Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-09-02
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE WAY OF ESCAPE.

His debauch was over; his nerves un-
strung; the normal sensibilities of fine,
moral nature quickened, after brief tor
por, into most acute perceptions. Such q
haggsrd face Such hopeless eyesl / see
, the picture now, as haunting spectre.
Let the memory of this hour, so bur
dened by pain and repentance, be as wall
of defence around you in all the future"
l said.
He looked at me drearily. Slowly shak-
ing his head, he replied:
Such memories are no defense NV
soul 10 full of them. When temptation
assails, they fall away, and I am at the
mercy of mine enemy, who rushes in, like
hungry wolf, to kill and to destroy"
us there no help for you, then?" /
asked.
he shut his eyes and was very still. Ii
an artist could have seen his face then,
and faithfully caught its expression, those
who looked upon the image must have
felt such pity in their hearts as makes
the eyes grow dim with tears.
lear not" he answered, after little
while, in hopeless KIND of way
1t cannot be-" spoke confidently
. and assuringly. "No man is given over
to such utter ruin. There must be. and
there is, way of escape from every
evil"
Except the evil of bad and degrad-
Ing habit-that vile second nature" he an
swered, "the steady current of which is
forever bearing him downward, down.
. ward, toward storm wrecked ocean. He
may seize the oars in alarm, as l have
done scores of times, and pull against the
current, making headway for little while.
But human strength avails not here. The
arms grow weary, the spirit flags-it is
easier to drift than to row, and down the
current bears him again. 1t is the history
of thousands and tens of thousands, and I
am no exception"
1T cannot be-" answered. "There is
help for every man, no matter how weak, ,
nor how beset by enemies; else God s
word must fail"
" It does fail, think" he answered, in
gloomy, despairing kind of way
mo! mol no" Quickly and emphati-
cshy did reject his conclusion.
the point" He spoke almost listlessly.
"Then, say, there is help for every
man, no matter where he is or what he is.
We cannot fall so low that the Egerlast-
ing arms are not still beneath us, ready
to bear us upward to mountain heights OF
safety"
"Oh, that those arms would bear me
upward |" almost groaned my poor friend.
II have no strength in myself. cannot
climb. Unless lifted by another, must
perish"
$50 bad as that ?" I said.
"Just 30 bad" he answered, slowly and
bitterly. "This second nature have
made for myself, is my ruler. Reason,
conscience, the love OF my wife and chill
dren, my good reputation, pride, maRli-
oil nd MI rfV re
its slave. And such a bondage
There was not ray of hope in his
dreary eyes.
"You must try again." l said, cheerily
"No man need be slave"
Easily said !" was his impatient an
swer; "While yet oil men are slaves tG
come habit from which they canno
break"
"say, rather, from which they will no
break"
"You mock me with idle words"
"No; l speak only the words of trutI
and soberness. There is human strength
and there is divine strength. The Ever
lasting arms are always beneath and ready
to bear us up, if we will but lean upoI
and trust them. Human strength is bu
as a broken reed; divine strength is SUR
AS God Himself Itnever fails"
bic play of light. The stern rejection tha
sat upon his lips faded off.
"1n our own strength, nothing" said
"in Gods strength, ali"
saw his hands moving in an uncertain
way. Then they rested one against tn
other. Suddenly they were clasped to
gether in kind OF spasm, while his eye
few upward in wild, half-despLiring ap
peal to God, his lips groaning out tn
words
"SaVe me, or l am lostp
Even now, memory gives back the thrill
that swept along my nerves as his CT.
penetrated my ears.
Never from any human soul went up
unheard, prayer like that. He wh'
once and forever took upon Himself oul
nature, and who was in all points tempte(
as we are, yet without sin, and who
touched always with the feeling of our in
trinity, stands close beside us, knockin
at the door of our heart, that He may com
in and help and save us. All hell is pow
erless before Him. Impure desires he
from His presence like night birds whe
the sun arises and the cords of evil hat
its are broken, as the withes that boun
the arms of Samson, at His lighJest toucl
| waited for little while without speal
ing, watching him closely, to see If b
would rise into anything like confidence
Gradually, the hard, despOnding look fade
from his eountenance, and | saw CALI
resolve begin to show itself about h
mouth.
"One more effort" he said, at las
speaking slowly, but very firmly; "OI
effort more, but not in my own strengt
/ have tried that too often, and shall ne'
ra er'try II again. give up the struggle
hopeless. If God fails me, am lost"
.ss''' What fearful crisis II God tall 2 /
never fails-is never nearer 10 us, n
stronger TO help us, than at the nome
when, despairing of our own strength, '
turn TO Him, the only danger lies IN
not trusting Him fully.
.-. "But how shall trust HimY How sh
get transfer of His strength to my WI
How is it that His power can suppleme
my weakness? am away down IN
valley of sin and shame how am 10
upon the mountains of purity, peace q
safetyS viii He bear me up as on
wings of an eagleP or must climb
climb, from day to day, until reach I
sumnit?'
80 '..You must climb" l said
30 81 cannot have no strength. hs
tried it a hundred times and failed"
answered with returning doubt.
ri. "And will fail again, if you trust
your own strength. But, with God civ
strength, used as your own, the ascent
sure"
"Ah! seer Light broke all over
face. II see +! I seeP' he repeated. &C
does not lit us out of our sin and mise
but gives us divine strength, If we
l.n Him IN all sincerity, by which we lift
,.--.--selVos.n
.ely "Yes."
Lob, .y "It is very simple and clear" He Dire
,l long breath OF relief, IKE one VINO n
load taken from his mind.
AFhe law of our dependence on
for help" ! said.