Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-12-11
DARING TO VENTURE.

In an ola magazine narQ-InuIUeu Ill oul
boyhood, was picture of some soldiers steal
ing up the sides of long, precipitous bluff.
1t was the army of Wolfe climbing up to the
Plains of Abraham in the rear of Quebec,
there to wrestle in the sharp contest of which
fair Canada was to be the prize.
1t was rainy morning on the verge of au-
tumn that found us on our way to the old
battlefield. The place is easily reached, ly-
ing little way out Of the city in westerly
direction. A granite shaft, perhaps thirty
feet high, in an unoccupied lot, tells the trag-
c story: "Here died Wolfe victorious, Sept.
13, 1885," Beyond, the ground, sit stretch
ed away, rose here and there in gentle hill
locks, while, as if to contradict any sugges-
tions of a battlefield, not far off the COWS
were peacefully grazing.
The rain was drearily falling. The moan
of the storm chimed in with the hoarse echoes
that seemed to survive the battle-hour, and
clouds were wildly flying overhead. Over to
the left, the ground falling away precipitously,
formed those heights that Wolfe dared to
climb before the SUPPLEMENTARY had fairly
dawned, to strike in the rear Of Quebec the
blow that was powerless in front.
1t was above that brink the army of the
English suddenly appeared, coming up out
of the gray night.mist like spectres, startling
the few French pickets and afterward scatter
ing Montcalm's army hastily massed against
them. We walked across the fields and
looked down the bold, steep sides of the cliff
that Wolfe's men had climbed. AS we look
ed the old picture seemed to come back, and
we saw the shadowy forms of men stealing
upward 1t is the story of daring before an
aimost-seeming despair, that has made the
"Plans of Abraham" such an historic place.
So the church of Christ can match and
outdo the world. There are heights inacces-
siblc to human reason up which the faith of
Christian men and women are climbing, to
float, above every summit, the banner of the
cross. 1t is the spirit of our religion to ven
ture-to risk something. The faith of the
humbest Christian invests him with the
grandeur Of kngshp, because in it is this
spirit of daring and venturing against great
odds. Wake it up, call it out, equip it, and
then send it forth, and there is no measuring
of the heights it will dare scale. 1t is here
that we get our martyrs and missionaries
Faith so takes hold of God, and is brought
rlSnL lnIo Lle PieseHCo W AAiin Will "Lion
"all things are possible" that it loses sight of
difficulties. 1t sees not the precipice it would
climb, feels not the sharp rocks tearing its
hands and feet, thinks not of the avalanche
that may come crushing down; but God so
lays about it his infinite strength and sympa-
thy, that the soul is lifted and borne on. 1t
cndures "as seeing Him who is invisible"
We are startled at times to see how this
faith will come out. There is a conspicuous
illustration in the life of Teresa of Avlla,
Spain. She wanted to start a convent She
was very needy, very little known. She had
but fonr ducats with which to 60 forward.
That would never build the house, they told
her. "No," was her answer, "reresa and
four ducats can do nothing, it is sure; but
God, Teresa, and fonr ducats can do every
thing"
There it comes out, God within the soul
stimulating, God all about it working and
helping. It is in Christian hearts to-day,
this same element of faith, folded up, dor
mant. If it could be started up, set to mo-
wing, and along the whole line of the church
of God there be this forward movement, what
heights would be scaled, what victories won
for Christ !-American Messenger.