Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-12-06

too small. Intentionally he should not
desire to shirk work and responsibility.
Neither should he ask of God place
too big. place which by brain and
body and conservation he is unable to
fill Then he may not only dishonor
his Master, but dsappont oil his earth
ly friends who love him and who would
be proud Of his success as they will
gricve at his failures.
Temptations of Old Age.
But as 10 on making these Christ
mas requests there comes to me still
another which we should all be willing
to make We should come to God and
say: 80 God, give me these blessings
If it be thy will. Then, beseech thee,
take away my position Of influence as
soon as outlive my Influence for good
or when am to meet temptation
greater than can bear" When |
make this plea | especially make 1t
against the temptations Of the forties
and the fifties and the sixties and the
seventies as we'll as the temptations Of
the twenties and the thirties. II 10
easy enough to pray for help to guard
against the temptations of youth. But
who specially prays for help to guard
against the temptations of middle and
old age? Yet for one always feel
that the temptations of middle age and
of old age are as great as If not greater
than the temptations Of the twentles.
The young man has many restraints
surrounding him which the older man
has not. The young mans finances are
generally low To go to destruction
stylishly and pay the way of your
friends there costs money. The young
man is living as a rule in his fa-
Tiers homo and is carefully watched
10y parents and by elder sisters. He is,
as rule, looked down upon by tho
world Mt large because he Is young.
! But when II man becomes n successful
minister or lawyer or merchant then
comes the greatest test of temptation.
4 When he becomes an employer instead
of an employee and there is large
account TO his credit in the bank. then
/ temptations come to him with all their
most subtle enticements Deliver me- .
Father from the temptations Of middle
life and of old age!
But, though the words of my text
open wide the door of invitation for
these Christmas requests, we must re-
member that God limits them to one
condition. Let me read the text to you:
Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name
that will | do" If you are going TO
make these Christmas requests you
must ask them in Christs name. And
can you ask them in Christs name I'M
less you yourself are part Of Christ?
Are you part of Christ? Have you sur
rendered your heart 10 him? Can it be
that. 18th all Your hopes and plans for
mex, Christmas, YOU have not planned
to celebrate that Christmas ny becom-
ing one with Jesus?
All, my friends, instead of talking
about what God is going to give to you
let US first for one moment talk about
what you are going to give to God.
You say you are young and weak and
helpless. You say YOU do hot amount
10 much. But my friends. you amount
TO enough to have in your power the
possibility of giving pleasure even to
God. Do you not remember how when
you We're out in the country your little
baby girl went and collected a few
weeds and came running to you, say
ing: Here, mamma. Here are some
flowers from baby" Don't you re-
member how you caught your darling
up in your arms and placed kiss up
on her lips as You said What, did my
baby think enough of me to give me