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 of their engagement often witnesses the ruin of their innocence, their peace of mind, the happiness of their life.

This topic is consequently among the most important for those whose office it is to instruct young men and give them practical advice for their guidance in moral and spiritual matters. Let me tell you plainly what a Christian young man ought to think about courtship, and how he ought to conduct himself during that period.

2. A Christian young man ought to seek to know betimes what is allowed and what is forbidden in regard to courtship. He ought not to wait to know this until he has fallen deeply in love, and perhaps even made improper proposals. In this case the eye of his conscience would be dimmed; it would be impossible for him to judge aright.

For those who have already sinned together, warnings usually come too late; persuasions, entreaties, exhortations, are equally thrown away; if such persons were to see the abyss of hell yawning before them, or if some one were to rise from the dead in order to warn them, they would continue to pursue their evil way. saying it was impossible for them to desist from it.

3. Therefore, I say to you, before entering upon any courtship learn what is the right view to be taken in regard to company-keeping. But what is this right view? Careless persons who enter upon a courtship are ready to assert that company-keeping is nothing bad, but rather something beneficial and useful, since it is the necessary preliminary for marriage.

To this it may be replied, that under certain conditions, courtship is nothing evil, but profitable