The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-11-16
TELEre

Inc 1orce OF advice depends upon
.,s, things, authority and motives. In
ms case the au,h0rlty was from
iod, and, it is safe 10 say, that the
motives We're good, for, if needed.
Hthe young man himself would be
greatly benefited, and through him
the world would be benefited to the
extent of his in diligence, energy and
influence. 1t was this old man that
said do good to all men, and whose
every letter emphasizes the fact that
We should think more of O hers than
We do of ourselves. The desert sand
drinks in the rain, and the rock re-
jects it; but the fertile soil receives
and holds it, not for its self. but
for the life and well-being of what
is dependent upon it, and this should
be a type OF those who have re-
ceived benefactions.
The old man, Paul, shows great
wisdom in the argument he uses to in
force his charge. At some time,
know not, when nor where, perhaps,
at the formal conservation If the
young man, Timo.hy, to his lifes
work, encouraging prophesies had
been made with reference to his
future work. His friends evidently
had great hopes that in him they
had a strong defender OF the truth.
Pauls argument to him is that he
can i'll afford to disappoint his bre,h-
ren in their great expectations. Also
that these prophesies, which go be-
fore him, leading the way, in them
selves should be great stimulant
to him.
1T is a fact that the men Of the
past who have accomplished great
things have had some kind of a con-
viction that the work before them,
though great, must be accomplished
by them; and we know, that in some
instances at least, this conviction
was superinduced by expressed conf
dence upon the part of their friends.
This fact leads to the practical sug-
gestipn that we might do great good
by encouraging our bright boys and
girls to believe that they can, not only |
make what is called a success Of |
life. but accomplish something great.
There are many timid, but bright |
youths, that need only the right
kind, both as to quantity and quality,
of encouragement to undertake great
things.
There are some things in our
school work Of today that / only
passively approve, but there are
others that / do most heartily and
actively approve. One of these is, the
introduction into our high schools the
department that has for its object
the finding out the line Of work the
pupil takes TO most naturally and
then encourage a line of study that
will best qualify for that work. That
wisely done, and with prudent sug-
gestions that will take root in his
subconscious mind, that he should ac-
complish great things, il he does
not prove to be an honor to his fam
lily 1t will be because Of unadulter-
ated stupidity.
The apostle also gives q warning
to enforce his charge, at the back
Of which there is an argument OF no
small proportions. The warning is,
Holding faith and a good conscience
which some having thrust from them
Faith fifty goes first, because with
out 1t We have no hold on the invis-
ible God-the source of strength and {
the giver of victory; but a good con-
science must ever more accompany {
1t, because the struggle is a moral !
one, in which we want not only an en- ;
igthened mind and determined will,
but also that sensitiveness to good I
and evil which will tell us when te
be on our guard and when to advance /
with courage. Faith without
good conscience, is like a garrison /
summoned TO defend one gate Of the ;
fortress, while traitor is opening
another gate to relentless foes.
The apostle speaks Of some sitting ,
the voice of conscience and thrusting !
il from them, with this result, that
they had made 'shipwreck Of faith >
And this experience has often repeat !
I'd itself in the history of the church. ,
Balaam put away q good conscience
when he paltered with his convictions
10 his souls undoing. Saul, the king,
did so when he disobeyed the distinct
command OF Cod until he was no
longer able to hear the Divine voice
and resorted 10 the witch Of Endor.
Judas Iscarot did so when he resist
ed the promptings Of the Holy Spirit
and betrayed his Lord and Master
and in each case the sacrifice Of
conscience brought about the ship
wreck Of faith Like the bleached
timbers on the rocky coast--those
fearsome histories appear for our
warning, lest our end should be as
theirs.
when our religious faith fails TO
influence our practice, and becomes
only a subject for the play OF fancy
and speculation; when our views Of
truth and duty become dim and
and we are content that It
should be so, we are in danger-the
vessel iG drifting in upon
the rocks Of infidelity and despair
The loss of spiritual life follows on
the sacrifice Of moral purity. May
God keep us that we may never