A CHAPTER FOR BOYS 413 



w'ln vice, firmly resolve that with the help of God he 

 will maintain a pure and virtuous character. It is 

 much easier to preserve purity than to get free from 

 the taint of sin after having been once defiled. Let 

 the boy who has already fallen into evil ways, who 

 has been taught the vile practice, some of the conse- 

 quences of which we have endeavored to describe, and 

 who is already in the downward road,— let him resolve 

 now to break the chain of sin, to reform at once, and 

 to renounce his evil practice forever. The least hesi- 

 tancy, the slightest dalliance with the demon vice, and 

 the poor victim will be lost. Now, this moment, is the 

 time to reform. Seek purity of mind and heart. Ban- 

 ish evil thoughts and shun evil companions ; then with 

 earnest prayer to God, wage a determined battle for 

 purity and chastity until the victory is wholly won. 



One of the greatest safeguards for a boy is implicit 

 trust and confidence in his parents. Let him go to 

 them with all his queries, instead of to some older 

 boyish friend. If all boys would do this, an immense 

 amount of evil would be prevented. Wlien tempted to 

 sin, think first of the vileness and wickedness of the 

 act; think that God and pure angels behold every act, 

 and even know every thought. Nothing is hid from 

 their eyes. Think, then, of the awful results of this 

 terrible sin, and fly from temptation as from a burning 

 house. Send up a prayer to God to deliver you from 

 temptation, and you will not fall. Every battle man- 

 fully and successfully fought, will add new strength 

 to your resolution, and force to your character. Gain- 

 ing such victories from day to day, you will grow up 

 to be a pure, noble, useful man, the grandest work of 

 God, and will live a happy, virtuous life yourself, and 

 add to the happiness of those around you. 



25 



