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CHAPTER III.

SOURCES OF DANGER CONTINUED.

BAD COMPANIONS are a source of danger. Perhaps more young men are ruined by this than by any other means that could be mentioned. Many who have left home with a character unsullied, and a mind not only comparatively pure, but really ignorant of the crooked ways of vice,-who, simple, artless, and without guile, would have shuddered at the temptation to any of the grossest acts of sin, have at length fallen sacrifices to the powerful influence of evil associates. Man is a social being, and the propensity is peculiarly strong in youth, a season when it requires to be watched with greater care than at any other, because of the greater force which it exerts in the formation of character. Now and then we meet with a youth who is so engrossed with business, so intent on cultivating his mind, or so reserved in disposition, as to have no desire for companions; but by far the greater number are fond of society, and eager to enjoy it, and, if not extremely careful in the selection of their friends, are in imminent peril of choosing such as will do them harm. It is next to impossible, young man, for you to remain virtuous in vicious society. Good morals cannot long be retained in habitual intercourse with those who are gay and dissipated; it is like carrying money into

the company of thieves, who will be sure to rob you of it. Your good conduct would render them uneasy it would reprove them, accuse them, and exasperate them; and they will never cease till they have made you as bad as themselves. The more agreeable, amiable, and intelligent they are, the more dangerous and ensnaring is their influence. A youthful profligate, of elegant manners, lively humour, amiable temper, and intelligent mind, is Satan's most polished instrument for ruining immortal souls. Once give your company to such an associate, and you are in the coils of a serpent, or at any rate in the spell of the basilisk's deadly gaze, from which nothing but Omnipotence can pluck you. You may for some time be kept from imitating him in his excess of riot, and prevented by the last efforts of a yet surviving conscience, from going his lengths in sin, but you are in the track of his footsteps, following at a distance, while he is perpetually looking back, and by smiles and beckonings rallying your courage, and cheering onward your yet timid and reluctant feet.

No evil companions are to be so much dreaded as those who dwell under the same roof; and how frequently is it the unhappy lot of young men piously brought up, and in every respect hopeful as to morality, and perhaps as to piety also, to be fixed in the same house, to eat at the same table, to sleep in the same room, perhaps in the same bed, as some youths of vicious and infidel principles. They are thus brought into immediate

contact with sin, and exposed at once to all the virulence of its contagion; and what strength of moral constitution does it require to resist the danger! They breathe an infected atmosphere, and continually touch a pestilential person. Take the testimony of one who left his father's house strictly moral, and with much veneration for religion, but whose dark and winding course led him at last into the vicinity of the gallows. "In my master's house," says he, "there were three young men employed besides myself. One of them, a gay, respectable youth, was a great favourite with my employer. He was my bedfellow. Of course this led to intimacy, and from him I received the first disposition to extravagance and dress, which laid the foundation of my ruin. He was extremely prodigal in his habits; but from the respectability of his connexions, no suspicion was excited that bis supplies were not equal to his expenses. By him I became gradually familiarized to scenes of pleasure and dissipation, which soon exceeded my means of support; but I never dreamed of having recourse to dishonest means to meet expensive indulgences. I soon found that I should be involved in great difficulties, and began to withdraw from his company, and associated as much as possible with my brother and a cousin of mine in the city.

"A circumstance, however, soon occurred, which threw the forbidden fruit in my way, and my integrity could not resist the temptation. After

being about two years in my situation, I was sent, on one occasion, with a parcel to a gentleman, for which I was to receive the money, about two pounds. Such parts of the business had often fallen to my lot. On this occasion, however, in the hurry of business, without the least dishonesty of intention, I forgot to give the money to my employer, and did not discover the note in my pocket till some time afterwards, several weeks at least. I was much alarmed at the circumstance, and knew not how to act. I was afraid to mention the matter to any one. I determined to let the note remain where it was, and if no inquiry was made, at length to appropriate the money to myself. Thus I fell into the snare." And thus he commenced a career of dishonesty, the end of which will be related in the sequel, and to which he was introduced by a bad companion.

I might mention another case, illustrative of the same fact, of the danger of a bad companion in the house; but happily the danger was escaped in this instance. I knew a youth, whose parents felt the greatest solicitude for their child, whom they were about to place from home. He had been carefully educated, from his earliest years, in habits of morality and piety. His school had been selected with special reference to the plan laid down at home, for the formation of his character. But now this lovely youth, for he was most lovely, must leave home, and go out into the world. How anxiously did the father read the advertisements to

find one which commanded all the advantages of a pious master and a lively minister! He succeeded, and a most excellent Christian he found, with whom to place his son. The family was what a Christian family should be; and then the other apprentice, he also was supposed to be all that could be wished as a companion for a youth just quitting the parental roof, the son of a minister, and unsuspected as to his principles. Many months, however, had not passed before the minister received a letter from the heart-stricken mother, to say she had heard from her child, stating that his soul was in imminent peril. He had been under religious impressions, and in much concern about his immortal welfare; but his companion proved to be a concealed infidel--concealed, I mean, from his father and his master. Nightly, when they retired to rest, was this deceiver and tempter instilling into the mind of his younger companion his artful objections against Christianity, and endeavouring to poison him with infidelity. As he could bear it, his mind was assailed by one cavil after another, till the poor boy, unable any longer to endure it, yet afraid to disclose it, wrote home to his mother, exclaiming in an agony, "Oh, mother, I am lost, I am lost, unless you pray for me." Horror-struck, she addressed the minister immediately upon the subject, and by their joint labours, and the blessing of God upon them, this youth was snatched from the fangs of the destroyer. He acted most wisely in making

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