The Penn's Grove record., 1896-11-27

that castle OF character which has ID e The
most spoils and treasures, Il Was not some
crazy craft creeping along the coast with a
valueless cargo that tho Pirate attacked. pnt
the ship, full winged and Tagged, plying kal
tween great ports. carrying its millions Of
specie. The more your natural and ecquired
accomplishments, the more need of tho reIis-
ion Of Jesus. That does rot cut in ppon OF
back up any smoothness Of disposition or
behavior. 1t gives symmetry. A arrezts
thatjnthe soul which oukhfto be Arrested and
propels that which ought 10 be propelled. Il
fills up the gulleys. Il eieyntes aud trans
forms. To beauty It gives more beauty 70
enthusiasm. When the Holy Spirit ffupre7sea
the image OF God on the heart. He doos not
spoil the canvas. lii all the multitndss Of
young men upon whom religion has acted
you could find one nature that had been tn&
least damaged, would yield this pfoposi-
tion.
You may now have enough strength Of
character to repel the various temptations to
gross wickedness which assoii you. but I 40
not know in what strait you may tsthrust
at some future time. Nothing short % the
grace of the cross may then be able to de-
liver you from the lions. You are not
meeker than Moses. nor h0lIer than David,
nor more patient than Job and you ought
not to consider yourself i~nyulnerapse: You
noy AVnl0 Nthh I|4Nt VI HA1- t~EHt
you have never discovered, and q some hour
when you are unsuspecting tho Pbilistines
will be upon thee. Samson. Trust uot
in your good habits, or you early train
ing, or you pride Of character
nothing short of the arm Of Almighty sod
will be sufficient to uphold You. You loqk
forward to the world sometimes with q chilli
ing dependency. Cheer up 1 Will tell you
how voc MAJ make a fortune. ssSeek first
the kingdom OF God and His righteousness,
and oil other things shall DO added unto
you" / know you do not want to be mean
In this matter. Give God the freshness Of
your life. You will not have the heartfo
then pour the dregs on Gods altar. 10
q Saviour so infinitely generous you
have not the heart to act like thar. That
Is not brave. That Is not honorable.
That ia not manly. Your greatest want ii
all the world Is a new henrt. In Coda name
I tell you that. And the Blessed Spirit
presses through the soIemnitles ard pffvt-
eternal 10 your thirsty lips Thrust L nor
back. Mercy offers it--bleeding mercy. long
suffering mercy. Reject all other lriand-
ships, be ungrateful for all other kindness,
prove reereant to ali ether bargains, hut 70
despise Gods love for your Immortal soui.-
do not do that.
would like to SOC some Of you this hour
| press Out vi lit al3N VI ~ WA NAV ~
your conquered spirit rs the feet Of Jesue.
This hour Is no Wandering yagabond stag
gering over the earth; 1t fsa winged meg
senger Of the skies whispering mercy to thy
soul. Life Is smooth now. but after sHhiie
1t may be- rough. wild and p~recipitafe.
There comes a crisis in the history Of every
man. We seldom understand that fufnihg
point until it Is far past. The road OF fiie is
forked, and / read on two ~sigAboards This
Is the way to happiness and = This
Is the way to ruin How apt Nn are
to pass the fork OF the rokd without thinking
whether 1t comes out ut the door of bIiaa OF
the gates Of darkness.
Many years ago l stood on the an1iyefs
sary platform with a minister OF Christ
who made this remarkable statement;
out in the evening to attend the Pafk
Theater, New York, where q pley was 10
be acted in which the cause Of religion wis
to be placed in a ridiculous int hypocrit-
lcal light. They came TO the steps. The
conscienees OF both smote them. One
started to go home, but returned again to
the door, and yet had not courage 10 enter,
and finally departed. Bat the other young
man entered tEg4ntf4sf the theater. II
was the turning pol- IN thahSstosE qf th7se
two young men. The I'D n who entered NM
caught in the whirl Of II lptation. He sunk
deeper and deeper in Id my. He was lost.
That other young maj as saved. and be
now stands before you toSbiess God that fol
twenty years he has p4sa permitted 70
preach the gospel
1Reioice, o Young man, O. thy youth and
let thy heart cheer thee ia the DAYS offhy
youth; but know thou that for all tktss
things Ged will bring thee unto Judgment
IIA1 HHAf