The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-09-12

rays of death. Here surely is tenn
perance text. A young man may think
it not wrong to take glass OF lager
beer; he may say that good men do it,
generation after generation; it may
really SEEM to him that this is the right
way. But it is not right; the fruitage
will prove it. 1t is the way of self-delu
sion. In millions of instances it has led
to drunkenness and ruin. Self-indul-
gence from the very first blurs the moral
vision and weakens the will When
many an one has awakened to find him
self drunkard, he has found himself
morally weakened to such an extent that
he cannot, under ordinary conditions,
help himself. He must in that sad
case, continue to walk the ways of death;
he must pursue his darkened path until
the final shadow of earth is reached.
2, Second Group of Proverbs,
VS.. $3.50.
The appetite of a Iaboring man labor
eth for has mouth crdveth 1t of hin.
Hunger and the fear of hunger have in
large degree civilized the world. The
craving of appetite fells trees, tills the
ground, builds factories, navigates the
ocean. The appetite of laboring man
is indeed his friend; it keeps him from
dying of intertness.
A worthless man deUiseth mischief;
and IN has lips there is a scorching fire.
A worthless man is one who lives with
out moral purpose or aim. He is son
of Belial; that is, he is good for moth
ing. Without worthy employment of
his own in his inner life. he will be a
meddler and marplot in the spiritual ex.
perience of others. 1t will be useless to
look to him for moral encouragement,
His sarcasms and sneers scorch and
wither; no words of his awaken or ferti-
lie moral purpose in any struggling
soul.
A frOUard man scdttereth abroad
strife: and a achisper separateth chief
friends. To be froward.-that is, per
verse, headstrong, to be proof against
all appeals of reason and virtue,-will
make one promoter Of strife. Such an
one cannot be blessed peacemaker.
He cultivates reptile traits. He whis-
pers evil insinuations he retails and
enlarges SANDERS; he does his worst to
destroy unselfish trust between real
friends. Many friends have been sep
arated by vile whispers.
A UioIent man enticeth has neighbor,
and teadeth him an a acdy that is not
good. The vicious are always tempting
the innocent. The young man who has
begun to feel the fatal fascination of
drink, will try to entice his friends to be
partakers with him of the dangerous ex-
element. Vice, like misery, loves com
pany. One should shun evil compan-
ionship as he would shun moral poison.
He that shutteth has eyes. 1T is to de-
use fro,0drd things: he that compress
eth has lips bringeth evi to pass. A
drama in a few words: Act |. A frow-
uAO man ShubbiuS LIS OJOo W OOotdClOS
and consequences while he devises an
evil work. Act ii. A man setting his
teeth together and COMPRISING his lips
in his evil determination, and by sheer
force of will bringing his evil design to
pass.
8. Third Group of Proverbs,
VS.. 31-33.
"A hoary head is crocn of glory; 1t
shall be found IN the aoay OF righteous
ness. The Revisers make the passage
tell us that the hoary head which is
crown of glory is found in the way of
Righteousness. That is, length of days
is the natural reward of the righteous
life. 1t may be that there are boar
white heads which do not crown right
eous lives; but these, according to our
observation, are exceptional. The hon.
orable white heade, which are beautiful
like the almond trees, belong according
to the law to the righteous. The last
days of the righteous are their best
days. The old age which follows life
of righteous endeavors, is a journey
through peaceful Beulah-land. in sight
of the heavenly hills.
He that is sloao to anger is better than
the mighty, and he that ruleth has spirit
than he that tdketh city. A great
conqueror is he who masters his own
temper. He who controls himself, and
subjects all his inclinations to the law
of God, is the mightiest conqueror in
the earth. When Gen. Grant captured
Vicksburg he was reckoned great con-
queror. yet when, in his last days, he
rose above all that was rebellious and
uncharitable in himself, and bowed
humbly and cbeerfully to Gods will, he
attained to his truest greatness.
The lot is cast into the lap; but the
achole disposing thereof is of the Lord.
When men in the ancient East were in
perplexity. they sometimes referred the
matter to the decision of fortune in the