The age-herald., 1902-03-17
SOUNDS WARNING
 ID THE YOUNG Rev. John 6. Murray at Church
 of the Advent OBLl lGATIONS OF YOUTH Upon the Foundation Depends the Peace and contentment of Future Years-continual Warfare
 With Sin.
OBLIGATIONS OF YOUTH

a large congregation at the Church of the Advent yesterday MT. Mrray's theme was the opportunity and obligation of youth and he delivered an able dis course, holding that everyone by circum- stance and destiny had to wage a contin- ual warfare with sin and it was left to them to determine whether they would be victors or vanqushed. His text was . from Proverbs 1:1O My son. If sinners entice thee, consent thou not" He said in part:
 T have said before to the young people of this congregation that upon each and every one of them devolves the discharge of one of two peremptory duties in life either to preserve unsullied and unstained the inheritance of family name that has never known dishonor or reproach, or to redeem such inheritance if per chance it has been transmitted in shame and rocking with immoral stench. The purpose of my preaching this hour Is to declare and demonstrate that to successfully perform either one of these duties we are by virtue of our na- ture and environment, charged with a collateral obligation which is no less im- perative and which recognizes no excep-
 
 we shall. beginning with youth, wage constant warfare against sin. This warfare is inslstent. No one can escape it. Its battlefield is the world. It's war riors are all the inhabitants of the uni verse. human, angelic and Divine. Thank God victors in the strife many have been, are now and ever shall be, but victor or vanquished every man must be. The Little Word "If."
 Tn due recognition of this universal fact it is that the words of the text fali from the lips of wisdom. Let not the use of the little word 'if'-'My son, If sin ners entice thee, consent thou not'-blind us to the true import of the whole. The prospect of conflict with sin is not con- ditional. The true meaning here is My son, When sinners entice thee, consent thou not The declaration is that entice- ment shall meet us and that such entice- ment shall be to sin-shall be to commit action detrimental to our welfare and subversive of our manhood
 The warning then of wisdom is that there Is unavoidable battle wherever there is immunity for none. But there Is encouragem ent in these words as well as warning. We have the inspiration Of assurance of victory if the battle be manfuly faced and fought. The admoni-
 
 part not only ability to resist but also bespeaks possession of power to overcome.
 l have no doubt there are those here this morning, well along in years who nave so long neglected to exercise under Divine guidance this ability to resist that they are absolutely barren of possession or power to overcome. In such condition they are strangers to the fact that posses sion of such power Is possible with man. I anf Az
 any such in what I have to say on this subject I have a word from my Master to any and all who have so faltered in the battle with sin that they now lack conndf1ence in their ability to fight and the1r power to win in that fight. Let that word be needed also by those who are just buckling their armour on.
 There is Yet Chance.
 My message to all who need it Is that while, through lack of exercise and the development consequent thereon. their ability to strive may be dwarfed and their power to conquer paralyzed final defeat Is not yet upon them if they them selves will otherwise determine. Repent ance toward God will renew development or their dwarfed ability. A lively faith In Jesus Christ will charge their dormant power with the life of strong desire for
 
 spiration of the Holy Ghost this desire will seek fruition in determined action And this action will be crowned to the glory or God, with the complete destruc- tlon or all manner of doubt in ability to battle and power to win in a warfare waged for the defeat and dethronment of satin and sin
 This proper present action will be nro- ducuve of inspiring and encouraging fu- ture experience. This, however is all such persons can ever hope to realize. The past is fixed With it's wasted op- portunities and neglected righteousness It must, regretted, stand. And this fact constitutes a serviceable medium for my message to those whose years are vet before and not behind them. To those whose sun is going down on a life voi1 or probity and piety, the best that can be offered is hope for the future based entirely upon immediate proper action in the present. Those who enter late in life With lance poised to achieve victory over sin lose much of the joy that God has promised all His saints Tn return Tor ser vice done in His name. The memory of a sinful past. sadly indicative of man de- graded and God ignorec, can never he entirely plotted out. It ever aims with It's shadows of regret the newborn hone or righteous future. beckoning on to companionship with God and the saints in Christ who have gone before. But God Is gracious and kind and no matter how dark the shadows of the past they can never form an impenetrable cloud for the future. if the eye of faith will but look up and on. There is a rift in the very darkest sky of degradation and despair ana In the light streaming tnerefrom pen