The semi-weekly messenger., 1900-10-26
TRAINING YOUNG MEN
DR. TALMAGE ON THE TEMPTATIONS
OF COLLEGE LIFE
Some Practical Suggestions for Those
Who Are Required to Leave Their
Homes-HeIpfuInes OF Early Chris
tian Teaching and Influence.

DR.. Talmage staid in London TO
occupy the famous Wesley pulpit
IN the City Road chapel, where
he has preached several times
before, always receiving hearty
welcome. Thence he went to Ireland,
preaching in Belfast and Dublin. The
discourse he has sent this week de-
scribes the behavior of a young man
away from home and suggests practical
lessons for people Of every age and
class. The text is Daniel i, 5: And
the king appointed them daily provi-
sion of the kings meat and Of the wine
which he drank; SO nourishing them
three years, that at the end thereof
they might stand before the king"
Ny text opens the door of college
in Babylon and introduces you to a
young student IL years of age, Daniel
by name. Be not surprised if in the
college you find many hilarities. Put a
hundred young men together and they
are sure to have good time. There Is
no harm in that. God does not write
out the trees and the grass and the
blossoms in dull prose. The old robin
does not sit moping in the nest because
O; the chirpings and the lively adven-
lures OF the fiedgelings that have just
begun to fly. Do not come into an or
chard looking for winter apples on
May morning.
But Daniel of the text is far from
being gay. What oppressive thoughts
must have come over him as he remem-
ibered that he was a captive in
strange landi The music that came
into his study window was not the
song of Zion, but the sound of flute,
sackbut and dulcimer in the worship of
the heather god. Moreover, he had no
hope of ever getting back home again
and meeting those who had missed him
long and missed him bitterly, wonder
ing if he were still alive and finding
many a luxury tasteless because they
did not know but Daniel might be lack
ing bread.
SCHOOL AND COLLEGE DAYS.
When you and / were in school or
college and the vacation approached,
we were full of bright anticipation,
and we could not study the last day,
and we could not study the last night.
The lexicon and the philosophical ap-
paratuS were transparent, so we could
see right through them into the mea-
dowS and the orchards. Not so with
poor Daniel He did not know that
he should ever escape from captivity,
or escaping he did not know but VIII i
ne got home the loved ones would be
dead, and he would go wandering and
weeping among the sepulchers of his
fathers. Besides that the king tried to
make him forget his home and forget
his country; for that purpose actually
changed his name. The king wanted
him ito be a prodigy in DerSOnaf appear
ance, and so he ordered meat and wine
froT n n
Daniel refuses all this and puts himself
upon the humblest diet, the poorest of
all herbs, called pulse, and plain water.
His attendants cry out against this and
tell him he will perish under such a
diet. No he says you try us for ten
days, and if at the end of that time WE
are not full checked and robust as
any, it will be surprising" Ten days
pass along and the students come UP
for examination, and all declare that
none are so ruddy and robust as Daniel
and his fellow captives. The days OF
industrious pupilage and the years pass
by, and the day of graduation has
come, and Daniel gets his diploma,
signed by the king and reading as fol-
lows: In all matters of wisdom and
understanding that the king inquired
of them he found them ten times better
than all the magiciaus and astrologers
that were in all his realm" And sc
the story ends, for Daniel the student
hereafter will be Daniel the prime
minister.
The first thought sugses,eu 10 me by
this subject is that young men may be
carried into captivity by their enemies
There Is a captivity more CALLING thar
the one in which Daniel was transport
ed; it is the captivity of evil habit
Men do not go into that Willingly
Slyly and imperceptibiy are the chain:
forged upon them, and one day they
wake up to find themselves away dowI
in Babylon. Cyrus afterward consent
ed that some of his captives should re
turn, and $4,000 OF them accepted the
opportunity, but tell me what evi
habit ever consented to let man go
Ten plaques made Pharoah consent tt
the departure of Gods people, but tel
me what Pharoah of evil habit eve
cheerfully consented to let any of it
victims go. Men talk of evil habits a:
though they were light and trivial, bu
they are scorpion whips that tear tn,
flesh; they are spikes more bloody thar
the path of Brahman; they make tn
poisonous robe of Nessus: they are tn,
sepulchers in which millions are buriet
alive.
PERILS OF YOUNG MEN.
The young men are in more peril be-
cause they are unsuspecting. The lions
er is not suspected. The time wher
a ships company makes mutiny
when the watchman is off his guard
When a spider meets fly. it, does no
say, Go down with me to the place
where murder insects" No; it says
''Come and take bright morning wall
with me on this suspension bridge o
glittering gossamer. oh, there is {
difference between the sparkle of a ser
pent's eye and the crush of its slim.
folds. There is difference betwee1
the bears paw toying with kid an
the cracking Of the bones in the ter
rifle hug. Pixies peak looks beautiful
in the distance but ask the starved
travellers by the roadside what the,
think OF Pixies peak. Are there thos
around whom suspicious companion
are gathered? Do their jests and thei
entertainments make the hours g,
bl.thely by when you are with them
Have you taken a sip from their cul
O: sin or gone with them in one patl
49, L.