The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1888-05-09
DIR. SERMON
Bsoforunation of Evil Habits.

aSH'u. -IIOY. 10 ! %. gI * 1.HHl HiHV. W.HtH H..
WITn an Insight into human nature
such as no other man ever reached,
Solomon, in my text, sketches tile nell
tai operations Of one who, having step
pee
ASIDE From TIE PATH
OF reCtitudo, desires to return. WIN Il
wish for something better, he says:
when shall I awaken when shall |
come out Of this horrid nightmare OF
iniQultypn But seized upon by un-
cradicatcd habit, and forced down-hill
by his passions, he cries out: II will
seek it yet again. J will try il oncc
mOrc.n
Our libraries arc adorned with an
elegant literature addressed to young
men, pointing out TO them all tho dam
gers aud pcrils Of lifc-complctc maps
OF tho voyage, showing I'LL tho rocks.
the 1uicksands, the shoals. But sup
pose u man has already made ship
wreck, suppose lie is already OIL the
track suppose lU has already gone as
tray,
now is lie TO GET BACK?
That is u field comparatively umto,,cii-
cd. propose to address myself This
evening to such. There are those i'll
this audience who, with cvcry passion
Of their agollized soul, are ready to hear
this discussion. They compare them
selves with what they were ten years
ago. aud cry out from the bondage IN
which they are incarccratcd. Now, II
there bo any in This house, come with
All earnest purpose, yet feeling they are
beyond the pale Of Christian sympathy,
and that the sermon can hardly be cN-
pccted to address them, tllcn, at this
moment, / give them my right hand
and call them brother. Look up. There
is glorious and triumphant hope for you
yet. / sound the trumpet Of Gospel de-
livcrAnce. Tho Church is ready TO
spread q banquet at your return, and
the hicrarchs Of heaven to fall into line
Of hammered procession at the news OF
your emancipation. SO far rs God may
help me-, l propose TO show what arc the
Obstacles to your return, AMI how to
SujinOuDt those obstacles.
TIE FIRST DIFFICULTY
in tiiG way or your return IS the force
of mora; Grdvitation. Just as there is
a natural law which brings down TO
the earth anything which you throw
into The air, SO there is Il corresponding
moral gravitation. III other words, it
is easier 10 go down than IL is 10 go up;
it is easier 10 do wrong than it is to do
right Call TO mind the comrades Of
your boyllOOu days-SOmc OF them good
some OF them bad. Which most affect
cd .you2 Call to mind the anecdotes
that you have heard in tho last five or
ten ycarri-Somc of them are puro and
somo OF them impure. Which tho more
easily sticks to your memory? During
the Years OF your life you have formed
certain courses Of conduct-some of
them good, some Of them bad. TO
which style Of habit did you tho moro
easily 5 icld? ALL my friends, we hayo
to take but a moment OF self Inspection
to find out that there is IN all our souls
a forco OF moral gravitation. But that
gravitation may DO resisted. Just as
you may pick lip from the earth mt
thing and hold it in your hand toward
heaven, just SO, by the power of Gods
grace, Il soul fallen may be lifted to-
ward peace, toward pardon, toward
heaven. Force OF moral grayitation in
every ono Of us, but power in G0l's
grace to overcome that force of moral
gTavitatiOn.
Tho next thing in the way of your
return is tie poacer o. euit haJit. | know
there are those who say 1t is very easy
for them to give UP evil habits. [ do
believe them. Hero is Il raj given to
in~toxicalion. He knows it is disgrace
ing his family, destroying his property,
running him body, mind, and soul. II
that man, being All Intelligent man,
and loving his family, could easily give
up that habit, would he not do SO? Tho
fact. that lie docs not give il up proves
it is hard to give 1t up. II i, a very
easy thing to sail downstream, the tide
carrying you with great force; but sup
pose yon turn
TIE BOAT VI STREAM,
is it 80 easy then to row it? Aslong us
VIC yield to tho evil inclinations in our
hearts and our bad habits, We arc sail
ing downstream; but the moment we
try TO turn, VIC put our boat in Tho
rapids just above Niagara, and try TO
row up stream. Take Il man given to
tho habit OF using tobacco, as most Of
you do, and let him resolve TO stop, and
he finds it very difficult. Twcnty.onc
years ago I quit that habit, and l would
as soon dare TO put my right hand In
tile fire us once TO indulge in ii. Why?
Because il was such q terrible struggle
to get over 1t.
Nov, let Il man be advised by his
physician TO give UP the Use Of tobacco.
lie goes around not knowing what to
do with himself. 10 cannot add up a
line or figures. lie cannot sleep nights,
1t seems as if the world had turned M.
sido down. lie feels his business IS 60
ing TO ruin. Where lie was kind ana
obliglng he is scolding and frctful. Tho