Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1889-07-27

are too anxious about their member
ship and too anxious about their de-
nomination, and they rush out when
they sec man about 10 give up his
sin and return TO God, and ask him how
he is going TO 10 baptized. wheshcr by
sprinkling or by immersion. and what
kind Of u church he il going Ia join.
Oh. my friends! Il il q poor time 10
talk about Presbyterian catechisms.
and Episcopal liturgies. and Methodist
love feasts, and bapiisterics 10 a man
that is coming out Of the darkness Of
sin into the glorious light of the
Gospel. Why, II reminds US Of q
man drowning in the sea. and life.
boat puts out for him. and tho man
in the boat says 10 the man out Of the
boat: Now, IL ! get you ashore. are
You going to live in my street,"
First get him ashore, and then talk
about the non.essentials Of religion.
Who cares what church he joins. II
he only joins Christ and starts for
hcavent Oh. you ought TO have. my
brother. an illumincd face, and a
hearty grip for every one that tries TO
turn from his evil wayl Take hold
Of the same book with him. though
his designations shake the book, no.
mcmbcring that he that convertcth
sinner from the error Of his ways
shall save soul from death. and hide
u multitude Of sins
HOW THE sIiAcKl.Es MAY BE IOosED.
Now. have shown you these oh.
stacles because want you TO under.
atnnl l.nn,,. al sta Il: Nt .,,,is:.... -, sl,.
way; but nm now TO tell you how
Hannibal may scale tho Alps and how
the shacklcs may bc unrivcted aud
how the paths Of virtue forsaken may
be rcgaincd First OF all. my brother.
throw yourself on God. Go 70 him.
frankly aud earnestly. and tell him
these habits you have, and ask him, il
there is any help in all the resources OF
omnipotcnt love. to give il 10 you. Do
not go with u long rigmnrole people call
prayer, made up of obs" and ''ahs"
and forever and forever amcns!"
Go TO God and cry for help. help.
help! aud il you cannot cry for help.
just look and live. remember in the
war | was at Anticiam. and went
into the hospitals after the battle.
and ! Nsaid to man. Where
are you / II" He made no answer.
but held y his arm swollen and
splintercd. Naw whero he was hurt.
Tho simple fat IS, when man has o
wounded soul, he has 10 do is to
hold it up before sympathetic lord
and get il healed. does not take any
long prayer. Just hold up the wound.
Oh, il is no small thing when man is
nervous aud weak and exhausted.
coming from his evil ways, to feel that
God pats two oinnipotcnt arms around
about him and says. Young man. l
will stand by you! The mountains
may depart and the hills he removed,
but will never fail you." And then,
rs the soul thinks the news is too good
10 be true. ami cannot believe il, and
looks up in Gods fnce. God lifts his
right hand and takes an oath. an aiii.
davii. saying. AS ! live, saith the
Lord God. have no pleasure in the
death Of him that dieth"
THANK GOD FOR THE GOSPEL
Blessed be God for such Gospel as
this! Cut the slices thin," said the
wife to the husband. ''or there will not
be enough to GO all around for the
children; cut the slices thin" Blessed
be God. there is full loaf for every
one that wants il; bread enough and
TO spare. No thin slices at the Lords
table. | remember when the Master
Street hospital, in hin, was
opened during tn. slcgmm
came saying. "Th, " three
hundred wounded men tonight: be
ready Ia take care Of thcm:" and from
my church there went in some twenty
or thirty men and women To look nj.
ter these poor wounded fellows. As
they camo. some from one pnri Of the
land. some from another, no one
asked whether this MIN was from Ore.
gon, or from Massachusetts. or from
Minnesota. or from New York. There
was wounded soldier. and the only
question was how 10 take oif the rags
most gently. and put on the bandage.
and administer the cordial. And when
u soul comes 10 God he docs not ask
where you came from or what your
ancestry was. Healing for all your
wounds Pardon for all your guilt.
Comfort for all your troubles.
Then, also. ] counsel you. IL you
want To get back. To quit all your bad
associations One unholy Intimacy
will till your soul with moral disteni.
per In all the ages o: the church
there has not been an instance where
a man kept one evil associate and was
reformed. Among the fourteen hun
drcd million OF the race not ono in.
stance. Go home today, open your
desk. take out letter paper, stamp and
envelope. and then write letter some
thing like this:
MY old companions: | start this
day for heaven. Until am persuaded
You will join me in this. farewell" ="
you MUST RENoUScE ONE OR THE OTHER.
Then sign your name. aud send tho
letter with the first post. Give up
your had companions. or give up
heaven. II is not ten bad companions
that destroy u man. nor five bad com.
panions nor three bad companions,
but one. What chance is there for
that young nnn ] saw along the street
four or five yourg mcn with him.
hating IN friit of a grog shop. urg'
ing him la 60 in. he resisting. vio-
lently resisting. until after while
they forced him to go int Il was q
summer night. and the door was left
open, and ] saw the process. They
held him fast. and they put the cup 10
his lips. and they forced down the
strong drink. What chance is there
for such "a young niani
counsel you also seek Christian ad.
vice. Every Christian nnn il bound
To help you. First Of all. seek God:
then seek Christian counsel. Gather
up all the energies of body. mind and
soul. and. appealing Ia God for sue.
cess. declare this day everlasting war
against all drinking habits. all gum.
bling practices. all houses Of sin. Half
and-llalf work will amount to nothing;
il must be Waterloo. SHRINK back
now and you are lost PUSH on and
YOU arc saved A Spartan general fell
at the very moment Of victory. but he
dipped his finger in his own blood and
wrote on rock neur which he was
dying, Sparta has conquered"