The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-26

suken may De regalned. flfSt OF uii, my
brother, throw yourself on God. Go TO
him frankly and earnestly and tell him
these habits you have, and ask him II there
is any help in all the resources OF omnipo-
tent love, to give it 10 you. DO not 90
with a long rigmarole people cav prayer,
made up OF "ohs," and "ahs, and "for-
ever and ever, amen!" Go TO God and cry
for help! helpl help and ii you cannot cry
for help, just look and live. ! remember,
in the late war, was at Antietam, and l
went into the hospitals after the battle and
said to man: "Where are you hurt?" He
made no answer, but held up his arm,
swollen and splintered. ! saw where he
was hurt. The simple fact Is, when a
man has a wounded SOUL all he has TO do
is to hold il up before a sympathetic Lord
and get II healed. IL does not take any
long prayer. Just hold up the wound.
Oh, ii is no small thing when man is
nervous and weak and exhausted, coming
from his evil ways, to feel that God puts
"Young man, i will stand by you. The
mountains may depart and the hills be re.
moved, but will never fail you." And
then as the soul thinks the news is too
good 10 be true, and cannot believe il, and
iooho UP III NOu . HtCt, oou hitS uiS fikut
hand and takes an oath, an affidavit. say
no pleasure in the death OF him that
dieth." Blessed be God for such gospel
as this. "Cut the slices thin," said the
wife to the husband, "or there will not be
enough TO go all around for the children;
cut the slices thin" Blessed be God there
is full loaf for every one that wants i'll
se. fo M, eli
at tho Lords table. / remember when
opened during the war, a telegram came,
saving: There will be 500 wounded men
tonight; be ready to take care OF them"
And from my church there went twenty
or thirty men and women TO look after
these poor wounded fellows. As they
came, some from one part OF the land,
some from another, no one asked whether
this man was from Oregon, or from Massa-
chusetts, or from Minnesota, or from New
York. There was wounded soldier, and
the only question was how 10 take of the
rags the most gently, and put on the band
age and administer the cordial. And when
soul comes TO God, he does not ask
where you came from or what your ances-
try was. Healing for all your wounds.
Pardon for all your guilt. Comfort for all
your troubles.
Then, also, | counsel you, II you want TO
get back, 10 quit all your bad associations.
One unholy intimacy will I'LL your soul
with moral distemper. In all the ages OF
the church there has not been an instance
where man kept one evil associate and
reformed. 60 home today, open your
desk, take out letter paper, stamp and
envelope and then write letter something
like this
"My Old Companions-I start this day
for heaven. Until | am persuaded you
will join me in this, farewell"
Then sign your name, and send the let
ter by the first post. Give up your bad
companions or give up heaven. IL is not
ten bad companions that destroy a man,
nor FIVE bad companions, nor three bad
companions, nor two bad companions, but
one. What chance Is there for that young
man ] saw along the street, four or five
young men with him, halting In front OF n
grog-shop, urging him 10 20 in, he resist.
ing, violently resisting, until after awhile
they forced him 10 20 in? II was sum-
mer night and the door was left open, and
saw the process. They held him fast,
and they put the cup TO his lips, and they
forced down the strong drink. What
chance Is there for such young man2
I counsel you also, seek Christian ad-
vice. Every Christian man II bound 20
help you. II you find no other human ear
willing 10 listen 10 your story Of struggle,
como 10 me and will by every sympathy
OF my heart, and every prayer, and every
toll Of my hand, stand beside you IN the
struggle for reformation; and as hope 10
have my own sins forgiven and hope 10 be
acquitted at the Judgment seat OF Christ, !
| win not bctray you. First OF all, seek God,
then seek Christian counsel. Gather up
all the energies Of body, mind and soul,
and, appealing 10 God Tor success, declare
this day everlasting war against all drink
ing habits, all gaming practices, all houses
Of sin. Half-and-hali work will amount 10
nothing; Il must be Waterloo. Shrink
back now and you are lost. Push on, and
you are saved. A Spartan general Tell ai
the very moment Of victory, but he dipped
his finger In his own blood and wrote on q
rock near which he was dying 'Sparta
has conquered" Though your struggle "a
get nd Of sin may seem 10 be almost 9
death struggle, you can dip your finger IN
your own blood and write on the Rock o
Ages "victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ" OH what glorious news
II would be for some oi
these young men 10 send homo 10 theiI
parents In the country. They 20 90 the
posioniccs every day or two 10 scc II there
are any letters from YOU. How anxious
they are 10 hear Nothing would please
thom half ~ much as the news you might
send home tomorrow that you had given
your heart 10 God. I know how II N In
the country. The night comes on. Tho
cattle stand under the rack, through which
bursts the trusses Of hay. The horses just
having frisked up through the meadow nj
the nighiiall, stand knee deep In the brighI
straw that invites them 10 lie down and
rest. The perch Of the hovcl IL full o
fowl, their feet warm under the feathers
In the old farmhouse at night no candl,
Ia lighted, for the flames clap their hand
about tho great backlog and shake IN,
shadow OF the group up and down the wall
hour, saying nothing. wonder wha
they are thinking Of. After while IN,
father breaks the silence and says "Wel
| wonder where our boy IL In town 10
night7' And the mother answers "In M
bad place, | warrant you; We always coul'
trust him when he was horne, and since HI
has been away there have been 70 man!
prayers offered for him that We can trus
him STILL" Then ut 5 o'clock-ior the]
retire early In the country-at 5 o'clocl
they kncel down and commend you q
that God who watches In country and Il
town, ON the land and on the sea.
eomc one said 10 q Grecian general
"what was the proudest moment Of you
, liie2' lie thought a moment, and sald