The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-03-06
Self.

1t has been said that the arch fiatter-
er, with whom all the pretty fiatterers
have intelligence, is mans sell.
Look oIt for self. 1t is the evil with
which we have to contend, ever pres
ent, insinuating, universal and deadly
the rival of Christ, the enemy OF al
spiritual advance. Self relgns or
Christ, There can be no division OF
rnle-no partnership. Paul recognized
it in his day as the great llindrance to
The gospel; of Timothy he said, %!
have no man likeminded who will
naturally care for your state; for all
seek their own. not the things that are
Jesus Christ's." -,
Rutherford says, Every man blam-
9th the devil for his sins but the great
devil. the home-devil of every man,
the home-devil that eateth and lieth
in every mans bosom,-that kllleth
ali. is himself" Luther said, 81 am
more afraid Of my own heart than OF
the Pope and all his cardinals. have
within me the great Pope, SELF" II
is said, by Plutarch that after a great
battle the Athenians came to an altar
and eyery officer was to inscrloe the
name of those who had done the pest
service. Every one put himself IN the
f;rst nlaee and Themistocles IN the Sec
ond. :, o. mot
The, apostle says, 1--WE preach not
onrseIves, hut Christ Jesus, the Lord,
and ourselves your servants" How
much nresching there is of self-a ia,
vor of Christ. The end to be reached
ia Christ, but we travel to thaG emu py
the road of self. Self Is the msV, DuC
self the first, also. H.
An old man being asked why ne
complained of pain and WEAKNESS each
evening, replied, II have every day SO
much to do; l have two falcons 10
tame. two, hares to keep from running
away. two hawks to manage, a serpent
to confine, q lion to chain, and a SICK
man to tend and wait upon. fhe TWO
falcons are my two eyes, which mus!
diligently guard lest something shoulo
please them which may be hurtful TO
nv salvation the two hares are my
two feet which I must hold back lest
they should run after evil objects, ana
walk in the way of sin; the two
hawks are my two hands which, !
must train and keep to work, In oroer
that I may be able to provide for my
self and nv brethren who are in need
the serpent is my tongue, which l
must always keep in with bride lest
IL should speak anything unseemly
the lion is my heart, with which J
have to maintain continual fight IN
order that vanity and pride may not
fill it. but that the grace OF God ma!
dwell and work there; the SICK man
Is my whole body, which IS always
needing my watchfulness ana care.
"All this daily" he said, wears @ ou'
nv strength" This self must be cru
cifed, but who will endure the cross
by q volunteer surrender? 1t mas
been truly said that:
1--WE; cannot be too often, or Toe
strongly warned against this fatal
this soul-destroying sin. The whole
example of our Lord, the entire spirit
and teachings of the gospel, are in ut;
ter condemnation of it. AND wei!
they may e,-for if allowed to have
it's Way, every human virtue would IN
the end; be sacrificed by it, and life
would become q cold, desolate and bar
rem waste, Hope would expire, foi
there could, be no happiness here and
no Heaven hereafter.
"In battling against this spirit we
are in constant danger of being ieo
far away, for it is exceedingly insidl.
GUS. as well as terribly deceitful. Ii
leads many,a one to think and believe
that he is acting from pure motives
and seeking. good ends while all the
time is inspired by a thorough sci
fishness,r and, laboring to accomplish
bfa our, MI rpoaesU ~