Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-11-26

san py no cnart, rney watch no star, they
long for no harbor. 1 beg every 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
1t. He who starts out in life with high
ideal of character and faith in its attain
ment will find himself incased from a
thousand temptations. There are mag
niflcent possibilities before each of you,
young men of the stout heart, and tho buoy
ant step, and the bounding spirit Iwould
marshal you for grand achievement. God
now provides for you the field and the
armor and the Notifications. Who is on
the Lords side9 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 300.
Surely the match is even.' That speech
gave them the victory. Be not, my hear
ers, dismayed at any time by what seems
an immense odds against you Is fortune,
is want of education, are men, are devils
against you, though the multitudes OF
earth and hell confront you, stand up to
the charge. With 100000 against you,
the match is just even-nay, you have a
decided advantage. If God be for us, who
can be against us9 Thus protected, you
need not spend much time in answering
your assailants.
Impostors.
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 be-
come drunkards by dining at my table
where always had liquors of all sorts.
Indignant to the last degree, went down
to Patrick Campbell, chief of Brooklyn
police, saying that l was going to start
that night for Ohio to have those villains
arrested, and wanted him to tell me how
to make the arrest. He smiled and said
"Do not waste your time by chasing thesf
men. Go home and do your work, and
they can do you no HARM" I took his
counsel, and all was we'll. Long ago
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 combined
forces of earth and hell can do you nc
damage.
And this leads me to say that the might
lest defense for young man rs the posses
sion of religious principle. Nothing can
take the place of it. He may have man.
ners that would put to shame the graceful
ness and courtesy Of Lord Chesterfield.
Foreign languages may drop from his
tongue. He may be able to dsuss liter.
ature and laws and foreign customs. He
may WELD pen Of unequaled polish and
power. His quickness and tact may quail
fly him for the highest salary Of the count
ing house. He may be as sharp as Herod
and as strong as Samson, with as fine
locks as those which hung Absalom, still
he Is not safe from contamination. The
more elegant his manner, and the more
fascinating his dress, the more peril Satan
does not care for the allegiance Of a COW,
ardly and illiterate being. He cannot
bring him into efficient service. But he
which has in 1t the most spoils and treas
ures. 1t was not some crazy craft creep
ing 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 specie. The
more your natural and acquired accom-.
plishments, the more need of the religion
of Jesus That does not cut in upon OF
hack up any smoothness of disposition OF
behavior. 1t gives symmetry. 1t arrests
that in the soul which ought to be arrest.
ed and propels that which ought to be
propelled. 1t fills up the gulleys. 1t ele.
Yates and transforms. To beauty 1t gives
more beauty, to tact more tact, to enthus-
iasm Of nature more enthusiasm. When
the Holy Spirit impresses the image OF
God on the heart, he does not spoil the
canvas. II In all the multitudes Of young
men upon whom religion has acted you
could find one nature that had been the
least damaged, would yield this PROPOSE
ton.
Cling to the Cross.
You may now have enough strength Of
character to repel the various temptations
to gross wickedness which assail you, but
I do not know in what strait you may be
thrust at some future time. Nothing short
of the grace of 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 character
nothing short Of the arm Of Almighty
God will be sufficient to uphold you. You
look forward to the world sometimes with
a chilling despondency. Cheer up. will
tell you how you may make a fortune.
"Seek first the kingdom of God and his
and all other things shall be
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 heart to drink down the brimming cup
of life and then pour the dregs on God s
altar. To Saviour so infinitely 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 Gods
udiue Ueli you tHdn AHu tno DloSSou
Spirit presses through the solemnities and
privileges Of this holy hour. Put the cup
Of life eternal to your thirsty lips Thrust
1t not back. Mercy offers it-bleeding
mercy, long suffering mercy. Reject all
other friendships, be ungrateful for all
other kindness, prove recreant to all other
bargains, but to despise Gods love for
your Immortal soul-do not do that
Iwouid like to see some of you this hour
press out Of the ranks of the world and lay
your conquered spirit at the feet Of Jesus.
This hour Is no wandering vagabond stag
gering over the earth; it Is winged mes
senger Of the skies whispering mercy to
thy soul. Life Is smooth now, but after
awhile it may be rough, wild and precipi-
tate. There comes a crisis In the history
Of every man. We seldom understand
that turning point until 1t is far past.
The road of life Is forked, and read on
two signboards: "This Is the way to happi-
ness" and "This Is the way to ruin" How
apt we are to pass the fork Of the road
without thinking whether it comes out at
che door Of bliss or the gates of darkness
Many years ago stood on the anniver-