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"She grabbed him by his garment and said, 'Sleep with me!' But leaving his garment in her hand, he escaped and ran from the house." Genesis 39:12
In contending with certain sins, there remains no mode of victory, but by flight. He who would be safe from acts of evilmust hasten away from occasions of it. A covenant must be made with our eyesnot even to look upon the cause of temptation; for such sins only need a spark to begin withand a blaze follows in an instant!
Who would wantonly enter the leper's hutand sleep amid its horrible corruption? He alone who desires to be leprous himselfwould thus court contagion. If the mariner knew how to avoid a storm, he would do anything rather than run the risk of weathering it. Cautious pilots have no desire to try how near the quicksand they can sail, or how often they may touch a rock without springing a leak; their aim is to keep as nearly as possible in the midst of a safe channel.
This day I may be exposed to great perillet me have wisdom to keep out of it and avoid it. The wings of a dove may be of more use to methan the jaws of a lion. I may be an apparent loser by declining evil companybut I had better leave my cloakthan lose my character! It is not needful that I should be richbut it is imperative upon me to be pure. No ties of friendship, no chains of beauty, no flashings of talent, no shafts of ridiculemust turn me from the wise resolve to flee from sin. I am to resist the deviland he will flee from me. But the lusts of the flesh, I must fleeor they will surely overcome me!
O God of holiness, preserve your Josephslest Madam Bubble bewitch them with her vile suggestions. May the horrible trinity of the world, the flesh, and the devilnever overcome us!
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