Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-12-01

THE WAY OF ESCAPE.
BY T. s. ARTHUR.

THE WAY OF ESCAPE.
BY T. s. ARTHUR.
My heart ached for the wretcied man
His debauch was over; his nerves rInstrung
the normal sensibilities of fine moral ma
ture, quickened, after brief torpor, into
most acute perceptions. Such haggard
facei Such hopeless eyesl I see the pic
ture now as a haunting spectre.
LET the memory of this hour, so bur-
dened by pain and repentance, be as wall
of defense around you in all the future"
said.
He looked at me drearily. Slowly shak-
ing his head. he replied:
''Such memories are no defence. My
soul is full of them. When temptation as
sails, they fall away, and am at the mer-
cy of mine enemy, who rushes in, like a
hungry wolf, to kill and to DESTROY"
SIS there no help for you then?" l ask
ed.
He shut his eyes and was very-stilL II
an artist could have seen his face then,
and faithfully caught it's expression, those
who looked upon the image must have felt
such pity in their hearts as makes the eyes
grow dim with tears.
"I fear no. he answered, after little
while, in hopeless kind OF way.
''It cannot be-" / spoke confidently
and a5suringly mo man is given over to
such utter ruin. There must be, and there
is q way of escape from evil"
Except the evil of bad and degrading
habit-that vile second nature, he answer
ed, ''the steady current of which is forever
bearing him downward, toward storm
wrecked ocean. He may seize the oars in
alarm, as / have done scores of times, and
pull against the current, making for little
while. But human strength avsils not
there. The arms grow weary, the spirit
hags-it is easier to drift than to row, and
down the current bears him again II is
the history of thousands and tens of thou
sands, and / am no exception"
TT cannot be- answered. There is
help for every man, no matter how weak
nor how beset by enemies; else Gods word
must fail.
cit does fai. 1 think" be answered, in
q gloomy, despairing kind of way.
mo, mol no." Quickly and emPhatical-
ly did reject his conclusion.
"Have it as you will / shall not argue
the point" He spoke almost listlessly,
ssThen, / say. there is help for every
man, no matter where he is or what he is.
We cannot fall so low that the Everlasting
arms are not still beneath Us, ready to
bear us upward to mountain heights oi
safety"
''Oh. that those arms would bear me
upwardr' almost groaned my poor friend.
81 have no strength in myself / canno!
climb. Unless lifted by another. must
perish.
$50 bad as that?"I said.
s'Just so bad" he answered, slowly and
bitterly. This second nature have made
for myself, is my ruler. Because consci
ence. the love of my wife and children. my
good reputation, pride, manliness-allh hu
man powers and virtues are its slave. And
such bondage"
There was not ray of hope in his dresry
eyes.
"You must try again." said, chesrily
"No man need be a slave"
Easily saidr' was his impatient answer
"vhile yet all men are slaves to some hab
1t from which they cannot break"
Say. rather, from which they will no
break"
''You mock me with idle words"
mo; speak only the words OF truth and
soberness. There is human strength, ant
there is divine strength. The everlasting
arms are always beneath and ready to bea
rs up, if we will bat lean upon and trus
them. Human strength is but as a broker
reed; divine strength is sure as God him
self 1t never fails.
There came into his heavy eyes feebl
play of light. The stern rejection that sa
upon his lips faded OF.
I'm our own strength, nothing" and
said; "In Gods strength, all
saw his hands moving In an uncertain
k11 - y
other. Suddenly they were clasped togeth
er in kind of spasm, while his eyes He,
upward in a Wild, half Isspairing appes
in God, his lips groaning out the words
E"Save me, or / am lostT
Even now, memory gives back the thri
that swept along my nerves as his cry pent
trated my ears.
Never from any human soul went up, ar
heard. prayer-iike that. He who one
and forever took upon himself our nature
and who was in ell points tempted as "
are, yet without sin, and who is touch
ed always with the feeling of our infirrnity
stands close beside rs, knocking at th
door of our hearts, that he may come
and help and save us. All hell Is power
less before him. Impure desiles Hee fror
his presence like night birds when the su
arises; and the cords of evil habits al
broken, as the withes that bound the arm
of Sampson, at his Eghtest touch.
waited for little while without speai
ing, watching him closely, to see If b
would rise into anything like confidenc,
Gradually, the hard, desponding look fac
ed from his countenance. and saw q cali
resolve begin to show itself about hi
mouth.
zone effort more, 4" he said, at last, speal
ing slowly, but very firmly. edoI
more, but not in my own strength. bay
tried that too often. and shall never try
again. Igive mp the struggle IS hopeless
II God fails me, am lost"
What q fearful crisisi HGod fail2 b
never fsils-is never nearer to rs, nc
stronger TO help MS, than at the momen
when despairing OF our own strength, v
turn to him The only danger lies In OF
not trusting him fully.
"But how shall trust him? How sha
get transfer of his strength to my vii
How is It that his power cen supplemsI
my weakness? 1 am away down in the va
ley of sin and shame; how am / to g
upon the mountains of purity. peace an
safety2 VIII he bear me up as on IL
wings of an eagle2 or must climb an
climb from day to day. until I reach Il
gummit7'
ssYou must climb. I said.
sI cannot have no strength. 1 ha,
tried it o hundred times, and failed"
answered with retaining doubt