Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1892-06-16


satisfied to be like the Christians all around
about you DO more than they have ever
been for Christ.
An old Arabian king was showing a
beautiful sword that had been given him,
when ono of his courtiers said: This
sword is too short. You cannot do any
thing with it," said the kings son: ITO
Il brave man no sword is too short. If it
be too short, take one step in advance, and
then it is long enough" SO ! say to any
Christian who may feel that he has poor
weapons with which to fight against sin
Ynd 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"
ABSTAIN FROM PERNICIOUS ASSOCIATIONS.
Ny second word of counsel to those who
have recently entered upon Christian life
Is, Abstain from all pernicious associations,
and take only those that are useful and be-
nefcent Stay out of all associations that
would damage your Christian character.
Take only those associations that will help
YOU. \ learned man said, "If | stay
with that man Fcnelon any longer | shall
be "A Christian in spite OF myself" In
other words, there is II mighty power in
Christian associations Now what kind
of associations shall we, as young Chris
tians. seek aftcr2 | think we ought to get
into company better than ourselves, never
going into company worse than ourselves.
If we get into company a little better than
ourselves, and there are ten people in that
company, ten chances to one we will be
bcttcrcd If We gct into company Il little
worse than ourselves and there be ten
people in hat 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 retire
from the world. The anchorte that lives
on acorus is no nearer heaven than the man
/ who lives on partridge and wild duck. Iso
lation is not demanded by the Bible. 4
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 associations
Iuil remark is especially more appropriate
/ to the young Now it IS impossible that
the young and urtrcublcd should seek
| their associations with those who are aged
and worn ont.
As God intended the aged to associate
| with the aged, talking over the past and
walking staff in hand elong 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 demand that we be unnat-
| ulal. | do not want you TO take this eau
| tioa l have given you a that of a growl-
/ ing misauthrope, hating hilarity. For you
| must have Il 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 associations.
know young people who have meant
| well enough, but they have tioated off into
| evil influences and they have associated
| day hy day with those who hated God and
Gc~psed his commandments, and their
characters are all depleted. | can see they
are changed for the worse, but they are
not aware of it. Oh, young man, come out
Of that bad association. | do not know
what it il. | do not know to what place
You may have Il private key. | 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 in
| iiucnces, but are there not some surround
ing influences that are pernicious to your
! growth in grace2 Stand back from that
furnace in which so many young Chris
tians have been destroyed.
In this church there is large company
Of young men and young women conse
Grated to Christ. | know Of no better peo
pie than they are. Young convert, | in
vito You into their friendship. Contact
with them will elevate You. All hail
| Young followers of Jesus Christ, nv 10Y
and my pride. My heart thrills at every
step Of your advancement. ! talked witt
1...t
break from sin, and now rejoice as | SEE
you putting on the armor of conflict it
which God will give you present and ever
lasting victory. Stand OFF from all evil Us
sociations \ man is no better than the
company he keeps Go among those who
are better than you are, and you will be
made better. 90 among those who are
worse than you are and you viii be made
worse.
KEEPS ACTIVELY EMPLOYED.
My next word of counsel is that YOU bt
actively employed. | see Il great many
Christians with doubts and perpleXities
and they seem to be proud Of them. Thcil
entire Christian life is made up of gloom
and they seem to cultivate that spiritua
dependency, when | Will undertake t
say hat in nine cases out Of ten spritua
dependency is "A Judgment Of God upon
idleness. who are the happy people in tn,
church today? The busy people SHOW
me man who processes the religion o
Jesus Christ and is idle, and | will SHOW
You an unhappy man. The very first pre-
scrIption that ! g1ve to n man when | fine
linn fun of doubts mud fears about hi
eternal interest is to 20 to work for God
Ten thousand voices are lifted up askin,
for your help. Gro and help.
- T,,11 &C.,