Connecticut western news., 1896-11-26

two or three of the trees of life, not frost stricken, nor ice glazed, nor wind stripped, but with thick verdure waving like the palms of heaven. On the dark est cloud place the rainbow, that pillow of the dying storm. You need not print the title on the frame. The dullest will catch the design at glance and say, ''That Is the road to heaven" An, mel On this sea of life what innumerable ships, heavily laden and we'll rigged, yet seem bound for no portl Swept ev- cry whither of wind and wave, they go up by the mountains, they go down by the valleys and are at their wits end They sail by no chart, they watch no star, they long for no harbor. 1 beg ev- cry young man today to draw out a sketch of what, by the grace of God, he means to be. Think no excellence so high that you cannot reach it. He who starts out in life with high ideal of character and faith in its attainment will find himself incased from a thou sand temptations There are magnifi- cent possi abilities before each of you young men of the stout heart, and the buoyant step, and the bounding spirit. | WOulo IudI Sllhl yOu AOf Sfduu hCAACNo- ment. God now provides for you the field, and the armor, and the fortifica- tions. Who is on the Lords side2 A captain in ancient times. to encourage his men against the immense odds on the side of their enemies, said: Come, my men, look these fellows in the face. They are 5000; you are 800. Surely the match is even." That speech gave them the victory. Be not, my hearers, dismayed at any time by what seems an immense odds against you. Is fortune, is want of education, are men, are dew ills, against you, though the multitudes of earth and hell confront you, stand up to the charge. With 1000, 900 against have decided advantagei If God be for us who can be against usf Thus pro- tected, you need not spend much time in answering your assailants.
 Many years ago word came to me that | two impostors. as temperance lecturers, had been speaking in Ohio in various places and giving their experience, and they told their audience that they had long been intimate with me and had become drunkards by dining at my ta- | ble, where always had liquors of all sorts. Indignant to the last degree. | went down to Patrick Campbell, chief of Brooklyn police, saying that was going to start that night for Ohio to have those villains arrested, and want ed him to tell me how to make the ar rest. He smiled and said: Do not waste your time by chasing these men. | 50 home and do your work, and they can do you no harm.'' I took his ooun- sel. and all was we'll. Long ago I made | up my mind that if one will put his trust in God and be faithful to duty he need not fear any evil. Have God on your side, young man, and all the com | bined forces of earth and hell can do you no damage.
 Religious Principle.
 And this leads me to say that the mightiest defense for a young man is the possession of religious principle. Nothing can take the place of it. He may have manners that would put to shame the gracefulness and courtesy of Lord Chesterfield. Foreign languages may drop from his tongue. He may be able to discuss literature and laws and foreign customs. He may wield a pen of unequaled polish and power. His I auickness and tact may qualify him for the highest salary of the counting house. He may be as sharp as Herod and as strong as Samson, with as fine locks as i those which hung Absalom, still be is not safe from contamination. The more elegant his manner and the more fascin- .ating his dress the more peril Satan does not care for the allegiance of a coward ly and illiterate being. He cannot bring him into efficient service. But he loves to storm that castle of character which has Tn it the most spells and treasures. It was not some crazy craft creeping along the coast with valueless cargo that the pirate attacked, but the ship, full winged and Jagged, plying between great ports carrying its millions of spe- oie. The more your natural and acquired accomplishments the more need of the religion of Jesus That does not cut 1T upon or hack up any smoothness of dis position or behavior. It gives symme' try. It arrests that in the soul whict ought to be arrested and propels that which ought to be propelled. It fills ul the gulleys. It elevates and transforms To beauty it gives more beauty, to tact more tact, to enthusiasm of nature nor, enthusiasm. When the Holy Spirit i'm
 presses the image of God on the heart
 he does not spoil the canvas. If in al
 the multitudes of young men upor
 whom religion has acted you could fint
 one nature that had been the least dam
 aged, would yield this proposition.
 You may now have enough strength
 of character to repel the various tempta
 tions to gross wickedness which assai
 you, but I do not know in what strai
 you may be thrust at some future time
 Nothing short of the grace of the eros
 may then be able to deliver you iron
 the lions. You are not meeker thai
 Moses, nor holier than David, nor nor,
 patient than Job. and you ought not t,
 consider yourself invulnerable. You ma,
 have some weak point of character tha
 you have never discovered, and in som
 hour, when you are unsuspecting, tn
 Philistines will be upon thee, Samson
 Trust not in your good habits. or you
 early training, or your pride of charac
 ter. Nothing short of the arm of Al
 mighty God will be sufficient to uphol,
 you. You look forward to the worl,
 sometimes with chilling despondenoy
 Cheer up; I will tell you how you ma,
 make fortune. "Seek first the king
 dom of God and his righteousness, an,
 all other things shall be added unt
 you" know you do not want to b
 mean in this matter. Give God tn
 freshness of your life. You will no
 have the heart to drink down the brim
 ming cup of life and then pour tn
 dregs on Gods altar. To Saviour so in
 finitely generous you have not the hear
 to act like that. That is not brave; tha
 is not honorable; that Is not manly