underhanded and mean. Since selfish ability elbows its way to controlling
positions in business, politics, and society, the character reactions of
such men are a force with which the Kingdom of God must reckon. They are
the personal equipment of the kingdom of evil, and the more respectable,
well-dressed, and clever they are, the worse it is.

What man or woman of our acquaintance would we single out as the clearest
case of an evil character?

Why do we so judge him?

Third Day: The Social Pressure of Evil

And he said unto his disciples, It is impossible but that
occasions of stumbling should come; but woe unto him, through whom
they come! It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about
his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he
should cause one of these little ones to stumble.--Luke 17:1, 2.

A sex story lodging in a young mind, an invitation to companionship and a
drink, a sneer at religion which makes faith look silly--such things trip
us up. They are stumbling-blocks, like wires stretched across a path in
the dark. Just because we are social and easily influenced by friendship,
admiration, or persuasion, one man's suggestion or example draws the other
man on. Jesus knew that social solicitation and pressure toward sin was
inevitable. It is the price we pay for our social nature. But, all the
same, it is a terrible thing to contaminate a soul or steer a life toward
its ruin. This saying about the millstone is one of the sternest words
ever uttered.

"Three men went out one summer night,
No care they had or aim,
And dined and drank. "Ere we go home
We'll have," they said, "a game."

Three girls began that summer night
A life of endless shame,
And went through drink, disease, and death,
As swift as racing flame.
Lawless and homeless, foul they died;
Rich, loved, and praised the men;
But when they all shall meet with God,
And justice speaks--what then?"

Let us enumerate to our own minds cases where others drew us into wrong,
and cases where we were a cause of evil for others. About which do we feel
sorest now? Why?

Fourth Day: Moral Laziness

No man having drunk old wine desireth new; for he saith, The old
is good.--Luke 5:39.

This is a chance remark, but a keen observation. In wine-raising countries
an expert tongue and nice discrimination between the fifty-seven varieties
is