The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1878-09-26


ed forever.
g. Think, l beseech you, young
men, over the consequences o
yielding to temptation. The wa,
of the transgressor is hard. Tn,
consequences of sin are appalling
They are seen in every blighte
flower and withered leaf. They are
witnessed in the storm and earth
quake, in pestilence and famine,
and in all the terrible ca antilles Of
war. just gaze for one moment on
the fearful triumphs OF death They
fill the land with mourning. They
stain the soil with blood. Death
stretches scepter over all the
earth. He reigns from pole TO pole,
and no one disputes his sway. He
is the universal reaper. The whole
world is his field. He waits not for
the harvest. Ali times are his.
Prattling infancy and decaying age.
stalwart youth and robust manhood
have alike to yield to his touch. He
visits the halls of mirth, and the
music is hushed and the dance
ceases. He visits the palace aud it
is hung in mourning. He enters
the cottage and loud lamentations
are heard. At his command ambi-
tion looses its hold of power, and
covetousness relaxes its grasp OF
wealth. At his touch beauty fades.
the eye is lusteIless and the lips are
client. All times, all people, all sea-
sons are his; and come when he will
the unwilling victim must yield to q
power from which there can be no
escape; and death is the sad conse-
quence OF yielding to temptation.
That first sin seemed small affair.
1t was only disobeying God in one
little thing But its consequences
have been felt through all the ages.
They are seen in every tear and
heard in every sigh. The first walls
of infancy and the last groans Of
age alike testify to the fearful con-
sequences of sin. Had temptation
been resisted, Eden had still bloom
ed and death and misery been IN
known. Think of this, ye tempted
ones, and fee from the destroyer.
These consequences flow on forever.
One false step streams with an in
huence which sweeps like the terri
bic cyclone and breaks to shreds all
human hopes.
4. At last temptation is to be
overcome by earnest prayer. Let
the tempted shut out the world and
get alone with God IN prayer. Like
Jacob on the banks of the Jabbok,
let them wrestle with the angel of
the covenant until victory Is gained
by surrender. Like Paul in the
deep, pray until the storm is hushed
and land is reached. Like Paul and
Silas in prison, pray until the voice
of prayer itself is hushed in an
thems of praise. l admit the power
of fixed purpose, OF wise counsel, of
holy sympathy. 1 feel the force of
all that l have said as to stunning
the list step, and of never even
starting towards the Rubicon. And
so feel that contemplation on the
dire consequences of sin must deter
from crime. But al last, young
men, there is more strength in the
support of Gods Almighty hand
than in all else beside. Prayer
gives the strength of Him who rules
the world. 1t throws around you
the Almighty arms, and you can not
fail. 1t drives away the tempter
and places you on the road. 1t will
make you strong as Elijah when he
overcame the prophets of Baal, and
victorious as Daniel when prayer
shut the mouths of the lions. 1t
will put to flight your enemies as
the sword of the Lord and of Gideon
put to flight the enemies of Israel.
1t imparts the force Of truth, the
energy of right, the courage of in
nocence and the power of omnipo-
tence to human weakness, and as
sures a victory whose jubilant shout
shall mingle forever with the song
of redemption.
Sustained by the purity OF incor-
ruptible principle and the power of
our holy religion, and casting your
self upon the Lord, go forward in
His great might until the last temp
tation yields and the last foe is con
quered. Be brave. Oppose all
wrong. Raise your standard high.
Stand firm to your colors. Be true
to God and yourself, and when your
battle is fought you shall swell the
mighty throng of victorious Chris
tian warriors whose triumphant
shout is already heard on the other
shore.
ITO ha ContinnadN