Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-07-23

Text-II Samuel xviii 20, "Is the young man
Absaom safe?" Subject" Safety Of the Young"
The question implies that there Is doubt and
danger In the case. 1t Is this danger that gives
the question such interest, for the danger is real
and immanent 1t threatens life, life Of the body
and life Of the soul here and hereafter. Escape
from destruction Is only possible and probable.
Absolute security there is none-only the hope
and chance OF salvation. And this hope turns on
the conduct and character OF others that are ex-
posed like us as well as ourselves. We must con-
slider these others, then, on whom the young man
depends to know his danger and safety. Who
are his parents, teachers, and associates? From
whom has he sprung? What kind OF training
has the child had, and does the youth now get?
II father and mother are godly they will train up
their son in the nurture and admonition Of the
Lord 81 know him that he will command
his children and household after him and they
shall keep the way Of the Lord" There Is moth
ing that more distinguishes the households OF
| the Israelites and the Egyptians than this. In
the former God is known and his commands
needed. The sacrifice is provided, the lamb slain
and the blood sprinkled. Seeing the blood the
destroyer is not suffered to go into that house to
snite. All these things-the begetting, the faith
|
man then born and bred and the daughters nour-
ished. The family is within the scope of the
covenant. 81 will be God to thee and thy seed
after thee" 1t is thus that the "house Of the
righteous shall stand and the seed OF the righteous
shall be delivered" "They are the blessed Of
the Lord" Godiness does stand as u security
for the sons that the cody beget 30 that long
line Of godly descendants, religious races, comes
forth from Abraham, and the Messiah himself
from the family Of David. Yet the holy covenant
81 will be God to thee" etc, has not been Sc
fully realized as to secure perfectly the sons tina
have sprung from the faithful. The covenant ha
/, been broken and the promise made void through
unbelief In this way there has come TO be
hooking Ishmael In the family Of Abraham, son
OF Beia among the sons Of Eli, and an Absalom II
the house Of David. Whether, then, Absaom shal
be saved turns not on his royal father or princel
mother, but on Absalom himself Here tn
speaker sketched the character Of David and o
Maacah and Absaom himself Absilom ha
power to despise his birthrlght and turn his glo
into shame. This he did. So monstrous char
acter AZ he formed Is not found elsewhere 4
Scripture, and hardly equaled in protane history
His sun went down at noon His life went out i
i the blackness Of darkness. "Died Absalom a
4 the fool dieth." David knew that he was lost
n hence his passionate weeping "Wonld God
- had died for thee o Absalom, my son, my son !
What, then, gives security to the son OF hope 70
| this life? What can save a soul from death
!, Not rank nor riches; not great talents or grea
n | advantages, high hopes or achievements. Nc
y birth nor blood, nor the will Of the fesh nor th
q will OF man, but God. Except man be Dor
again he cannot see the kingdom Of God"