Baptist Courier

For The Baptist Courier.

AVOID TEMPTATION.

Merely being willing to resist temptation is not all the duty of those who would escape contamination. The will must be assisted by a vigilant eye, ever on the alert to see the lurking recesses of corruption infesting the myriad walks of mankind. Unless the understanding is enlightened the ignorant often unintentionally fall into the alluring pits of destruction. It is not enough to ask God to deliver us from temptation, and then unnecessarily put ourselves in the way to be tempted. We should earnestly seek his guidance and protection in all matters pertaining to our welfare, whether spiritual or temporal, and then we should not mock him by allowing ourselves to drift with the doubtful currents of every breeze. We should ask wisdom of him who giveth liberally and upbraideth not, to know the right and the wrong way in all our contemplated undertakings. By so doing the eyes of knowledge will be opened, the understanding will be instructed as to the proper paths, and then we should assiduously direct our footsteps to the right. When the eyes of knowledge have been opened, when the judgment is furnished with the essential understanding of truth and error in matters of momentous importance, they who do not scrupulously avoid the wrong not only risk their own ruin, but outrageously insult him of whom they have sought instruction and guidance. Importance is involved in every step we take, and yet we are compelled to go forward. O! how urgently cautious we should be to avoid the dangerous tendencies to corruption in the pursuits we undertake. One inadvertent step toward wrong transactions weakens the principle of right doing. The door thus opened to pollution makes the second step easier, and so every subsequent step makes one grow gradually less and less scrupulous as to acts of rectitude until at length the inclinations of the flesh are indulged without remorse of conscience, and they go on yielding to temptation without a thought of their ruinous course. It is the duty of all rational creatures to know their duty as human beings individually and relatively. Individually we must be true to God and ourselves. Relatively we must be true to God and to our fellow beings by holding up pure, exemplary lives and in avoiding every appearance of evil. All who would be blameless and harmless in the eyes of God and man must hold themselves above temptations. It is said that no one ever set out with the intention of becoming a drunkard, and yet thousands are filling drunkards' graves, and thousands are hastily walking that downward course. All drunkards were once happy, innocent children. They indifferently drifted into the way of temptation. That social, poisonous cup was invitingly held up. They were willing to resist but having so abused the monitory voice of their better judgment, perverted nature was stronger than the will to do right. They consequently yielded, and a downward course was the inevitable. Had they thoughtlessly avoided that first tempting glass of intoxicating drug they might have lived useful lives.

OLIVE.