The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1888-05-09
DR.. SERMON
BsoIornation OF Evil Habits.

WITH an Insight into human nature
s,,cb as no other man Cvet reached,
solomon, in my text, sketches the NEIL
tai operations Of one who. having step
lNG
ASIDE rkOM TIE PATH
OF rcctitudo, desires to return. With u
wish for something better, he says:
when shall [ awake? when shall l
come out OF this horrid nightmare OF
iniquitypn But seized upon by uli-
eradicatcd habit, and forced down-hill
by his passions, he cries out: II VIII
seek it yet again. J will try IL once
morC.o
Our libraries arc adorned With an
elegant literature addressed to young
men, pointing out to them al The dar-
gers aud perils Of ~lifc-complcte maps
Of tho voyage, showing all tho rocks,
the auicksands, tho shoals. But sup
wreck; suppose he is already OIL The
track; suppose lo has already gone as
tray,
noW IS lie TO GET BACK?
HAT Is Il field comparatively %ultorcll-
cd. propose to address myself this
evening to such. There are those III
this audience who, with every passion
Of their agolized soul, arc ready to hear
tltis discussion. They compare them
selves with what they were ten years
ago, aud cry out from the bondage in
Which they are i~ncarceratcd. Now, if
there Do any in this house, come with
an earnest purpose, yet feeling they are
beyond the pale Of Christian sympathy,
and that the sermo.> can hardly be cx-
pccted to address them, tllcn, ut tilis
moment, ] give them my right hand
and call them brother. Look UP. There
is glorious and triumphant hope for you
YET. T. sound the trumpet Of Gospel de-
livcrAuce. Tho Church is ready TO
spread o banquet at your return, and
the hierarchs Of heaven to fall into line
Of hammered procession ut the news Of
your emancipation. SO far as God may
help nc, I propose to show what arc the
obstacles to your return, and how to
surmoIu,t those obstacles.
THE FIRST DIFFICULTY
III tic way or your return IS the force
uf morai gravitation. Just as there Is
Il natural law which brings down to
the earth anything which you throw
into the air, SO there is Il corresponding
moral gtayitation. In other words, it
is easier 10 go down than il is TO 60 up;
it is easier TO do wrong than it is to do
right Call To mind tho comrades of
your hoylIood days-somc Of them good
some OF them bad. Which most affect
that you have heard in tho lust five or
some Of them impure. Which tho more
nncitN cl ifl-C r., .f<t Y,,nnhnruo III l1,Iit,r
the FEARS OF your life you have formed
them good, some or them bad. To
which sIylo OF habit did you tho more
easily yield? ALL my friends, We have
to tako but a moment OF self inspection
to find out that there is IN all our souls
i forco OF moral gravitatlon. But that
gravitatiOn may DO resisted. Just as
you may pick up from the earth some
thing and hold it in your hand toward
heaven, just 60, by the power Of Gods
grace, u soul fallen may be lifted TO-
ward peace, toward pardon, toward
heaven. Force OF moral gravitution in
every ono OF lis, but power in God's
grace to overcome That force of moral
gIavitation.
Tho next thing in the way Of your
return is Tie poever Of cru hail. know
there are those WHO say il is very easy
For them to give up evil habits. I do
believe them. Here is Il man given to
in~toXicnlion. lie knows it is disgrace
ing his family, destroying his property,
running him body, mind, and soul. II
that nan, being an intcllIgcnt man,
and loving his family, could easily give
up thai habit, would he not do SO? The
fact that he docs not give il up proves
it is hard to give 1T up. II j., Il very
easy thing to sail downstream, the tide
carrying you with great force; but sup
losG you turn
TIE BOAT Up STREAM,
is il so easy then to row it? Aslong us
we yield to The evil ~inclinationS in our
hearts and olir bad habits, NO arc sail
ing downstream; but tho moment we
try to turn, we put our boat in tho
rapids just above Niagara, and try to
row up stream. Take u man given to
tho habit Of using tobacco, as most OF
you do, and let him resolve TO stop, and
he tinds it very difficult. Twcnty.onc
years ago | uitthat habit, and 1 would
as soou dare to put MY right hand In
the fire as once 10 indulge in it.. Whyp
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. lTo cannot add up Il
line Of figures. lie cannot sleep nights,
1t ems as f the world had turned up.
side down. lie feels his business IS 60
ing to ruin. Where lie was kind and
ob!ig,ng he is scolding and fretful. Tho