Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-09-08

sr try II again. I give mp the struggle -
houeleae. II God hi1s me, am lost
What fearful csisisi II God fall !! He
newer fsiIs-is never nearer 70 %, nor
stronser % help Dc, than ct the moment
vhen. despeirine Of our own strength, We
turn o Him. The only danger lies IN our
not trustirg Him fully.
af3ut how shall trust Him? How sns!l
I oet 4 transfer Of His strength TO my will!
How Il Il that His power can supplement
nv Ne aknessY 1 am away down IN the
valley of sin and shame how am ! 70 ges
mon the mountains Of purity, peace ana
eafetyf Will He bear me up - on tne
WINGS of An eagle! or must climb ana
climb, from day TO day, until reach the
summitY --.--.---A,ry.s
mRs1 4'iks have : no Il strength. l have
tried it 4 hundred times and failed" He
answered with returning doubt.
"And will fail again, II you trust IN
your own strength But, with God given
strength, used as your own, the ascent u
sure"
"Ah! Iseer' Light broke all over his
face. II zee /! I see |" he repeated. "God
| does not lift ne out Of our sin and misery,
| but gives US divine strength, if we ask
Him In all sincerity, by which we Lift our.
selves"
| eyes"
"Itisvery simple and clear" He drew .
long breath OF relief, Ike one who has
load taken from bis mind.
"The law Of our dependence on God
for help" said.
"Yea And now see the meaning Of
this sentiment, in an old hymn | often
heard sung when was o boy, and which
| always struck me ~ a paradox:
| ~ When am weak, then sm strong w
"The Christian poet," ! answered, lift
ed into something OF inspiration, often
sees things in a clearer light than We who
are down among the mists and shad-
ows."
"Ah mel" he sighed; "your closing
| words remind me Of the depth Ut which
lie. and the almost infinite distances
above me to which l must rise ere out OF
danger" ;.
sand to which you may surely rise If
you will" answered, with cheerful az.
surance.
"By God-eiven strength, only." he
spoke, solemnly.
"Aye; never, never for an instant lose
sight Of that Never, no matter how
strong you may feel that you have
grown, trust in your self. In the hour of
temptation, look upward, praying In the
silence Of your heart, for strength to re-
sist."
"Best OF friendsr he exclaimed, In
deep emotion; you must have been sent
to mo by God. Hope dawns on q night
that has been starlcss. I see the way TO
safety-for me the only way. No one
knows but myself how hard / have tried
TO reform, nor Ia how many ways / have
sought to escape from q terrible thrsldom.
But all has been in vain. When this re.
morseless appetite that has enslaved me
asserted Itself, my will became as moth.
ing"
Long time we talked, I saying all that
could to strengthen him.
On the next sunday, much to my sur
prise and pleasure, saw him ut church
with his wife. l could not remember
when had seen him there before. At
the close Of the services, as moved down
the aisle with the crowd, some one grasp
ed my hand and gave 1t strong pressure.
turned and looked into the face OF the
friend had tried to save.
"Oh, Martin |" said, 40 ! received q
glance full of meaning, and then return
cd his hand pressure.
we W8lkcu IOI u low ulOUlEutb oANV w
side without speaking, and then were
separated ted ~ 9ya ths sgow ya.u-, -.
church again and Sunday after Sunday
found him in the family pew, that for
years had seen him 30 rarely.
Three or four months went by, and
Martins feet were still in the paths that
led upwards But one day was shocked
to hear that he had fallen again. On
careful inquiry learned that he had been
with his wife TO an evening entertain
ment, given by a citizen OF high worth
and standing, whose name is on every
lip as munifcent In charity; but who,
| whatever may be his personal conviction,
is not brave enough to Danish wine from
the generous board to which he invites
his friends. And I learned still further,
to my grief and pain, that the glass which
broke down the good resolution OF Mar.
tin, and let in upon him the fierce flood
Of repressed appetite, was preferred by
the hand of this good citizen, rs host.
lost no time In going to my poor
friend. found him away down the val.
ley Of humiliation. his soul In the gall Of
bitterness. Shame And sorrow were In
his sye 81 l R9t not d"'n''r took s"r"'''
ut 10 very hard for sus, all but God
forsaken wretches!" he said bitterly, after
the first formal sentences had passed be-
, tween US. "Mr. --l il man Of gener-
Gus feeling. He gives. in a princely way,
to churches and 10 charities; is one of our
! best and most liberal citizens; aud yet,
after l have taken few steps heaven.
ward, he puts Stumbling block In my
way and fall back toward hell!"
"You could not have fallen over any
I lstumblingblock man or devil might place
in your way" answered, "if you had
been walking in divine, instead Of human
strength"
"Well do I know that, he replied.
"And 80, said, lot this sad fall keep
you In more vivid remembrance 81
human weakness. Never for one instant
trust in yourself Stand perpetuslly on
guard. The prics OF your liberty 10 eter.
nal vigilance
ut IL hard ight," he said, with sigh,
despondingly. llfg
/ "Lite Is warfare" I replied. "We
are all beset with enemies, who know
too well our vulnerable places-enemies
} that never sleep; implscable, cruel, ever
Il H.. III