The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-11-11
their edges. We want no rusty blades In

not rip up the giebe. We want no axe that
| can not fell the trees. We want no goad
that can not start the lazy team. Let US
| get the very best grindstones we call find,
though they be in possession OF the Philis-
| tines, compelling them to turn the crank
while we bear down wi h all our might on
the swift-revolvins wheel, until all our
energies and faculties shall be brought
up TO q bright, keen, sharp, glittering
edge.
Again my subject teaches us on what
small allowance Philistine iniGuity puts
a man. Yes, these Philistines shut up the
mines, then they took the blacksmiths,
then they took the grindstones, anil they
took every thing but a file. Oh, that is the
way sin works; it grabs every thing! It
begins with robbery, and ends with rob-
tery. It despoIls this faculty, an that
faculty, and Keeps on until the whole ma
ture is gone. Was the man eloquent he-
fore. it generally thickens his tongue. Was
he fine in personal appearance, it mars his
visage. Was he affl tent, it sends the
sheriff to sell him out. Was he infilen-
tial, it destroys his popularity. Was he
placid and genial, AMI loving, it makes
him splene:ic and cross; and so utterly
is he changed that you can see he is sar-
castic and rasping, and that the Philis.
tines have left him nothing but file.
Oh, 1.-THE way of the transgressor is
hardr' His cup is bitter His night is
dark. His pangs are deep. His end is
terrific. Phillstine iniquity says to that
man:
"Now, surrender to me, and l will give
you all you want-music for the dance, swift
steeds for the race, imperial couch to
slumber on, AMI you shall lie refreshed
with the rarcst fruits in baskets of golden
filagree."
He lies. The music turns out to be a
eroan. The fruits burst the rind with
rank poison. The flagree is made up of
twisted reptiles. The couch is grave.
Small allowance Of rest, small allowance
of peace, small allowance of comfort.
Cold. hard. rough-nothing but file
A Christian life i the only cheerful Ii e,
while life of wicked surrender is re-
morse. ruin and death. Its painted z lee
is sepulchral ghastliness. In the bright
est DAYS of the Mexican Empire M ,nte-
zuml said he felt gnawing at his hart
something like canker. Sin, liks a
monster wild beast of the forest, some
times ticks all over its " ctim in order that
the victim may be more easily swallowed
but generally sin rasps, and gals, and
tears. aud upbraids, AM files. Is it not
so, Herod? Is it not so, Hldebrand? Is il
not so, Robespierre? Aye: aye! 1t is so,
it is so.
The way of the wicked lie turneth upside
down.
learn from this subject what n sad
thing it is when the Church of God loses
its metal! These Pbiiistines saw that If
they could only get all the metallic
weapons olt of the hands of the Is-aelites
all would be well, and. therefore, tn ~
took the swords and the spears. Thsv
did not want them to have n single metal
lie weapon. When the IN etal of the Israeli
ties was gone their strength was gone.
This is the trout lie with the Church of Col
to-day. II is surrendering its courage. II
has not got enough metal. How seldom
it is that you see man taking his posi-.
tion in pew or in pulpit or in religious
socity and holding that position agains
all opposition, and all trial, and all pe:se.
cution, and all criticism.
The church of God to-day wants more
> backbone, more defiance, more con secrat-
ed bravery, more metal. How often yot
see man start out in some good enter
, prise, and at the first blast of opposition
he has collapsed and all hfs courage gone
forgetting the fact that if man be right
all the opposition of the earth poundnc
away at him can not do linn any perma
nent damage. 1t is only when man i
wrong that he can be damaged. Why
God is going TO vindicate His truth, ant
He is going TO stand by you, my friends
in every effort you make for Christi
cause and the salvation of men.
l 60 forth in the service of Christ, AMI d.
you whole duty. You have one sphere.
have another sphere.
> The Lord of Hosts is with MS, and the Coz
of Jacob is our refuge. Selah!
We want more of the determination o
: Jonathan. l do net suppose he was yer,
: wonderful man, but he got on his knee
and clambered up the rock, and with tn
help of his armor bearer he hewed dow
= the Philistines; and man of very ordi
nary intellectual attachments on his knee
. can storm any thing for God, and for th
. truth. We want something of the deter
= mination of the general who went into tn
war, and as he entered his first battle hi
knees knocked together, his ply steal coul
age not quite up to his moral courage; an
he looked down at his knees and said:
"Ah, if you knew where l was going t
take you, you would shake worse tina
: thatw
There is only one question for yea
:, ask, and for me to ask-what does Go
= want me to do? Whers Is the field
Where is the ork? Where is the anvil,
Where is the prayer-meeting? Where i
= the pulpit? Aud, finding out what Go
= wants US 10 do, go ahead and do it-al
the energies of our body, mind and sou
enlisted in the undertaking. o! brethren
we have but little time in which to figh
for God! You will be dead soon. Put i
. the Christian cause every energy that Go
: gives you.
What thy hand tindeth to do, do it with al
II thy might; for there is neither wisdom. no
II device, in the grave, whittier we are a
d fastening
Y Opportunities of usefulness gone for
: ever; souls that might havs been benefite
l. three months ago never again comm
a under our Christian influence Oh is