Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1888-12-01
ACCOMAC C. H. VA SATURDAY, DECEMBER !. 1883

Cor. Almost the most uncean tilfGS is Till!
ever changing chameleon of religious theory
Away with tho reptilel God nbhOrs it with
mn all consuming adherence.
Once more: take tho suggestion of the text
and drive out the snail from your soul. God
has declared it unclean. 1t is an animal tc
DO found everywhere between the coolest
north and the hottest SOUTH There are fifteen
hundred species of the snail They have NC
backbone, and they arc so slow that their
movement is almost iniperccptihe. You sec
snnil in one place today; go tomorrow and
sou will find it has advanced only few
inches. 1t becomes Oil cifiblem of that large
class of Christian people who go to work
with slowness and sluGgishness that is Won
derful. They arc stopped by every little OBJ.
stacle because, like the snail, they have nc
backbone. Others mount up on eagles
wings, but they go at u snailS pace.
THE CoUSINSH1P or PRUDENCE, LAzINEsS,
sLoTH AND STUPIDITY.
Oh, child of God, aroused We have apoth-
eosized Prudence and Caution long enough.
Prudence is u beautiful grace, but of oil the
family of Christian graces like her the least,
for she lius been married so often to Laziness
Sloth and Stupidity. We have million
oilers in tho Lords vineyard who pride them
selves on their prudence. "Bc prudent" said
the disciples OF Christ, land stay away from
Jcrusalem;" but he went "Be prudent,
said Pnul's friends, land look out what you
say to Felix" but he Numbered away until
the rulers knees knocked together.
In the eyes of tho world, the most
imprrlent men that ever lived were Martin
Luther, and John Oldcastle, and Wesley, and
Knox. My opinion is that the most impru-
dent und reckless thing is to stand still 1t is
well to hear our commanders voice when he
says "Hnlt!' but quito as important to hear it
when he says "Forward!" This Gospel ship,
made to pillow the sea at fifteen knots an
hour, is not making three. Sometimes it
is most prudent to ride your horse
slowly and pick out tho way for his
feet, and not strike him with the
spurs; but when band of Shoshone Indians
are after you in full tilt. the most prudent
thing for you to do is to plunge in the rowels
and put your horse to full run, shouting:
$50 'longm until the Rocky mountains echo
it. Tho foes of God are pursuing us. The
world, the flesh and the devil ore after us;
and our wisest course is to go ahead ut swift
est speed.
When the church of God gets to advancing
too fast, it will be time enough to use eau
ton. No need of putting OH the brakes while
going up hill Do not let us sit down wait
ing for something ito turn up" but go ahead
in tho name of God, and turn it up. The
great danger to the church now is not sensa-
ton, but stagnation Oh that the Lord God
would send host of aroused and consecratcc
men to set the church OIL fire, and to turn the
world upside down. Let US so to work anG
catch the last snail in our souls. With divine
vchemence let US stamp its life out: for my
text declares: "Thesc also shall be uncleaM to
you among the creeping things that creep
upon the Garth: the chameleon and tho snail"
have thus tried to prejudice these Chris
tim men md women against gloonincss, and
SANDER, and half and half experiences, and
changeabeness, and sloth. Our opportuni-
ties for getting better are being rapidly
swallowed up in the remorselcss past. This
golden Sabbath is about to drop out of tho
calendar. This moment may we drive out
oil the unclean things from our souls-the
vulture, and the bat, and the owl, and tho
chameleon, and tho snail; and in place there
of bring in tho Lamb of God, and tho Dove
of the Spirit Tho case is urgent. Aroused
before it be eternally too latcl "Whatso-
ever thy hand findeth to do, do itr'