now rejoice as see you put
ting on the armor of conflict in which
God will give you present and everlast-
ing victory. Stand off from all evil
association. A man is no better than
the company he keeps. Go among those
who are better than you are, and you
will be made better. Go among those
who are worse than you are and you