The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1902-06-12
BELFAST, MAlNE THURSDAY JUNE 70 1902

| treme one way as the Westminster Con-
fession is the other, but on the whole there
is much more truth in it. Nobody today be-
lleves in the non-election of infants or that
young people are naturally children of the
devil We all belong to God. And although
we may fall away from God either because
we are not nurtured Alright in the beginning
or through our own evil choice, that is not
the deepest tendency of our natures. If we
give our real souls chance we shall make
a safe harbor at last But at the same tine
we must face the difficulties of the voyage.
It is not smooth sailing for any one of us.
Y 1ou must be ready to lay aside. certain
special weak nesses, pet habits, if you are
is that so easily besets you do not know
| am sure your teachers know, and if, in
some sacred moment of frank condolences
they have not told you, let it be done before
the final separation. But whatever it be-
an intirmity of temper habit of Sloth or
negligence, spirit of seltishness or ten
! dency to indulgence in some harmful prac-
| tlce. you must put it away. | have lived
| long enough to have acquaintance with
many life that has been spoiled or at least
/ seriously impaired in usefulness and
| happiness Just because the one sin which
did So easily beset it was not rooted out.
| The third suggestion is, "Let us run
with patience the race. That points di-
rectly back to the heroes and patriarchs.
| The pre-eminent quality of their faith was
patience. OF more accurately endurance
lis absurd to eXhort young people to be
patient. That is more expressly lesson
! Tor old folks. 1t is unnatural for ardent.
| vigorous youth to keep still to wait, to be
patient. Patience in the text means pluck.
good wind and enduring speed. Endur-
alce is a better word.
y great many people are trying to look at
| He as II II We're soft and easy thing. They
Try 10 get rid of its hardships, to have every.
thing smoothed and simplited for them |
sometimes think that this is a mistake of our
new education. Hard work is necessary,
and we must do some things we do not likeif
we would succeed | wonder also if it is wise
to tell Young people they should have good
time while they can. We wish them 10Y, and
would have them spared much of the suffer
ing that has come to US. But life, even
IN youth, is not all a month of June.
All are called to take their part in suffering
hardship. There is deal of it. There is
the work for law and order, for temperance,
tor honest government God willing, we
shall play our part as good soldiers. If our
sex forbids our going right down into the
strife, we can give heart to brothers, hus-
bands, friends, who are in the modern bat
tie for home and school and church and
native land and God The one thought
that reconciles me to the taking up of arms
when we were happy in the hope that we
mad done with war forever, is that our
youth Will not fall easy victims to the soft
hfe, but have got to live strenuously You
are coming upon the stage of action in a time
quite as big with tasks and insiStent upon
quite as much hardShipS, demanding as
solderl4 men, as resourceful, womanly wo-
men as any days of long ago.
The heart of the text is in this "Looking
unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our
faith. Christ is the fundamental fact in
every truly successful human life, There
IS no other foundation ! do not say that
there are no good people who are not pro-
fessedly Chrstians. Yet think that with
NEST, II not all, their noble principles had
Their source in Christ. If you remember
the text of to-day's sermon you will recall
all that IS necessary to recall The witnesses
are all about you. They thrOng the church
this day, you meet them on the street, in
Your homes. You will not forget the pas
tor, nor the teachers and comrades of these
tour Years. And there is that great COM
pany IN the heavens. who have fought the
good night and finished the course and kept
The faith. With all the fresh bright hopes
of youth resting on Your faces and kndlng
m your hearts You are called upon to "lay
aside every weight and the sin which doth
SO easily be>et You, and to run with endur-
ance the race that is set before You, look
ing unto Jesus the author and perfecter
OF Your taIth. Speed away, Speed away