Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-07-23


temperament with all icicls. feu can taks
any nian for Christ II you ktiow how to get
at him. Do not send word to him that to-
morrow at 10 O'Clock you propose to open
your batteries upon him, but come on him
by skillful, persevering, God directed am-
buscade
Lesson the fourth: The importance of TAX
ing good aim There is Joshua, but how are
those people in ambush up yonder to know
when they are to drop upon the city, and
how are these men around Joshua to know
when they are to stop their fight and ad-
vancel There must be some signal--a signal
TO stop the one division and to start the
other. Joshua, with a spear on which were
ordinarily hung the colors of battle, points
toward the city. lie stands in such a con-
spicuous position, and there is so much OF the
morning light dripping from that spear tip,
that al around the horizon they see it, 1t was
as much as to say: There is the city. Take
it. Take it now. Roll down from the west.
Surge up from the north. 1t is ours, the city of
Ar God knows and we know that great
deal of Christian attack amounts to nothing
simply because we do not take good 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 dir, ction and then hurl our body, mind,
soul, time. eternity at that one target In
our pulpits and pews and Sunday schools and
prayer meetings We want to get reputation
for saying pretty things, and so we point
cur spear toward the flowers; or we want
n raff ion, -. g,,hl
and we point our spear toward the stars; or
we want to get a reputation for historical
knowledge, and we point our spear toward
the past; or we want to get a reputation for
great liberality, so we swing our spear all
around; and it 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 it said: .Look out for a 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 dead if dared
to point the spear in any other direction.
Oh, for some Of the courage and enthusiasm
Of Joshuai He flung two armies from the
tip of that spear. 1t is sinful for US to
rest, unless it is to get stronger
muscle and fresher brain and purer
heart for Gods work. / feel on my
head the hands Of Christ in new ordina-
ton. Do you not feel the same omnipotent
pressurel There is a work for all of US. Oh,
that we might stand up side by side and
point the spear. toward the cityI 1t ought to
be taken. 1t will be taken. Our cities are
drifting off 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 it sur
renders the rectitude of the throne of the
Almighty That is Hberality with ven
geance. Let US decide upon the work which
we, as Christian men, have TO do, and, in the
strength of God, go TO work and do it
1t is comparatively easy to keep on
parade amid a shower of bouquets and hand
clapping, and the whole street full Of en-
thusiastic huzzas; but it 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 10
pieces and yet the commander crying, For
ward, marchr' Then it requires old fashion
ed valor My friends, the great trouble of
the kingdom of God in this day is the cow
ards They do splendidly on q parade
day, and at the communion, when they
have on their best clothes Of Christian
profession; but put them out in the
great battle Of life, 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 loi we find on cur side great
many people that do not try to pay their
debts. And we open the battle against in
temperance, ard we find on our own q ie
great many people who drink too much
And we open the battle against profanity,
and we find on our own side great many
men who make hard speeches. And We open
tie battle against infidelity, and lol we find
on our own side great many men who are
while we ought to be massing our troops and
bringing forth more than the united courage
Of Austerlitz and Waterloo and Gettysburg,
we have TO be spending our time in hunting
up ambuscades. There are great many in
the Lords army who would like to go out on
a campaign with satin slippers and holding
umbrellas over their beads to keep of the
heavy dew, and having rations Of canvas
back ducks and lemon custards. II they can
not have them they want to 60 home. They
think it is unhealthy among so many bulletsl
believe that the next twelve months will
be the most stupendous year that heaven ever
saw. The nations are quaking now with the
coming of God 1t viii be year Of successes
for the mel OF Joshua, but of doom for the
men Of Al You put your ear to the rail-
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 mercies and judgrnents
The mercy Of God is first to be tried upon
this nation. 1t will be preached in the pull
pits, in theatres, on the streets, everywhere
People will be invited to accept the mercy Of
the Gospel, AMI the story and the song and
the prayer will be mercy" But sup
pose they do not accept the offer OF mercy
what thenf Then God will come with his
judgments, and the grasshoppers will eat the
crops, and the freshets will devastate the
valleys, and the defalcations will swallow the
money markets, and the fires will burn the
cities, and the earth will quake from pole to-
pole. Year of mercies and of judgments. Year
Of invitation and of warning Year of jubilee
and Of woe. Which side are you going to be
ONT With the men of All or the men of Joshuai
Pass over this Sabbath into the ranks of Is
raeL / would clap my hands at the joy of
your coming. You will have poor chance
for this world and the world to come without
Jesus You cannot stand what is to 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 sida