The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-12-02
VOL VINO. 12.

edenBlu5 useu as your own, the ascent
sure, 4"
"Ahi seeT Light broke all over b
face. Il seel I seei he repeated, s'Gc
l. does not lift Us out of our sin and niser
but gives us divine strength, if we al
him IN all sincerity, which We lift curse
yes"
"Yes."
at is very simple and clear" He Dire
long breath of relief. like one who has
load taken from his mind.
.'Fhe law of our dependence on God fl
help" said.
"Yes. And now 1 see the meaning
this sentiment, In an old hvmn ofte
heard sung when 1 WIS a boy, and whic
always struck me asa paradox
when an wei, then am 1 strong +"
"The Christian poet, answered, elf
ed into something of inspiration, often SCI
truth in clearer light than we who aredov
among he rnists and shadows" {"
"Ah mer he sighed; 'tyour closin
words remind me OF the depth at whic b
lie and the almost infinite distances aboy
me to which must rise ere out of danger.
''And to which you may surely rise
you will. answered with cheerful as
surance.
"By God-given strength onlyP he spok
solemnly.
"Aye; never, never for an instant los
sight of thatl Never, no matter how stron
you may feel that you have grown. trust i
yourself In the hour OF temptation, lool
upwards, praying in the silence of you
heart for strength to resist"
BEST of friendsi" he exclaimed, in dec
emotion; "You must have been sent to M
by God, Hope dawns on a night that ha
been starlsss. | see the way of safety-fo
nae the only way. No one knows but nay
self how hard have tried to reform, no
In, how many ways have sought to escap,
from terrible thraldofn. But all hai
been in vain. When this remorseless ap
petite that has enslaved me, asserted itself
my will became as nothing"
Long time We talked. / saying all that
could to strengthen him.
On the next Sunday, much TO nv sur.
prise and pleasure, saw him at church
with his wife. / could not remember wher
! had seen him there before. At the close
of the services, as moved down the aisle
with the crowd, some one grasped my hand
and gave 1t a strong pressure. l turned
and looked into the face of the friend ]
had tried to save.
''0h, Martini l said, as I received q
glance full of meaning, and then returned
his hand pressure
We walked for few moments side BY
side without speaking, and then were Sc
parted by the crowd.
On the Sunday following, he was at
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 Mar.
tins feet were still in the paths that led
upwards. But one day was shocked to
hear that ne had fallen again. On careful
inquiry. learned that he had been with
his wife to an evening entertainment, given
by 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 learn
ed still further, to my grief and pain, that
the glass which broke down the good res
olution of Martin, and let IN upon him the
fierce food of repressed appetite, was prof
tered by the hand Of this good citizen, as
host
lost no time in going to my poor friend.
found him away down the valley of hu.
initiation, his soul in the gall of bitterness.
Shame and sorrow were in his heavy eyes;
but not despair, took hopeful notice of
this.
at is very hard for Us, all but God-for-
saken vretchesp he said, bitterly, after
the first formal sentences had passed be-
tween us. 'sMr. is man of gen.
erous feeling. He gives, in prihcely way,
to churches and 40 charities; is one of our
best and most liberal citizens; and yet, af-
ter have taken few steps heavenward,
he puts a stumbling block in my way, and
fall back towards hellr'
'You could not have fallen over any
stumbling block man or devil might place
in your way" answered, 'ifyou had been
walking in divine, instead of human
strength"
'Weli do know that" be replied.
"And SO, said, '1et this sad fall keep
you in the more vivid remembrance of hu-
man weakness. Never for one instant
trust in yourself Stand perpetuRlly on
guard The price Of your liberty is eternal
vigilance"
sit is hard fight, !" he said, with q sigh.
despondingly.
s'Life is warfare" replied. "we are
all beset with enemies, who know too well
uryulnerable places, enemies that never
sleep; implacable, cruel, ever seeking our
destruction 1. you, all men have them.
Trusting only in human strength, no one
gains victory; but in divine strength the
issue of battle is sure. And So my friend,
grid up your loins again, and be wary and
valiant"
Hope and courage came back into his
heart
Beware of ambush, I" 1 said, as parted
from him that day. 'The enemy, coming
on you unawares, is more to be dreaded
than when he forms his line of attack to
the sound of trumpets. Seek no conflicts;
keep Of his ground; but when he comes
forth 10 meet yen, giving challenge, do bat
tie II the name of the Lord"
A few weeks afterwards I was present
when gentleman of large wealth and good
good standing both in church and society,
said to him
II didn't see you at my house last even
ing.
s.No." was the rather curt reply; sit
is safer for me to keep off Of the DEVILS
ground
81 don't understand you. sirf' replied
the gentleman, a flush of sudden anger in
his eyes, for he felt the remark ss covert
insult
Martins face grow sober, and he answer
ed with calm impressiveness that caused
the anger to go out of his listeners eyes,
and thoroughtful concern to take its.
place;
81 am fighting the devil, he said, ''and
must not give him the smallest advantage.
Just now / am the victor, and hold him at
bay. He has his masked batteries, his en-
chRnted grounds, his mines and pitfalls,
his gins and mirey sloughs; and am learn
ing to know the signs of hidden danger.
If fall into any of his snares. am in peril
of destruction; and though l struggle, or
fight my way out, am weak or wounded.
and so the less able to meet the shock Of
battle when he rushes upon nae as stand
on guard, ready. in Gods name, for the
conflict"
"His enchanted ground is q social COM
pany, where wine flows freely. speak of
what it is to me, and call it, SO far as am
concerned the devils ground. He caught
me there not long ago, and had me at his
own advantage. But, will not again set
foot thereon. Ifyou good citizens, make
Of your homes, in mistaken hospitality,
places where the young find temptation,
and the weak, stumbling blocks, men, such
as I am, must sbun them as the gates of
hell" Fl III I'll XXI
eHis manner had grown more and more
go. fs II
s.Is il so bad as that?" remarked the