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The Colporteur Evangelist
until finally a habit of prevarication and dishonesty in business is
formed, and the man cannot be trusted.
Purity of Life
There are too many in families and in the church who make little
account of glaring inconsistencies. There are young men who appear
what they are not. They seem honest and true; but they are like whited
sepulchers, fair without, but corrupt to the core. The heart is spotted,
stained with sin; and thus the record stands in the heavenly courts. A
process has been going on in the mind that has made them callous,
past feeling. But if their characters, weighed in the balances of the
sanctuary, are pronounced wanting in the great day of God, it will
be a calamity that they do not now comprehend. Truth, precious,
untarnished truth, is to be a part of the character.
Whatever way is chosen, the path of life is beset with perils. If the
workers in any branch of the cause become careless and inattentive to
their eternal interests, they are meeting with great loss. The tempter
will find access to them. He will spread nets for their feet, and will
lead them in uncertain paths. Those only are safe whose hearts are
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garrisoned with pure principles. Like David they will pray: “Hold up
my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.” A constant battle
must be kept up with the selfishness and corruption of the human heart.
Often the wicked seem to be prospered in their way; but those who
forget God, even for an hour or a moment, are in a dangerous path.
They may not realize its perils; but ere they are aware, habit, like an
iron band, holds them in subjection to the evil with which they have
tampered. God despises their course, and His blessing will not attend
them.
Not to Tamper with Sin
I have seen that young men undertake this work without connect-
ing themselves with heaven. They place themselves in the way of
temptation to show their bravery. They laugh at the folly of others.
They know the right way; they know how to conduct themselves. How
easily they can resist temptation! how vain to think of their falling!