Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-10-17

rious thinking?
- ~ = Quite likely they
are in the same
condition that you are-conscious that
they ought to be Christians, but hold
ing back for fear of what others will
say. What those fellows need is Z.
good. healthy jar; something which
VIII show them what towards they
are, and the nobility and manliness
OF following ones convictions.
The Bible says that men are like
sheep. One popularity of sheep is
their lack of independence: they are
great imitators; if one goes over the
wall, the whole flock goes tumbling
after him. You may lay hold of their
head or their heels, but they will 90
and you will go, too. unless you let
go. 1t matters not whether the lead.
er is rushing into safety or peril.
the whole flock follows blindly after
him.
Young men are much the same.
They go in droves; they think and
act as their leader does; if he buys
~ yam oNs iC vi nat Vi uCCh wear,
the others do the same; if one goes
to college, half a dozen more may fol-
low.
Now. bearing In mind this peculiar
ity OF human nature, why should
you not take advantage of it, and
try to lead your associates in the
right direction, instead of following
them in the wrong direction? Why
should you not be the Moses who leads
them out of Egypt into the Promised
Land? Who knoweth whether thou
art not come to the kingdom for such
time as this?"
A student in Yale college once went
to New Britain, Conn, to take the
place of principal in the high school
for short time. He was told by his
associate teacher that it was the Gus.
tom to open the school with Scripture
reading and prayer. Though he was
not Christian, he felt that he must
comply with the custom and he did
so. After few days he said to his
associates, Il feel that | am playing
the part of hypocrite and | hardly
know what to do. My class at Yale
holds its class prayer meeting to-
morrow night, and | have half a mind
to go down and tell them what pre-
dicament | am in, and ask them to
pray for me-" His assistant urged him
to go, and offered to open the school
for him the next morning. He went,
told his story in a manly way, was
converted, and as a result a revival
sprung up in which so students in
Yale college were led to Christ.
H. Whether your companions fol-
low your example or not, you cannot
afford to follow theirs. The issue is
too great. You cannot afford TO stifle
your convictions, and jeopardize your
soul because they do. Every man
must give an account of himself unto
Christ, and their neglect of duty will
not justify yours. What you need is
to declare your independence, and not
be kept from the nobler life and larger
liberty of the Gospel by lot of Eel
| lows"
see that there is one person in that
crowd who has the courage of his
/ convictions, and who is not afraid of
what others may say. Do not wan
der into the wilderness of sin any
longer simply because others do.
4 Break loose from them, even if you
have to do it alone, but perhaps you
4 Ill coll IN,
a manly way that you purpose to fol
| low Christ, and ask them to join you
| How do you know but that this is
! Just what they are waiting for?
III. Whether the others follow you
or not, they will certainly have more
respect for you. A young soldier who
had Just enlisted found that be was
! the only Christian in his tent. Ii was
not an easy thing to kneel and pray
before the others, but he did it. AT
once they began to laugh and make
disagreeable remarks, and at times
they threw shoes at him. The young
man was troubled and knew not
what to do. Finally he went to the
chaplain of the regiment and asked
his advice. The chaplain told him
that under the circumstances he
thought it would be justifiable for him
to say his prayers in silence after he
had retired Meeting him few days
after the chaplain inquired how he
was getting on. We'll, chaplain. fol
lowed your advice for a night or two,
! but | felt so mean that | could not do
it any longer, and so ! went back to
the old way of kneeling by my bed
side. and do you know, chaplain, some
| of the boys have been converted. and
now we have a prayer meeting in the
tent every night"
~. Before you decide this question
take one good look at the fellows"
and another at Calvary. Ask yourself
which has done the most for you.
and which is most worthy Of your love
and loyalty. There is only one who
has died for you, only one who can
forgive your sins. only one who can
satisfy every craving of your heart
| That one is Jesus Christ, the only
| leader in this world whom IL is per
fectly safe to follow. You can wor-
ship him without idolatry, and love
him without disappointment. He is
one who has said: IF any man follow
me he shall not walk in darkness, but