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

Oh, the fact is, as We all know in our own
experience, that habit is a task master; as
long as we obey it, 1t does not chastise us;
but let us resist, and we find we are to be
lashed with scorpion whips, and bound
with ship cable, and thrown into the track
OF bone breaking Juggernauts. During the
war OF 1872 there was a ship set on fire just
above Niagara Falls, and then, cut loose
from its moorings, IL came on down through
the night, and tossed over the falls. II was
said to have been u scene brilliant beyond
all description. Well, there are thousands
of men on fire of evil habit, coming down
through the rapids and through the awful
night OF temptation toward the eternal
plunge. Oh, how hard II is TO arrest them.
God only can arrest them. Suppose man
after five, or ten, or twenty years OF evil
doing resolves to do right. Why all the
forces OF darkness are allied against him.
lie cannot sleep nights. He gets down ON
his knees in the midnight and cries: "God
help mel" lie bites his lips. He grinds
his teeth. lie clenches his fist in deter
mination TO keep hispupose. lie dare not
look at the bottles in the windows OF a
wine store. II is one long, bitter, exhaust
i've, hand to hand fight with enfamed,
tantalizing and merciless habit. When he
thinks he Is entirely free the old inclina-
tions pounce upon him like pack OF
hounds with their muzzles tearing away at
the TANKS Of one poor reindeer. In Paris
there is sculptured representation of
Bacchus, the god OF revelry. He is riding
on a panther at full leap. Oh! how sug-
gestive. Let every one who is speeding
on bad ways understand he is not riding
docile and well broken steed. but he is
riding q monster wild and bloodthirsty,
going at death leap. How many there
are who resolve on better life, and say:
"When shall awaken but, seized on by
their old habits, cry: 81 will try ii once
more; will seek IL vet again." Years
ago, there were some Princeton students
who were skating and the ice was very
thin, and some one warned the company
back from the air-hole, and finally warned
them entirely TO leave the place. But one
young man with bravado, after all the rest
had stopped, cried out: "0ne round
more lie swept around, and went down,
and was brought out corpse. My friends,
there are thousands and tens OF thousands
Of young men losing their souls in that
way. II is the one round more.
have also to say that II man wants to
return from evil practices, society repulses
him. Desiring TO reform, he says "Now,
will shake of my old associates, and |
will find Christian companionship." And
he appears at the church door some Sab
bath day, and the usher greets him with a
look as much us TO say: "Why, you here?
You are the last man ever expected 10 see
at church, Come, take this seat right down
by the door," Instead OF saying: GOOD
morning; am glad you are here. Come;
will give YOU firstrate seat, right up by
the pulpit" Well, the prodigal, not yet
discouraged, enters prayer meeting, and
some Christian man, with more zeal than
common sense, SAYS: "Glad TO see you;
the dying thief was saved, and suppose
there Is mercy for YOU" The young man,
disguised, chilled, throws himself ON
his dignity, resolved he will never
enter into tho house OF God again. Per-
haps not quite fully discouraged about
reformation, he sides up by some highly
respectable man he used 10 know, going
down the street, and Immediately the re-
spectacle man has an errand down some
other street. Well, the prodigal, wishing
TO return, takes some member OF Chris
tian association by the hand, or tries TO.
The Christian young man looks al him,
looks at the faded apparel and the marks
OF dissipation instead OF giving him n
warm grip OF the hand, offers him the tip
ends OF the long fingers OF the left hand,
which is equal TO striking man in the
face. Oh, how few Christian people un-
derstand how much force and gospel there
| Is in q good, honest hand shakingl Some
times, when you have felt the need OF en-
couragement, and some Christian man has
taken you heartily by the hand, have you
not felt thrilling through every fiber OF
your body, mind and soul an encourage
ment that was Just what you needed ?
You do not know anything at all about
| this unless You know when a man tries 10
return from evil courses OF conduct he
runs against repulsions innumerable. We
say OF some man, he lives block or two
| from the church, or half n mile from the
church. There are people In our crowded
cities who live 1000 miles from church.
Vast deserts OF indifference between them
and the house of God. The fact il, we
must keep our respcctability, though thou
sands and tens Of thousands perish.
Christ sat with publicans and sinners.
But II there came 10 the house OF God q
man with marks Of dissipation upon him,
people almost threw up their hands In
horror, a. much ms 10 say: Isn't II
shockingf" How these dainty, fastidious
Christians In all our churches are going "a
get into heaven don't know, unless they
have an especial train Of cars, cushioned
and upholstered, each one car "a
himself. They cannot 20 with the great
horde OF publicans aud sinners. Oh, W
who curl your lip Of scorn nj the fallen,
tell you plainly Il you had been surround
ed by the same influences, instead of sit
ting today amid the cultured, and tho ~
fined, and the Christians, you would have
been a crouching wretch In stable or ditch
covered with filth aud abomination. IL h
not because you are naturally any better
but because the mercy Of God has protect
ed you. Who are you, that, brought ~
In Christian circles and watched b,
Christian pareniagc, you should be 10 hart
on the fallcn2
think mon also are often hlnderc,
from return by the fact that churches ar
too anxious about their membership an,
too anxious about their denomination, an,
they rush out when they see a man abou
TO give up his sin and return 10 God, an.
ask him how he Is going 20 be baptized
whether by immersion or sprinkling, an'
what kind Of church he is going 10 Join
Oh, my friends, II IA a poor time 10 tall
about Presbyterian catcchisns, and Epis
copa liturgics, and Methodist love feasis
and baptisteries, 10 n man that Is comm
out Of the darkness Of sin into the gloriou
lIght Of the gospel. Why, Il reminds m
Of n man drowning In the sea, and life
boat puts out for him, and the man In th
. boat says 70 the man out Of the boat
NOW, II get you ashore arc you going ;