The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-10-31

Stroyed through the su0Qen SWoop ol
temptations. Some great inducement to
worldliness, or to sensuality, or to high
temper, or to some form of dissipation,
comes upon them. If they had time to
examine their Bible, if they had time to
consult with their friends, if they had
time to deliberate, they could stand it;
but the temptation came so suddenly-an
euroclydon on the Mediterranean, a
whirlwind of the Caribbean. One awful
surge of temptation and they perish.
And so we often hear the old story: 81
hadn't seen my friend in great many
years. We were very glad to meet. He
said must drink, and he took me by the
arm and pressed me along, and filed the
cup until the bubbles ran over the edge,
and in an evil moment all my good reso-
lutions were swept away, and to the out
raging of God and my own soul, I fell, z"
Or the story is: II had hard work to
support my family. l thought that by
one false entry, by one deception, by one
embeZzlement 1 might spring out free
from all my troubles; and the temptation
came upon me so fiercely l could not de-
liberate. did wrong, and ha"ing done
wrong once, could not STOP
o, it is the first step that costs; the
second is easier; and the third; and on to
the last. Once having broken loose from
the anchor, it is not so easy to tie the
parted strands. How often it is that men
are ruined for the reason that the tempta-
ton comes from some unexpected quar-
ter. AS vessels lie in Margate roads,
safe from southwest winds; but the wind
changing to the northeast, they are driven
helpless and go down. o, that God would
have mercy upon those upon whom there
comes the sudden swoop of temptation,
lest they perish, becoming castaways!
castawaysI
By talking with sea captains I have
found out also that some vessels come to
this calamity through sheer recklessness.
There are three million men who follow
the sea for living. 1t is a simple fact
that the average of human life on the sea
is less than twelve years. This comes
from the fact that men by familiarity
with danger sometimes become reckless
the captain, the helmsman. the stoker,
the man on the lookout become reckless,
and in nine out of ten shipwrecks it is
found out that some one was awfully to
blame. SO have to tell you that men
are morally shipwrecked through sheer
recklessness. There are thousands who
do not care where they are in spiritual
things. They do not know which way
they are sailing, and the sea is black
with piratical hulks that would grapple
them with hooks of steel and blindfold
them, and make them "walk the plank. /"
They do not know what the next moment
may bring forth.
Drifting IN their theology. Drifting in
their habits. Drifting in regard to all of
their future. No God, no Christ, no set
tied anticipations of eternal felicity; but
all the time coming nearer and nearer to
dangerous coast. Some Of them are on
fire with evil habits, and they shall burn
on the sea, the charred hulk tossed up on
barren beach. Many of them with great
troubles, financial troubles, domestic
troubles, social troubles; but they never
pray for comfort. With an aggravation
of sin they pray for no pardon. They do
not steer for the lightship that dances in
gladness at the mouth of Heavens har-
Dor; reckless as to where they come out,
drifting further from God, further from
early religious influences, further from
happiness, and what is the worst thing
about it is they are taking their families
along with them, and the way one goes,
the probability is they will all go. Yet
no anxiety. As unconscious of danger as
the passengers aboard the Arctic one
moment before the Vesta crashed into
her.
Wrapped up in the business of the
store, not remembering that soon they
must quit all their earthly possessions.
Absorbed in their social position, not
knowing that very soon they will have
attended the last levee and whirled in the
last schottische. They do not deliberately
choose to be ruined; neither did the
French frigate Medusa aim for the Ar
gum banks, but there it went to pieces.
wish could wake you up. The perils
are so augmented, you will die just as
certain as you sit there unless you bestir
yourself. Are you willing to become a
castaway? You throw out no oar. You
take no surroundings. You watch no
compass. You are not calculating your
bearings while the wind is abaft, and
yonder is long line of foam bounding
the horizon, and you will be pushed on
toward it, aad thousands have persisted
there, and you are driving in the same
direction. Ready about! Down helm
Hard down? Man the life-b boat! Pull my
lads, pull
''He that being often reproved hard
eneth his neck, shall be suddenly de-
stroyed, and that without remedy"
But some of you are saying within your
selv ''What shall l do?" Do? Do:
Why, brother, do what any ship does
when it is in trouble. Lift distress sig
nal. On the sea there is q fash and a
boom. You listen aud you look. A vessel
is in trouble. The distress gun is sound
ed, or rocket is sent up, or blanket is
lifted, or bundle of rags-any thing to
catch the eye of the passing craft. So, if
you want to be taken off the wreck of your
sin you must lift distress signal. The
publican lifted the distress signal when
he cried:
"God, be merciful to me sinner !"
Peter lifted the distress signal when he
said: Lord, save me, perishl"
The blind man lifted the distress signal
when he said: Lord, that my eyes may
be opened"
The iailer lifted the distress signal
when he said:
What must do to be saved?"
And help will not come to your soul
until you lift some signal. You must
make some demonstration, give some
sign, make some Heaven piercing out
cry for help, lifting the distress signal
for the church's prayer, lifting the dis
tress signal for Heavens pardon. Pray