Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1915-05-21

H subject. Il nave
E known personally
all the men who
have been prominent in England dur
ing the last fifty years, in business,
politics, or literature, and of the sixty
most prominent men, f~fty-four have
been protesting Christians"
If Mr.. Gladstone was right, and if
the question of ones relation to
Christ is the leading question which
confronts "a student, it is very impor-
tant that he settle it early. Indeed this
question lies at the basis of all educa-
ton. What is the real object of edu-
cation? 1t is to increase ones ca
pacity to know God, and to make him
known to others. This is what educa-
ton is for, what life is for. And this
is life eternal that they should know
thee the only true God, and Jesus
Christ whom thou hast sent" John
Z 17:3).
1. The keenest delight of which we
are capable comes to us from know
ing God. When the devout astrono-
mer Kepler made his great discovery,
he exclaimed, 20 God, l think thy
thoughts after thee" There is no
greater joy than this, unless it be that
of seeing Gods character reproduced
in our lives. If this be true, then edu-
cation is not optional with us, but
imperative. We are bound to cultivate
every talent which we possess, be-
cause each is an avenue through
which God can reveal himself to us.
We are bound to open every window
of u soul towards Jerusalem" and
let in the light of Gods glorious
truth.
No wonder the Great Teacher said,
Take my yoke upon you and learn
of me . and We shall find rest
unto your souls" Young people have
souls as we'll as minds, and the former
need training quite as much as the
latter. 1t is possible to develop the
mind at the expense of the soul, and
to leave the spiritual nature in a
dwarfed and stunted condition. In.
deed, is it not possible for a student
to go forth with a well-trained mind
and irreproachable morals, and still
fall far short of being.a whole man
because he does not know God? "Hav
ing no hope, and without God in the
world" The Greek student does not
need to be told that without God
means atheist"
II. The superior advantages which
students enjoy make it doubly impor
tant that they should become &C
quainted early with the Lord Jesus
Education enlarges ones capacity te
see and foresee, to do and to undo. Il
multiplies his influence, and thus in
creases his responsibility, since the
welfare of others depends upon his
action and attitude. No educated per
son can possibly live a Christless life
without leading others to do the same
This consideration should have grea'
weight. A professor in a large mill
tary school recently told the writer
that it was the thought of his inlu
ence with the boys which led him tt
decide for God and put himself IN rec
ord as a Christian.
III. Again. the peculiar temptations
which confront a student make an &C
quaintance with Jesus indispensable
Among these may be mentioned:
(a) The freedom from home re
straint. The strong, ~steadying hant
of the father and the indescribable in
fuence of the mother is lacking. Their
is no younger brother or sister tt b.
considered, not even the restraining
influence of someone else's sister
The consequence is that one grow
selfish and comes to think that all tn
world was made for him.
(b) The petty vices which prevail
so commonly among students. BY tn
side of the writer in college sat thu
valedictorian of the class. He wa
a well-disposed man, but he had n,
religious principles. When other
drank he was not strong enough t.
refuse. After graduation he studio,
law and became one of the most bril-
liant and promising lawyers in tn
state. Temptations now grew stronge
and more frequent, and having no &C
quaintance with him "who is able t
save to the uttermost," and liable t
keep you from falling" he soon los
his standing and business, and die,
a common drunkard.
(c) Not the least of the danger
which confront a student is the temp
tation to doubt. He lives in an atmos
phere Of inquiry and criticism. Oh
theories are being laid aside and ney
facts are constantly being discovered
Possibly he sees some of his instruc
tors, for whose ability he has the high
est respect, utterly Indifferent to tn,
claims of the Gospel. Literature ii
full of covert sneers at religion. He i
just at the age When his critical facul
ties are being developed, and he be
gins to question everything which HI
once believed. Add to this the natura
willingness of the heart to have it SO
and you have a con- bination of cir
cumstances calculated to shake tn,
strongest faith. Some, indeed, thinl
it a sign of superior intellect to doubt
but this is a mistake. 1t is sometimes
a sign of spiritual blindness, and Otter
of moral o~bliquity. A large part o
the skepticism Of students is of tbs
heart rather than of the head.
How reasonable 1t Is to trust our
selves to the keeping of infinite love
and infinite wisdom. and infinite POW
eri-Thomas Erskine.