The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1892-06-14


marks of the wave and the hurricane
upon it-sails rent, rigging spLceo'
pumps all working to keep her aHoat'
bulwarks knocked away. l see sucn q
vessel coming and get out my small poaI
and push toward her, and shouN'
"Ahoy, captaini What are you going
to do with those shivered timbers! mat
was a beautiful ship when you went out,
but you have ruined it. 'Oh, says
the captain, II have a fine cargo on
board, and by this round trip L have
made ten fortunes"
So l 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 a storm and dashed In
the hurricane, but by so much as the
voyage is rough. will the harbor be
blessed. IF We suffered with him
on earth, We shall be gloritied with him
in heaven" Aim high. Do not be sat
isfied to be like the Christians all around
YOU. Be more than they have ever been
for Christ,
beautiful sword that had been given
him, when one of his couruers said:
s.This sword is too short. You cannot
do anything with it" Said the kings
| son: ITO a brave man no sword Is too
| short. If it be too short, take one step
/ in advance, and then 1t 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
he against you? Remember that God
never puts you in battle, but he gives
YOU weapons with which to fight"
POWER OF CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.
Nv 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 benefcent. Stay ont of all
associations that would damage your
Christian character. Take only those as
sociations that will help you. A learned
man said, "If l stay with that man Fene-
lon any longer, l shall get to be Chris
tain in spite of myself" In other words
there is mighty power III Christian as
sociations. Now what kind of sssOcia-
tiops shall we, as young Christians, seek
after? | think we ought to get into COM
panv 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. If we get into company q
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 a 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 thar
the man who lives on partridge and wild
duck. Isolation is not demanded by the
Bible. A man may use the world with
the restriction of not abusing it. Bu'
lust as soon as you find any surrounding
pernicious to your spiritual interest, qui
those associations. This remark is more
especially appropriate to the young. Nov
, it is impossible that the young and I'M
troubled should seek their association
with those who are aged and worn out
, AS God intended the aged to associate
with the aged, talking over the past anC
walking staff in hand along the SAM
paths they trod thirty, forty and lift.
q years ago, so l suppose he intended tn
, Young chiefly to associate with the young
The grace of God does not demand tina
we be unnatural. l do not want you t
talzcthis caution l have given you a
, that of a growing misanthrope, hatlni
= hilaritv. For you must have spr1ni
o bow if you want to make the arrow lily
. But while this is SO, Eltlt You to be es
peciallv on guard in this matter, and lie
the religion of Jesus Christ control yO
. in all your associations. l know yOun
. people who have meant we'll enough, bu
: thew have floated off into evil influence:
: and they have associated day by day wit
= those who hated God and despise hi
= commandments, and their characters ar
all depleted. can see they are change
=, for the worse, but they are not aware c
. | it. Oh, young man, come out of that ba
. association. do not know what it is.
= do not know to what place you ma
- have a private key. l do not know
= what place you go without the sanctio
of those who love you very much.
U do not pretend to point out any eT
!. influences, but are there not some SUI
h rounding influences that are perniciou
y to your growth in grace5 Stand bac
: from that furnace in which so man
4 young Christians have been destroyed
- In this church there is large compan
% of young men and young women col
n secrated to Christ. l know OF no bette
" than they are.
g Young convert, invite you into the
- friendship. Contact with them Will ell
h vate you. All hail. young followers {
~ Jesus Christ, my joy and my pride! NJ
70 heart thrills at every step of your ~
= vancement l talked with you in thu
=, =, hour when you most tried to break frol
~ sin, and now rejoice as see you pu
m ting on the armor of conflict in whic
~ God will give you present and everlas
ooS ing victory. Stand off from all evil q