Are
we honoring our parents by speaking
disrespectfully of them? Can we break a
commandment in thought as well as in deed? Tell
how. Will all these requirements over-balance us?
What must we do to make a proper balance? Is
Christ willing to step into the scales with us?

[Illustration]

WHITE AND CHARRED STICKS.

GOOD AND BAD COMPANY.

SUGGESTION:--Objects: A few pine sticks, some
charred; ink and water.

ALL boys and girls like to have companions, some one to play with, and
therefore it is very wise that I should talk to you to-day about good
and bad company.

First of all let me read some passages from the Bible. "Blessed is the
man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the
way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." (Psalms i: 1.)
"Forsake the foolish and live; and go in the way of understanding."
(Proverbs ix: 6.) But here is a passage of Scripture which is exactly
suited to my purpose to-day: "He that walketh with wise men shall be
wise; but a companion of fools shall be destroyed." (Proverbs xiii: 20.)

When you go into a large library to select books you will always find
that they are classified. Some of the shelves have books of history,
others have books of poetry, and so on throughout the entire library. In
this way God has classified different people in this text. One class is
called wise, and the others are called foolish. A companion of wise men
shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. In the same
way there are good boys and bad boys, good girls and bad girls; and when
you choose your companions it is important that you should choose them
among the good, and not among the bad.

I think you will better understand the teaching of the text, when I show
you this one stick that has been burned black, or charred, as we say.
Now here are several clean sticks which have not been burned, which are
white and not tarnished. Let this black stick represent the boys who
smoke, or chew, or swear, or lie, or deceive their parents; boys or
girls who do not go to Sunday-school, who do not obey their parents, and
who do not love God. These clean sticks will represent good boys and
girls. Now suppose the good boys and girls choose the bad boys and girls
as their companions and playmates; what do you think would be the
result? I will mix these sticks together. I am sure th