Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-02-16
&eaaina fnr the Sabbath,
CONDUCTED By
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.

A PERVERTED TEXT.-Prof. Phelps, in his
"Theory of Preaching" gives the following
instance of text whose original meaning has
been entirely lost by the influence of the pulpit
and of sacred songs
ssThe text, 'Watchman, what of the night"
is one of the standards of the pulpit but who
of the people know it's legitimate meaning !?
The pulpit has appropriated it almost univer
sally to sermons on the ''signs of the times"
If a preacher wishes to discourse upon the
prospects of missions or the prospects of re-
form or the prospects of the nation, he turns
to this as the most convenient passage in the
Bible, because it seems to restrict discussion
to nothing in particular. But, in fact, it is
one of the most individual and restricted of
all texts. In its Biblical significance it is a
taunt of infdelty. The prophet is represent
ed as stationed in watch tower, in time Of
great peril, on the look out for friend or foe
The triumphant Idumtean is then represented
as passing along and crying out in derision OF
the solitary sentinel. The elocution of the
passage ought to express this derision. 1t is
rs if the Idun9n stranger spoke thus "lla
ha, Waterman how do you like the look of
the night 20 A sermon OH this text, designed
to develop the taunting spirit of infdelity in a
time of misfortune to the cause of Christ,
might disclose the insignifcance of the Ian
guage with great force. But the passage is
scarcely known to the people in any such use
of it. Such a discourse upon it would be a
novelty. Preachers generally have used the
text us it is used in the missionary hymn
founded upon it by Bowrng:
"Watchnan, tell us of the night,
What its signs of promise are."
That hymn and the usage Of the pulpit have
almost destroyed that text in the minds OF the
people. ''-New York Observer.
STOP, BoYs-It is enough to know that a
first step into vice is Il calamity. Every boy
ought to count the cost of a step in sin. 1t
breaks his resolution. 1t destroys his self f-es-
teem-a great safeguard. 1t makes him feel
with distrust. He soon feels that he is cut off
from the good, and doomed with the bad. If
Satan can bind him in this belief, he gloats III
his victory, and well he may. But wilt thou,
o young man, be thus the victim Of the prince
of darkness If not, stop-nay, start not in
the ways of sin. Every one thinks he can
stop at pleasure. Can he light a magazine or
al oil tank to enjoy the flame, and suppress it
at his pleasure? Neither the fire of sin when
once it is kindled in his soul. Hast thou not
had dream of precipice OF ruin, down
whose slippery sides thou vast falling to un-
fathomable depths beneath of rolling pillows
What of that compared to the gates of hell
whose fiery portals ever send forth their curl
ing flames to enwrap whoever passes by:
These gates are many. None can he approach
ed but at the risk of all that life is furnished
for Better not have been than thus to be a
victim of inual fires that ever burn of their
own consuming. Soul passions are themselves
these fires. They may not be escaped, unless
one can escape himself
| APPEARANCES s-Living for appearances is
sorry kind of life. The closet door is sure
to be left open some time and bctray the disor'
der which is banislled from the sitting-room.
The young lady who puts most of her ward
robe in quality on the outside, and leaves the
underclothing untidy and disordered, will come
to some unfortunate revelation, and the pins
which take the place of the stitches which are
unfairly put into outside tinery will slip out
and turn merriment into misery. Let it be
the motto of every house keeper, 'the corners
and hidden places first" and regard to the
Judgment of others will be sure to spur tc
good care of the outside. 1t is either brave
or perfect housekeeper that fears no pryine
eyes. A story is told of a Portuguese family
who daily set out beautiful dinuer-table
where visitors would see it; but the pretty
ware and the napkins were never used, for the
family ate their plain fare from common
dish in the kitchen. Such conduct reminds
one of the ostrich who foolishly imagines that
the world sees only what he chooses to show.
| Christian Union.