Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-11-16

through, and the sea-how many dark
mysteries 1t hides in its bosom! A few
counsels, a hasty good-by, a last look,
and the ropes rattle, and the sails are
hoisted, and the planks are hauled in,
and Paul Is gone. expect TO sail over
some of the same waters oyer which
Paul sailed, but before going l want
to urge you all to embark for heaven.
The church Is the drydock where
souls are to DO fitted out for heaven.
In making a vessel for this voyage, the
first need Is sound timber. The floor
, timber ought TO be OF solid stuff. For
the want of 1t, vessels that looked able
to run their jibbooms into the eye
OF any tempest, when caught in a storm
have been crushed like a wafer. The
truths OF Gods Word are what l mean
by floor timbers. Away with your
lighter materials. Nothing but oaks,
hewn in the foress of divine truth, are
stsnch enough for this craft.
You must have love for a helm, TO
guide and turn the craft. Neither
pride nor ambition nor avarico will do
for q rudder. Love, not only in the
heart, but flashing in the eye and ting
ling in the hand-love married TO work,
which many look upon as so homely a
bride-love, not like brooks, which
foam and rattle, yet do nothing, but
love like a river, that runs up the steps
OF mill wheels, and works in the har-
ness of factory bands-love that will
not pass by on the other side, but visits
the man who fell among thieves near
Jericho, who not merely saying,
poor fellow! you are dreadfully
hurt" but like the good Samaritan,
pours in oil and wine. and pays his
board at the tavern. There must also
be u prov, arranged TO cut and override
the billow. That is Christian persever-
ance. There are three mountain surges
that sometimes dash against a soul in 4
minute-the world, the flesh and the
devil; and that is a well built PROV that
can bound over them. For lack of this,
many have put back and never started
again. IL is the broadside wave that so
often sweeps the deck and fills the
matches; but that which strikes in front
is harmless. Meet troubles courageously
and you them. Stand on the
prov, and as you wipe off the spray of
the split surge, cry out with the apostle:
"None OF these things love me-" Let
all your fears stay aft. Tie right must
conquer. Know that Moses, in an ark
of bulrushes, can run down a war
steamer.
Have a good, strong anchor. (Which
hope We have az an anchor" BY this
strong cable and windlass hold on TO your
anchor. ''If any man sin, we have an
advocate with the Father" Do not use
the anchor wrongfully. Do not always
4 ,4o-r q, %hn aro l.@sNnIn a-l 1oars,-la
You will never ride up the harbor OF
eternal rest II you all the way drag your
anchor.
But you must have sails. Vessels are
not fit for the sea until they have the
flying jib, the foresail, the top-gallant,
the skysail, the gaffsail and other can
vas. Faith Is our canvas. Hoistit, and
the winds of heaven will drive you
ahead. Sails made out of any other
canvas than faith will oe slit To tatters
by the first northeastern. Strong faith
never lost o battle. 1t will crush foes,
blast rocks, quench l~ightnings, thresh
mountains. 1t is a shield to the war
rior, a crank to the most ponderous
wheel, a lever to pry up pyramids, a
drum whose beat gives strength to the
step Of the heavenly soldiery, and sails
to watt ships laden with priceless pearls
from the harbor of earth 10 the harbor
of heaven.
But you are not yet equipped. You
must have what seamen call the run
ming rigging. This comprises the ships
braces, billiards, clew lines and such
like. Without these the yards could
not be braced, the sails lifted, nor the
canvass in anywise managed. We have
prayed for the running rigging. Unless
you understand this tackling you are
not a spiritual m BY pulling on
these ropes, you hoist the sails OF faith
and turn them every whittier. The
prov of courage viii not cut the wave,
nor the sail OF faith spread and flap its
wing, unless you have strong prayer for
the billiard.
One more arrangement, and you will
be ready for the sea. You must have a
compass-which is the Bible. Look at
it every day, and always sail by
il, as needle points toward the Star OF
Bethlehem. Through fog, and dark
ness, and storm, it works faithfully.
Search the Scriptures. BOX the com
pass"
Let me give you two or tire rules for
the voyage. Allow your appetites and
passions only an under deck passage
Do not allow them aver TO come on the
promenade deck. OMortify your mem
bers which are upon the earth. Never
allow your lower nature anything bet
ter than a Storage passage. Let watch
fulness walk the decks as an armed
sentinel, and shoot down with great
promptness anything like a mutiny OF
riotous appetites.
Be sure q look out of the forecastle
for ieebergs. T1ese are the cold Chris
tians floating about in the church. The
frigid tone professors will sink you.
Steer clear of icebergs. Keep a log
book during all the voyage-an account
of how many furlongs you make a day,
The merchant keeps a day book as well
as a ledger. You ought To know every
night, as we'll as every year, how things
aro going. When the express train
stops at the depot, you hear q hammer
ing sound on all the wheels, thus test
ing the safety of the mail train. Bound,
as we are, with more than express speed
toward q great eternity, ought we not
often to try the work OF self examina'
ton?
BE sure to keep your colors up! You