Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1896-11-23

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elegant his manner and the more fascin-
ating his dress the more peril. Satan does
not care for the allegiance of a coward
~ and illiterate being He cannot bring
him into efficient service. But he loves
to storm that castle Of character which
has IN it the most spoiIs and treasures
1t was not some crazy craft creeping
along the coast with valueless cargo
that the pirate attacked, but the ship,
full winged and tagged, plying between
great ports carrying its millions of spe.
Gle. The more your natural and acquired
accomplishment the more need of the
religion of Jesus That does not cut III
upon or hack up any smoothness of dis
position or behavior. It gives symme.
try. It arrests that in the soul which
ought to be arrested and propels that
which ought to be propelled. 1t fills up
the gulleys. 1t elevates and transforms.
To beauty it gives more beauty, to tact
more tact, to enthusiasm of nature more
enthusiasm. When the Holy Spirit i'm
presses the image Of God on the heart,
he does not spoil the canvas. IF in all
the multitudes Of young men upon
whom religion has acted you could find
aged, would yield this proposition.
You may now have enough strength
of character 10 repel the various tempta-
tons to gross wickedness which assail
you, but I do not know in what strait
you may he thrust at some future time.
Nothing short Of the graceSSf the cross
may then be able to deliver you from
the lions. You are not meeker than
Moses, nor holier than David, nor more
patient than Job, and you ought not to
consider yourself invulnerable. You may
have some weak point of character that
you have never discovered, and in some
hour, when you are unsuspecting, the
Philistines Will be upon thee, Samson.
Trust not in your good habits, or your
early training, or your pride Of charac-
ter. Nothing short Of the arm of AL
mighty God will be sufficient to uphold
you. You look forward to the world
sometimes with chilling dependency.
Cheer up; will tell you how you may
make fortune. ''Seek first the king
dom of God and his righteousness, and
all other things shall be added unto
you. l know you do not want to be
mean in this matter. Give God the
freshness OF your life. You will not
have the heart to drink down the brin4-
ming cup Of life and then pour the
dregs on God s altar. To Saviour so in
fnitely generous you have not the heart
TO act like that That is not brave; that
is not honorable; that is not manly.
Your greatest want in all the world is
new heart. In God S name, tell you
that. And the Blessed Spirit presses
of this holy hour. Put the cup of life
eternal to your thirsty lips. Thrust it
not back. Mercy offers it-bleeding
mercy, long suffering mercy. Reject all
other friendships, be ungrateful for all
other kindness, prove Tecreant to all
other bargains, but to despise Gods
love for your Immortal souI-do not do
that.
TWO signboards.
would like to see some of you this
hour press out CT the ranks Of the world
and lay your conquered spirit at the feet
Of Jesus. This hour is no wandering
vagabond staggering over the earth. It
is q winged messenger Of the skies whis-
pering mercy 10 thy soul. Life is smooth
now. out after awhile 1t may be rough,
wild and precipitate. There comes
crisis in the history Of every man. We
seldom understand that turning point
until it is far past. Tie load of life is
forked, and | read OH two signboards:
''This is the way to happiness. F." "This
is the way To ruin. How apt we are to
pass the fork Of the road withouG think
ing whether it comes out at the door of
bliss or tie gates Of darknessl
Many years ago stood on the ami
versary Platform with i minister Of
Christ who made this remarkable state
lnent '"Ehi1ty years ago two young
men started out IN the evening to at
tend the E.;1k theater, New York,
where play was to DC acted in which
the cause OF religion WAS to be placed in
"a ridiculous and hypocritic;il light.
They came 10 the steps. The consciences
Of beth s1nctt. them. One started to so
home, but returned again to the door,
and yet had rot courage to enter and
finally departed. But the other young
man entered the pit CT the theater. It
was the turning point Ia the history Of
these two young men. The man who
entered was caught in the whirl of
temptation. lie sank deeper and deeper
in infamy; he was lest. That other
young man WAS saved, and he now
stands before you &C bless God that for
20 years he has been permitted to
preach the gospel.
''Rejoiee, @ young man, in thy
youth, and let thy heart cheer thee i'll
tie days OF thy youth. Bnt know tsiuu
that for al these thugs God will bring