Sunday at Home.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 7, 13 May 1893, Page 4

Sunday at Home.

COMPANIONSHIP. (By the Bey. R. Taylor, pastor o£ St. Paul’s Wesleyan Church, Invercargill.) “Can two walk together except they he agreed?” •—Amos ill., 3. In the first instance this question relates to God. Again and again ■walking with God is spoken of as the privilege of the good man. “Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” Noah walked with God, and the Apostle says —“As ye liave received Christ Jesns the Lord, so walk ye in him.” All good men Lave enjoyed the privilege of divine companionship. But God asks in the text “How can I walk with men with whom I am not agreed P How can I, wdio am holy, walk with men whose hearts and lives are unclean P How can I, a living God, walk with men who arc dead in their trespasses and sins ?” Divine companionship can only he enjoyed when there is moral agreement between God and ourselves. While, however, this is the primary meaning of the text, its secondary reference is to human companionships, for which purpose I shall use the words. The two external influences which, perhaps, moie than any others have to do with the formation of character are the home and companionship. The first place will, of course, he given to the Ixonxe. I am quite sure we do not realise the truth of this as we ought; nor do we display the wisdom, the tact, and the temper through the growingyears <of a child’s life which we should if we Ixad a clear conception of its vast importance. But it often happens that jyoung men leave home to take their places in the city just at what maybe called the transition period of life. Their future character will then, in a very large measure, depend on the choice of their companions. Good ■resolutions, noble principles, and all Jtlxe influence arising fx'onx the recol-

lection of a mother’s love and a mother’s prayers are often of little avail against the demoralising influence of an ungodly companion. A young man must be what his companions are, or the companionship will soon prove to he a very uxxhappy one, and mxxst come to an exxd. Someone has said —“ The victorious army may have taken many passes and fortresses from the enemy; hut there is one which yet remains to he taken —the most important one of all. Past victories will go for nothing unless the enemy be dislodged from this fortress.” So, young men, your life is a warfare. There are many positions to win, some of which you have already gained. Thank God for past successes, but remember if you fail in the choice of your companions all will he lost. A young man’s companions are of his own choosing. He is often thrust among associates thx'ough cii'cumstances over which he has little or no control, but his companions are of his own selection. It is highly important that the choice should be a wise one. One principle of selection is indicated in the text-—agreement. Can two walk together except they he agreed ? This does not mean that two young men can never be agreeable and profitable companions unless they think alike on all questions. The agreement is one of moral chararter, and not of political or religious opinion. The honest man can never be the companion of the thief, nor the sober man of the drunkard, nor can the pure-minded maxx he the companioxx of the libertine. Even theological differences do sometimes sever young people, hut these moral diversities are utterly incompatible with conxpanioxxship. Young men are afraid of the contagion of disease — would that they dreaded as much the contagion of vice. I would say to every young man or young woman — “ If you cannot find a companion of real solid worth, it is infinitely oetter that yon should bo without one. Above all I would say make Christ your companion. Accept his proffered

friendship, and yon will find in him the friend who loveth at all times, the brother born for adversity. Your business on earth is to live the noblest, purest and most useful life possible, and none can help you as Christ can in the attainment of this gdorious object. He who aims at personal enjoyment alone will miss his mark, but he who aims at the highest form of usefulness will find that enjoyment will follow as certainly as night follows day.”