The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1915-07-31

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. bACln " 0OAlO DO
rious thinking:
@A 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 a
good, healthy jar; something which
will 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 tumbline
after him. You may lay hold of their
head or their heels, but they will &C
and you will go, too, unless you let
go.
Young men are much the same
They go in droves; they think and
act as their leader does; if he buys
a certain style of hat or neck wear,
the others do the same; If one goes
to college, many others follow.
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
a 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 a short time. He was told by his
associate teacher that 1t was the Gus.
tom to open the school with Scripture
reading and prayer. Though he was
not a Christian, he felt that he must
comply with the custom and he did
SO. After a few days he said to his
associates, Il feel that l am playing
the part of a hypocrite and l hardly
know what to do. My class at Yale
holds its class prayer meeting to-
morrow night, and l have half a mind
to go down and tell them what a 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.
II. Whether your companions fol.
low your example or not, you cannot
afford to follow theirs. The issue is
too great. You cannot afford to stife
your convictions, and jeopardize your
soul because they do. Every mar
must give an account of himself into
Christ, and their neglect of duty will
not justify yours. What you need is
to declare your independence, ard not
be kept from the nobler life and larger
liberty of the Gospel by a lot of Eel
lows"
Strike out for yourself. Let them
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 van
der into the wilderness of sin any
longer simply because others do.
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 he was
the only Christian in his tent. 1t was
not an easy thing to kneel and pray
before the others, but he did it. At
once they began to laugh and make
d~isagreeable remarks, and at times
they threw shoes at him. The young
mar 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 a few days
after the chaplain inquired how he
was getting on. well, chaplain, fol-
lowed your advice for a night or two,
but | felt so mean that l 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"
w. Before you decide this question
take one good look at "the fellows"
and another 1t 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 a
satisfy every craving of your heart.
That one is Jesus Christ, the only
leader in this world whom it is per.
fectly safe to follow.