Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-05-15

winch there Is nothing. WHAT shall
do that I have not done?" All skep-
ticism is dark and doleful land. Let
me say that this Bible is either true or
false. II 1t be false, we are as well of
es you; If it be true, then which of US is
safer?
Let me also ask whether your trouble
has not been that you COMPOUNDED
Christianity with the inconsistent char
acter of some who profess it2 You are
a lawyer. In your profession there are
mean and dishonest men. Is that any
thing against the law? You are a doc
tor. There are unsl1illed and cofitempti-
bic men in your profession. Is that any
thing against medicine? You are mer-
chant. There are thieves and defraud-
ers in your business. Is that any thing
against merchandise? Behold, then,
the unfairness of charging upon Chris
tianity the wickedness of its disciples
We admit some of the charges against
those who profess religion. Some of the
most gigantic swindles of the day have
been carried on by members OF the
church.
There are men standing in the front
rank in the churches who would not be
trusted for five dollars without good
collateral security They leave their
business dishonesties in the vestibule of
the church as they go in and sit at the
communion. Having concluded tho sac
rament, they get up, wipe the wine
from their lips, go out and take up their
sins where they left off. To serve the
devil is their regular work; to serve God
a sort of play spell. With a Sunday
sponge they expect to wipe off from
their business slate all the past weeks
right to take such a mans life as speci-
men of religion than you have to take
the twisted iron and split timbers that
lie on the beach at Coney Island as
specimen of an American ship. It is
time that we draw line between re-
ligion and the frailties of those who pro-
fess it.
Do you not feel that the Bible, take
it all in all, is about the best book that
the wor d has ever seen? Do you know
any book that has as much in it? Do
you think, upon the whole, that its in
fiuence has been benefcent? l come to
you with both hands extended toward
you. In one hand have the Bible, and
in the other | have nothing. This Bible
just as soon as in my other hand you can
put book that is better.
All your good resolutions heretofore
have been torn to tatters by explosion
of temper. Now, there is no harm in
getting mad if you only get mad at sin.
You need to saddle and bride those hot
breathed passions and with them ride
down injustice and wrong. There are
a thousand things in the world that we
ought to be mad at. There is no harm
in getting red hot if you only bring to
the forge that which needs hammering.
A man who has no power Of righteous
Indignation is an imbecile. Eut be sure
it is righteous Indignation and not a
petulancy that blurs and unravels and
depletes the soul.
Again: There may be some of you
who, in the attempt after Christian
life, will have to run against powerful
passions and appel. tes. Perhaps it is a
to anger that you have to
contend against; and perhaps, while in
a very serious mood, you hear of some
thing that makes you feel that you must
swear or die. l know a Christian man
who was once so exasperated that he
said to a mean customer: 81 can not
swear at you myself, for am a member
Of the church, but if you will go down
stairs my partner in business will swear
at you"
There is large class of persons in
mid life who have still in them appe-
5ites that were aroused in early man
hood, at time when they prided them
selves on being little fast" high
ivers, ''free and easy" hail fellows
we'll met" They are now paying, in
interest, for troubles they
collected twenty years ago. Some of
you are trying to escape, and you will
yet very narrowly, ''as with the skin of
your teeth" God and your own soul
,nly know what the struggle is Omnip-
otent grace has pulled out many a soul
hat was deeper in the mire than you
ire. They line the beach of Heaven
The multitude whom God has rescued
rom the thrall of suicidal habits. If
you this day turn your back on the
wrong and start anew God will help you.
If, with all the influences favorable !
or right life, men make so many mis-
axes how much harder it is when, for
Instance, some appetite thrusts its iron
yrapple into the roots of the tongue and |
pulls man down with hands of destruc- |
ion! If, under such circumstances, he |
Freak away there will be no sport in the |
no holiday enjoyment, but
struggle in which the wrestlers move |
rom side to side, and bend and twist |
md watch for an opportunity to get in a |
heavier stroke, until with one final eff |
ort, in which the muscles are distended /
md the veins stand out, and the blood |
tarts, the swarthy habit falls under the |
ynee of the victim-escaped at last as |
with the skin of his teeth"
The ship Emma, bound from Gotten
,urg to Harwich, was sailing on, when
he man on the lookout saw something |
hat he pronounced vessel bottom up.
There was something on it that looked
ike sea gull, but was afterwsrd found |
o be waving handkerchief. In the
mall boat the crew pushed out to the
wreck and found that it was capsized
-essel and that three men had been dig
ing their way out through the bottom
4 the ship. When the vessel capsized
hey had no means of escape. The Cap
ain took his penknife and dug away
through the planks until his knife broke.
Then an old nail was found with which
hey attempted to scrape their way out
4 the darkness, each one working until |