The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-05-05
Y. M. C. A. NOTES.
From The Record.
BREAKING HEDGES.
c. S. BULLOCK.

like that of young men. The hand on
the rudder when the course was changed
was the hand of young man. 1t must
be admitted, think, that before a man
has passed the twenty-fifth mile stone
on lifes path, the principles that shape
his future are firmly settled. | want
you, therefore, young men, to catch
this trite saying from the pen OF one
whom the serpent had bitten. "Whoso
breaketh hedge, the serpent shall bite
him" (Eccl. 1881 The figure is that OF
stone wall and between the layers
of stone serpents have their homes. Ii
you remove a stone from the wall a
serpent will bite you. 1t is but another
way of saying "The wages of sin is
death" and is truth on which lonia
and Jackson make comment.
While some of us have broken down
the hedges and have been bitten, perhaps
some have not. To such | speak first.
Though this earth is a fair place, there
are places in it where you may not go,
there are flowers you may not touch,
and birds to whose songs you may not
listen. An ounce of prevention is worth
a pound of cure; the buoy and light
house are better than the life boat; at
tention to rules, to the red lantern and
the torpedo is better than wrecking
the train and calling in the surgeon.
Let me remind you of some OF the
hedges from which you may not remove
| a stone:
/. Good manners. Noyoung man need
expect to succeed in life unless he pays
some little attention to his manners. If
you begin to take the stones from this
hedge, the serpent's bite will be death
to your hopes. Manners make the man.
eli, old chap, where did you get all
your rocks" said young man to o
wealthy Quaker. "By dealing in an
article thou highest well handle
civility," was the reply.
2. Honesty There may be momen-
tary profit from breaking down this
hedge, but the serpent will bite, and the
bite will be fatal. The curse of heaven
rests upon the head of him who departs
from the path of rectitude, and though
he may prosper for time, he will ulti-
mately fall. | know what men justify
as business, T." and that clerks are eX-
pected to learn the tricks of the trade
but impeach it all in the name of God
When the merchant is damned for his
wicked deeds, where will the man go?
Where is the evidence that man can
have two characters, as he can have two
coats? A man cannot leave his charac-
ter at home when he goes to business,
for the character is the man himself, and
he must take himself with him wherever
he goes. Be honest, young man, what
ever your calling. Better crust
in honest poverty than feast in mis-
gotten wealth.
3. Chastity. From no other wall are
SO many stones thrown. How few are
the men who are chaste in life and
speech. Keep the face of mother so
before you that you will say nothing she
would blush to hear.
''Immodest words admit of no defense,
For want of modesty is a want of sense"
Let your life be pure. 1t is easier to
remain clean than to wash off the stains
of uncleanness. God gave you happy
boyhood, hopeful youth, noble man
hood. Put not to character the knife
of suicide.
f. Temperance. Breaking down this
wall produces weakness, not strength;
sickness, not health; death, not life 1t
brings shame, not honor; terror, not
safety; despair, not hope. Don't break
this hedge; the first stone you touch is
followed by the serpent's bite
8. Good companions. The sacred
book says, "The companion of fools
shall be destroyed" Fools! who are
they? Those who make mock at sin.
Beware of them, young man. Beware
of the gambler. Ill gotten gains pass
through the fingers like water. Let no
penny that you have be gained without
giving its equivalent, in the work of
your head or mind. Beware of the
pleasure seeker. The devil tempts all
men, but the lazy man tempts the devil.
Beware of the young man who has
nothing to do. He will live at your
expense, dress at the expense of the
tailor and be buried at the expense
of the county.
6. Skepticism. You may throw away
your faith in the God of your father and
mother, but what is the gain2 We hear
good deal about the mistakes of
Moses" and the "Bible being fallible
book" Don't believe this stuff. God
has hedged that book in with His own
truth. 1t teaches of ruin, redemption
and regeneration. May He Himself
bring you into the deep meaning of
those words.
z. Conscience. Do nothing that con-
science smites you for attempting; leave
nothing nndOnp that conscipnca hide