The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-11-08

and Paul is gone. ] expect to sail owe
some of the SAND waters over whicl
Paul sailed, but before going want t
urge you all to embark for heaven.
The church is the drydock wher
souls are to be fitted out for heaven
In making a vessel for this voyage
the first need is sound timber. Tn,
floor timbers ought to be of solid stuff
For the want of it. vessels that looket
able to run their jibbooms into the ey'
of any tempest, when caught in I
storm have been crushed like wafer
The truths of Gods Word are what
mean by floor timbers. Away will
your lighter materials Nothing bu
oaks, hewn in the forest of divin.
truth, are stanch enough for this craft
CoURAGEl COURAGE! CHRISTIAN voY
AYERS.
You must have Love for helm, tc
guide and turn the craft. Neither
Pride nor Ambition nor Avarice will
do for a rudder. Love, not only in
the heart, but flashing in the eye and
tingling in the hand-Love married to
Work, which many look upon as SC
homely a bride-Love, not like brooks,
which foam and rattle, yet do moth.
ing, but Love like river, that runs up
the steps of mill wheels, and works in
the harness of factory bands-Love
that will not pass by on the other side,
but visits the man who fell among
thieves near Jericho, not merely say
ing, poor fellow! you are dreadful1y
hurt" but, like the good Samaritan,
pours in oil and wine, and pays his
board at the tavern. There must also
be a Prov, arranged to cut and over
ride the billow. That is Christian per-
severance.
There are three mountain surges
that sometimes dash against soul in
q minute-the world, the flesh and the
devil; and that is well built PROV
that can bound over them. For lack
of this, many have put back and never
started again. 1t is the broadside wave
that so often sweeps the deck and fills
the matches; but that which strikes in
front is harmless. Meet troubles cour-
ageously and you surmount 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 move me-" Let all your fears
stay aft: The right must conquer.
Know that Moses, in an ark of bull
rushes, can run down war steamer.
Have good, strong anchor. (Which
hope we have as 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 stay in the same lati-
tude and longitude. You will never
ride up the harbor of eternal rest if
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 topgal-
liant, the skysail, the gaffsail and other
canvas. Faith is our canvas. Hoist
it, and the winds of heaven will drive
you ahead. Sails made out of any
other canvas than faith will be slit to
tatters by the first northeaster. Strong
faith never lost battle. twill crush
foes, blast rocks, quench ightnings,
thresh mountains. Ills shield to the
warrior, crank to .the most ponder
GUS 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 to the
harbor of heaven.
THE BIBLE Is YOUR CHART.
But you are not yet equipped. You
must have what seamen call the run
ming rigging. This comprises the
ships braces, halliards, clew lines
and such like. Without these the
yards could not be braced, the sails
lifted, nor the canvas in anywise man.
aged. We have prayer for the run
ming rigging. Unless you understand
this tackling yoY are not a spiritual
By pulling on these ropes,
you hoist the sails Of faith and turn
Them every whittier. The prov of
courage will not cut the wave, nor the
sail Of faith spread and flap its wing,
unless you have strong prayer for a
ballard.
One more arrangement, and you
will be ready for the sea. You must
have which is the Bible.
1OOA e1C ~ every udy, anu always sail
~ it, as its needle points toward the |
Star of Bethlehem. Through fog, and
darkness, and storm. it works faith
'ully. Search the Scriptures BOX
he compass"
Let me give you two or three rules
or the voyage. Allow your appetites
md passions only an under deck pas
age. Do not allow them ever to come
Up on the promenade deck. Mortify
7our members which are upon the
'arth. Never allow your lower ma
ure anything better than Storage
Let watchfulness walk the
lecks as an armed sentinel, and shoot
lown with great promptness anything
ike a mutiny of riotous appetites.
Be sure to look out of the forecastle
or icebergs. These are cold Christians
loating about in the church. The
rigid zone professors will sink you.
steer clear of icebergs. Keep log book
Turing all the voyage-an account
# how many furlongs you make a
lay. The merchant keeps day book
S well as a ledger. You ought to
now every night, as well as every
ear, how things are going. When
he express train stops at the depot,
'ou hear hammer sounding on all
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