The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-07-26

spicuous position. and there Is so much Of the
morning light dripping from that spear tip,
that all around the horizon thev see u. twas
as much as to say: There Is the city. Take
IT, Take IL now. Roll down from the west
Surge up from the north II Is ours. the city of
Al" God knows and we know that great
deal OF Christian attack amounts to nothing
simply because we do not take cool aim.
Nobody knows and we do not know our
selves which point we want to take. when
we ought to make up our minds what God
will have us to do. and point our spear in
that direction and then hurl our body, mind.
soul, time, eternity Mt that one target. In
our pulpts and pews and Sunday schools and
prayer meetings we want to get reputation
for saving pretty things and so we point
our spear toward the flowers or we want
reputation for saying sublime things,
and we point our spear toward the stars or
we want to get reputation for historical
knowledge, and we point our spear toward
the past: or we want to get reputation for
great liberality. so we swing our spear all
around; and 1t strikes all points of the
horizon, and you can make out of it what
ever you please: while there Is the old world.
proud. rebellious and armed against all
Righteousness; and instead Of running any
further away from its pursuit we ought to
turn around. plant our foot in the strength
OF the eternal God. and lift the old cross and
point IT in the direction Of the worlds con-
quest Till the redeemed of earth march
ing up from one side, and the glorified of
heaven marching down from the other side,
the last battlement OF sin is compelled TO
swing out the streamers OF Emanuel. Oh,
church OF God take aim and conquer.
have heard 1t said: "Look out for n man
who has only one idea: he is irresistible"
say: Look out for the man who has one idea,
and that determination for soul saving. I
believe God would strike me de al 10 dared
In, ,tl n
On, for some OF the courage and enthusiasm
OF Joshua! He flung two armies from the
tip OF that spear. IL Is sinful for us 10
rest, unless, IL is to get stronger
muscle and frcsher brain aud purer
heart for Gods work feel on my
head the hands Of Christ in new ordina.
ton. Do YOU not feel the same omnipotent
pressure' There is work for all OF us Oh
that we might stand up side by side and
point the spear toward the city IL ought TO
be taken. IL will be taken Our cities are
drifting OF toward loose religion or what Is
called "liberal Christianity" which is so
liberal that it gives up all the cardinal doc
trines of the Bible, so liberal that il sur.
renders the rectitude Of tho throne OF the
Almighty. That is liberality with n ven.
gennce. Let us decide upon the work which
we. rs Christian men. have to do, and in the
strength OF God, 90 to work and do IL.
IL is comparatively easy to keep on n
parade amid shower of bouquets and hand
clapping. and the whole street full of on
thusiastic huzzas; but IL Is not so easy TO
stand up IN the day Of battle, the face black
ened with smoke, the uniform covered with
the earth plowed up by whizzing bullets
and bursting shells, half the regiment cut to
pieces and yet the commander crying: "For.
ward. march" Then il requires old fash
ioned valor. MY friends, the great trouble of
the kingdom of God in this day is the cow
ards, They do splenddly on parade
nN NlaA a.
have on their best clothes of Christian
profession; but put them out IN the
great battle OF llfe at the first sharp.
shooting of skepticism they dodge. they
fall back, they break ranks We con.
front the enemy, we open the battle against
fraud, and lol we find on our side great
many people that do not try to pay their
debts And we open the battle against in.
temperance and we find on our side n
great many people who drink too much.
And we open the battle against profanity,
ana we iind on our own side great many
men who make hard speeches And we open
the battle against inidelity. and lo we find
on our own side great many men who are
not quite sure about the Book Of Jonah. And
while we ought to DO massing our troops and
bringing forth more than the united courage
Of Austerlitz and Waterloo and Gettysbur9.
we nave 10 DO spending our time Ia hunting
up ambuscades. There are great many in
the Lords army who would like to go out on
campaign with satin slippers and holding
umbrellas over their heads to keep or the
heavy dew, aud having ratons of canvas
back ducks and lemon custarls Ifthey can
not have them they want to go home. They
think IL is unhealthy among so many buletsl
believe that the next twelve months will
be the most stupendous year that heaven ever
saw. The nations are guaking now with the
coming of God. IL will be year Of successes
for the men of Joshua but Of doom for ths
/ men OF Al. N tba rui 4.
track and you can hear the train coming
miles away. So | put my ear TO the ground
and hear the laundering on of the light
ming train of Gods mcrces and uigments
The mercy OF God is first to be tried upon
this nation. IL will he preached in tho pull
pits, IN theatres on the streets, everywhere.
People will be invited to accept tho mercy OF
the Gospel, and the story and the song aud
the prayer will bs mercy But SUD,
pose they do not accept the offer of mercy
what then; Then God will come with His
Judgments, AMI the grasShoppers will eat the
crops, and the freshets will devastate the
valleys, and the def ilcations will swallow the
money markets, and tho fires will burn the
cities, and the earth will quake from pole to
pole. Year of mercies aud of judgments Yoar
of invitation and of warning Year of jubleo
and of woe Which side are YOU going to be
on' With the men OF Al or the men of Joshua
lass over this Sabbath into the ranks of Is
rael ] would clap my hands at the JOY OF
your coming You will have poor chance
Tor this world and the world TO come without
Jesus. You cannot stand what is 10 come
upon you and upon the world unless you
have the pardon and the comfort and the
help OF Christ Come over. On this side is
your happiness and safety, on the other side
Is disquietude and despair. Eternal defeat
to the men Of Al! Eternal victory to the
men OF Joshua.