Small Means and Great Ends by Unknown
page 32 of 114 (28%)
page 32 of 114 (28%)
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profanity, even though it be very common in their hearing, if they are
never accustomed to its use. My young friend had been taught to reverence the name of that great Being who made heaven and earth and all things. He was a member of a Sabbath school, and thus had much valuable advice from his faithful teacher to govern his conduct in word and deed. For a while he heeded this, and was careful of his moral character. But by-and-by, he overstepped the bounds of right. It is very true that "evil communications corrupt good manners;" and that if one would not be bad, one means of safety is to keep out of bad company. My friend was, in a few years, placed in a store, where there was a large business carried on. He came in contact with persons who were not so carefully instructed as he had been. They made no hesitation in pronouncing the names of God and Jesus Christ in a blasphemous and profane manner. He resisted the pernicious influence of their example for a while, but at last it became so familiar to his ears, that he could hear wicked words spoken without even a thrill of horror in his bosom. He, however, had not the disposition to speak them, till one day, when some little thing in the store did not suit him, his passion was aroused, and, in the angry excitement of the moment, he spoke out,--and in that unguarded expression there was profanity,--a miserable, blasphemous, wicked word. He had uttered his _first oath._ The disposition had been lurking in his heart for several days to do this; but he had not been able to so far lower his moral sense as to do it |
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