—Sowing Wild Oats
373
host of Satan to force the tempted to transgress. There is no excuse for
sin.
While some of the youth are wasting their powers in vanity and
folly, others are disciplining their minds, storing up knowledge, girding
on the armor to engage in life’s warfare, determined to make it a
success. But they cannot make life a success, however high they may
attempt to climb, unless they center their affections upon God. If they
will turn to the Lord with all the heart, rejecting the flatteries of those
who would in the slightest degree weaken their purpose to do right,
they will have strength and confidence in God.
Vain Amusement Not True Happiness
Those who love society frequently indulge this trait until it be-
comes an overruling passion. To dress, to visit places of amusement,
to laugh and chat upon subjects altogether lighter than vanity,—this
is the object of their lives. They cannot endure to read the Bible and
contemplate heavenly things. They are miserable unless there is some-
thing to excite. They have not within them the power to be happy;
[431]
but they depend for happiness upon the company of other youth as
thoughtless and reckless as themselves. The powers which might be
turned to noble purposes, they give to folly....
The youth who finds joy and happiness in reading the word of God
and in the hour of prayer is constantly refreshed by draughts from the
Fountain of life. He will attain a height of moral excellence and a
breadth of thought of which others cannot conceive. Communion with
God encourages good thoughts, noble aspirations, clear perceptions
of truth, and lofty purposes of action. Those who thus connect their
souls with God are acknowledged by Him as His sons and daughters.
They are constantly reaching higher and still higher, obtaining clearer
views of God and of eternity, until the Lord makes them channels of
light and wisdom to the world....
Those who abide in Jesus will be happy, cheerful, and joyful in
God. A subdued gentleness will mark the voice, reverence for spiritual
and eternal things will be expressed in the actions, and music, joyful
music, will echo from the lips; for it is wafted from the throne of God.
This is the mystery of godliness, not easily explained, but none the less
felt and enjoyed. A stubborn and rebellious heart can close its doors