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very well in their way； but they are not everything； Never be satisfied
with the friendship of any one who will not be useful to your soul。
Believe me； the importance of this advice cannot be overrated。 There is
no telling the harm that is done by associating with godless panions
and friends。 The devil has few better helps in ruining a man's soul。
Grant him this help； and he cares little for all the armour with which
you may be armed against him。 Good education； early habits of morality；
sermons； books； regular homes； letters of parents； all； he knows well；
will avail you little； if you will only cling to ungodly friends。 You
may resist many open temptations； refuse many plain snares； but once
take up a bad panion； and he is content。 That awful chapter which
describes Amnon's wicked conduct about Tamar； almost begins with these
words； 〃But Amnon had a friend； a very subtle man〃 （2 Sam。 13：3）。
You must recollect； we are all creatures of imitation： precept may
teach us； but it is example that draws us。 There is that in us all；
that we are always disposed to catch the ways of those with whom we
live； and the more we like them； the stronger does the disposition
grow。 Without our being aware of it； they influence our tastes and
opinions；we gradually give up what they dislike； and take up what
they like； in order to bee more close friends with them。 And； worst
of all； we catch their ways in things that are wrong； far quicker than
in things that are right。 Health； unhappily； is not contagious； but
disease is。 It is far more easy to catch a chill than to impart a glow；
and to make each other's religion dwindle away； than grow and prosper。
Young men； I ask you to lay these things to heart。 Before you let any
one bee your constant panion； before you get into the habit of
telling him everything； and going to him in all your troubles and all
your pleasures；before you do this； just think of what I have been
saying； ask yourself； 〃Will this be a useful friendship to me or not？〃
〃Evil munications〃 do indeed 〃corrupt good manners〃 （1 Cor。 15：33）。
I wish that text were written in hearts as often as it is in
copy…books。 Good friends are among our greatest blessings；they may
keep us back from much evil； quicken us in our course； speak a word in
season； draw us upward； and draw us on。 But a bad friend is a positive
misfortune； a weight continually dragging us down； and chaining us to
earth。 Keep pany with an irreligious man； and it is more than
probable you will in the end bee like him。 That is the general
consequence of all such friendships。 The good go down to the bad； and
the bad do not e up to the good。 Even a stone will give way before a
continual dropping。 The world's proverb is only too correct： 〃Clothes
and pany tell true tales about character。〃 〃Show me who a man lives
with；〃 says the Spaniards； 〃and I will show you what he is。〃
I dwell the more upon this point； because it has more to do with your
prospects in life than at first sight appears。 If ever you marry； it is
more than probable you will choose a wife among the connections of your
friends。 If Jehoshaphat's son Jehoram had not formed a friendship with
Ahab's family； he would most likely not have married Ahab's daughter。
And who can estimate the importance of a right choice in marriage？ It
is a step which； according to the old saying； 〃either makes a man or
mars him。〃 Your happiness in both lives may depend on it。 Your wife
must either help your soul or harm it： there is no medium。 She will
either fan the flame of religion in your heart； or throw cold water
upon it； and make it burn low。 She will either be wings or fetters； a
rein or a spur to your Christianity； according to her character。 He
that findeth a good wife doth indeed 〃find a good thing；〃 but if you
have the least wish to find one； be very careful how you choose your
friends。
Do you ask me what kind of friends you shall choose？ Choose friends who
will benefit your soul； friends whom you can really respect；friends
whom you would like to have near you on your death…bed；friends who
love the Bible； and are not afraid to speak to you about it；friends
such as you will not be ashamed of owning at the ing of Christ； and
the day of judgment。 Follow the example that David sets you： he says；
〃I am a panion of all them that fear Thee； and of them that keep Thy
precepts〃 （Ps。 119：63）。 Remember the words of Solomon： 〃He that walketh
with wise men shall be wise； but a panion of fools shall be
destroyed〃 （Prov。 13：20）。 But depend on it； bad pany in the life
that now is； is the sure way to procure worse pany in the life to
e。
IV。 Special Rules for Young Men。
4。 In the last place； I will set down some particular rules of conduct
which I strongly advise all young men to follow。
（1） For one thing； resolve at once； by God's help； to break off every
known sin； however small。
Look within； each one of you。 Examine your own hearts。 Do you see there
any habit or custom which you know to be wrong in the sight of God？ If
you do； delay not a moment in attacking it。 Resolve at once to lay it
aside。
Nothing darkens the eyes of the mind so much； and deadens the
conscience so surely； as an allowed sin。 It may be a little one； but it
is not the less dangerous for all that。 A small leak will sink a great
ship； and a small spark will kindle a great fire； and a little allowed
sin in like manner will ruin an immortal soul。 Take my advice； and
never spare a little sin。 Israel was manded to slay every Canaanite；
both great and small。 Act on the same principle； and show no mercy to
little sins。 Well says the book of Canticles； 〃 Take us the foxes； the
little foxes； that spoil the vines〃 （Cant。 2：15）。
Be sure no wicked man ever meant to be so wicked at his first
beginnings。 But he began with allowing himself some little
transgression； and that led on to something greater； and that in time
produced something greater still； and thus he became the miserable
being that he now is。 When Hazael heard from Elisha of the horrible
acts that he would one day do； he said with astonishment； 〃Is thy
servant a dog； that he should do this great thing？〃 （2 Kings 8：13）。 But
he allowed sin to take root in his heart； and in the end he did them
all。
Young men； resist sin in its beginnings。 They may look small and
insignificant； but mind what I say； resist them；make no promise；
let no sin lodge quietly and undisturbed in your heart。 〃The mother of
mischief；〃 says an old proverb； 〃is no bigger than a midge's wing。〃
There is nothing finer than the point of a needle； but when it has made
a hole； it draws all the thread after it。 Remember the Apostle's words；
〃A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump〃 （1 Cor。 5：6）。
Many a young man could tell you with sorrow and shame； that he traces
up the ruin of all his worldly prospects to the point I speak of；to
giving way to sin in its beginnings。 He began habits of falsehood and
dishonesty in little things； and they grew upon him。 Step by step； he
has gone on from bad to worse； till he has done things that at one time
he would have thought impossible； till at last he has lost his place；
lost his character； lost his fort； and well…nigh lost his soul。 He
allowed a gap in the wall of his conscience； because it seemed a little
one；and once allowed； that gap grew larger every day； till at length
the whole wall seemed to e down。
Remember this especially in matters of truth and honesty。 Make
conscience of pins and syllables。 〃He that is faithful in that which is
least； is faithful also in much〃 （Luke 16：10）。 Whatever the world may
please to say； there are no little sins。 All great buildings are made
up of little parts；the first stone is as important as any other。 All
habits are formed by a succession of little acts； and the first little
act is of mighty consequence。 The axe in the fable only begged the
trees to let him have one little piece of wood to make a handle； and he
would never trouble them any more。 He got it； and then he soon cut them
all down。 The devil only wants to get the wedge of a little allowed sin
into your heart； and you will soon be all his own。 It is a wise saying
of old William Bridge； 〃There is nothing small betwixt us and God； for
God is an infinite God。〃
There are two ways of ing down from the top of a church steeple； one
is to jump down；and the other is to e down by the steps： but both
will lead you to the bottom。 So also there are two ways of going to
hell； one is to walk into it with your eyes open；few people do that；
the other is to go down by the steps of little sins；…and that way； I
fear； is only too mon。 Put up with a few little sins； and you will
soon want a few more。 Even a heathen ＇29＇ could say； 〃Who ever was
content with only one sin？〃 And then your course will be regularly