The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-12-04
VICTORY WITHIN THE POWR OF ALL.

49,
Peter turning from the truth he had
been told to proclaim to the world
and seeking again his nets on the
shores of Gallilee, represent condi-
tons liable to be experienced by all
of us. Now, to those who have re-
Gently turned to the Fathers house
from the far country, these hours of
depression come with all but over
mastering stress for all the infu-
ence of hereditary appetites and de-
sires, the remembrance of sins in
dulged, and the old influences and
environments frequently seem to con-
spire to crush resolution and drive
the individual back into the night.
There are moments when he needs
all possible strength there + hours
when the starved soul calls for all
the encouragement which can be
given in a struggle with powerful
and complex influences from without
and within. 1t is much like a little
garrison, surrounded by overwhelm-
ing hordes bent onits capture, which
realizes its hope is to hold out until
the reinfOrcements come and come
they will and must if the soul holds
resOlutely to its high resolves, for
there is a divine potentiality in
truth. This is a fact which should
be ever impressed on the mind of the
tempted one. while at the same time
it is the duty of the strong to environ
the weaker with the inspiration born
of faith, encouragement, and that
sympathy which flows from love, in
stead of abandoning him to the old
influences and associations.
have often been told by persons
addicted to. drink, and who have CON
tracted other unfortunate habits,
that were it not for the environment
they could triumph; and this sug-
gests the duty we owe to those
around US, and the duty which the
tempted one owes to himself of resO-
lutely seeking to change his environ
ment. He should remember the ex-
ample set by the philosopher, Epicte-
tus, a slave in the house of one of
NerO's depraved and debased favor
ties, living in an atmosphere reeking
with moral death, with no whole
some companions among his asso,
ciates and yet he passed through
the long years of servitude under
these influences unsullied even in
thought. Few to-day are in a con
dition 50 hopeless as that of the slave
who longed for the heights, while
fate chained his body in the sloughs
Of moral death, confronted by temp
tatiOns greater than those which are
found in any walk of life. And
Epictetus has given us a hint, or,
perhaps 1 might say, has told us the
secret of his strength in the follow
ing words: when any evil fancy
assails you" he said to his disciples,
''arise and depart to the society of
the noble and just. Live according
to their example, whether you have
such examples among the living or
the dead. Go to Socrates and gaze
on his utter mastery over tempta-
ton consider how glorious was the
conscious victory over himself"
Here there is suggested a most effec-
tive aid to those tempted during the
hours of depression and weakness
which come to all who have made a
heroic stand against temptation. 1t
IS all-impOrtant to change the moral
atmosphere. High, vital, and noble
thoughts,-thoughts vibrant with
love and hope and courage, thoughts
which flow from a truly spiritual
nature,-these will soon drive out
the old craving as light dispels dark
ness. To those who find pleasure in