The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-02-26

thing that fell. Was it because her
character was any better than any OF
the other population of the city? o, no.
Why then was she spared, and all her
household! Can you tell me why? o,
it was the scarlet line in the window.
That is the fourth scene in the Bible
drama. When the destroying angel
went through Egypt, 1T was the blood
of the lamb on the door posts that saved
the Israelites; and now that vengeance
has come upon Jericho it is the same
color that assures the safety OF Rahab
and all her household. My friends,
there are foes coming upon us, more
deadly and more tremendous, to over
throw our moral interests. They will
trample us down and crush us out for
ever unless there be some skillful mode
of rescue open. The police of death
already begin to clamor for our sur
render; but, blessed be God, there is a
way out It is through the window, and
by rope so saturated with the blood OF
the cross that it is as red as that with
which the spies were lowered; and If
once our souls shall be delivered, then
with the scarlet cord stretched across the
window of our escape, we may defy all
bombardment, earthly and Satanic.
| In the first place, carrying out the
idea of my text, we must stretch this
scarlet cord across the win dow of our
rescue. There comes a time when
man is surrounded. What is that in the
front door of his soul? 1t is the threat
ening of the future. What is that in the
back door of his soul? 1t is the sins of
the past. He can not get out of either
of those doorways. If he attempts it he
will be cut to pieces. What shall we do?
Escape through the window of Gods
mercy That sunshine has been pour
ing in for many day. Gods inviting
mercy. Gods pardoning mercy. Gods
all conquering mercy. Gods everlast-
ing mercy. But, you say, the window is
high. All, there is rope. The very
one with which the cross and its victim
are lifted. That was strong enough to
hold Christ, and it is strong enough to
hold you. Bear all your weight upon it,
all your hopes for this life, all your
hopes for the life that is to come. Es-
cape now through the window. "But,"
you say, "that cord is too small to save
me; that salvation will never do at all
for such sinner as have BEEN" Isup-
pose that the rope with which Rahab let
the two spies to the ground was not
thick enough; but they took that or
nothing. And, my dear brother, that is
your alternative. There is only ono
scarlet line that can save you. There
have beenshundreds and thousands who
have been borne away in safety by that
scarlet line, and it will bear you away
in safety. Do you notice what very
narrow escape those spies had? ! sup
pose they came with flustered cheek and
with excited heart. They had very
narrow escape They went in the broad
door, OR sin; but how did they come out?
They came out of the window. They
went up by the stairs of stone; they came
down on a slender thread. And so, my
friends, we 60 easily and unabashedly
into sin, and all the doors are open; blu
if we getput at all it will be by being
let down over precipices, wriggling and
helpless, the strong grip above keeping
us from being dashed to pieces on the
rocks beneath. 1t is easy to get into sin,
young man. 1t is not SO easy to get out
of it.
A young man goes to the marble coun.
ter of a hotel. He asks for brandy
smash-called so, suppose, because it
smashes the man that takes it. There
is no intoxication in it. AS the young
man receives it he does not seem to be
at all excited. 1t does not give any
glossiness to the eye. He walks home
in beautiful apparel, and all his pros.
poets are brilliant. That drink is not
going to destroy him, but it is the first
step on a bad road. Years have passed
on, and l see that young man after he
has gone the whole length of dissipa
ton. 1t is midnight and he is in hotel
perhaps the very one where he took
the first drink. A delirium is on him
He rises from the bed and comes to the
window, and it is easily lifted, SO he
lifts it. Then he pushes back the blinds
and puts his foot on the window sill
Then he gives one spring, and the
Waterman finds his disfigured body, un
recognizable, on the pavement. o, If he
had only waited little-if he had come
down on the scarlet ladder that Jesus
holds from the wall for him, and fol-
you, and for me; but no, he made one
Jump, and was gone. .... .......
, A minister of Christ was not long age
dismissed from his diocese for intoxica
ton, and in public meeting he gave
, this account of his sorrow. He said: 60.
had a beautiful home once, but strong
drink shattered it. had beautiful chill
dren; but this fiend of rum took theil
dimpled hands in his and led them to thu
J grave. had wife-to know her wal
/. to love her: but she sits in wretchednes
| tonight while l wander over the earth
l had mother and the pride of her lifI
! was l: but the thunderbolt struck her.
| now have scarcely friend in the world
/; Taste of the bitter cup have tasted
and then answer me whether have any
: hatred for the agency of my ruin. Hate
| it? ! hate the whole damning traffic
| / would to God tonight that every dis
, tillery was in flames, for then in thu
) glowing sky would write in the smok,
of the ruin. "Woe to him that puttetl
| the bottle to his neighbours lips" Tha
3 minister of the gospel went in through
the broad door of temptation; he cam,
. out of the window. And when l see tn,
, temptations that are about us in al
, countries, and when | know the pro