Dangerous Amusements for the Young
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vine, ye are the branches: he that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same
bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.”
John
15:4, 5
.
Those who would be worshipers of the true God must sacrifice
every idol. Jesus said to the lawyer, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is
the first commandment.”
Matthew 22:37, 38
. The first four precepts
of the decalogue allow no separation of the affections from God. Nor
must anything share our supreme delight in Him. We cannot advance
in Christian experience until we put away everything that separates us
from God.
The great Head of the church, who has chosen His people out of
the world, requires them to be separate from the world. He designs that
the spirit of His commandments, by drawing His followers to Himself,
shall separate them from worldly elements. To love God and keep His
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commandments is far away from loving the world’s pleasures and its
friendship. There is no concord between Christ and Belial.
Promises to the Young
The youth who follow Christ have a warfare before them; they
have a daily cross to bear in coming out of the world and imitating
the life of Christ. But there are many precious promises on record for
those who seek the Saviour early. Wisdom calls to the sons of men, “I
love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.”
Proverbs 8:17
.
“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to
the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of
Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according
to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as He which hath called you
is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.”
1 Peter 1:13-15
.
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should
live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for
that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our
Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem
us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous