The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-06-30
ARROWS OF SIN.
How They Are Discharged to
Pierce the Souls of Men.
Discourse by the Rev. J. 3. Verbrycke at
Calvary Presbyterian Church Evils Of
Strong Drink and Cupidity.

day Rev. j. r. Verbrycke MA. pastor OF
the Reformed Church of Piermont N. Y,
preached both morning and evening. The
subject of his morning discourse was
divine Magnetism"
The choir, under the direction of the mu-
steal director. Professor Gustaye A. Scott,
rendered the following selections; "Bene-
dice Anima Mea" (Schubert), ITO Thy Tenn
pile 1 Repair" (MatteD, Lift Up Your
Heads" (Hopkins), "Vesper Hymn" Ny-
berg.
At the evening service thu reverend gen.
tleman took the following subject for his
discourse: "Shot and MORALLY Wounded"
Taking for his text Samuel l, xxxi:3: "The
archers hit him, and he was sore wounded
of the archers," the reverend gentleman
said: THE words of the text disclose to
our view dreadful scene upon the field Of
carnage. A king with diademed helmet
MORALLY wounded by the arrows of the vic
torious enemy. The battle is lost, the king
dom going into the hands of his rival, and
ne commands his armor-bearer to thrust
him through with his sword before the
enemy should come to mock him. The ar
mor-bearer dare not touch him who was
anointed King of Gods people, and so,
grasping a sword and throwing himself
upon its point, he committed suicide upon
the field of battle. This is the sad and
tragic ending of misspent life.
LIFE OF SAUL.
1.-THE biography of Saul was short, sad and
tragic. His public life began unfortunately.
He came to the throne as usurper The
Government of Israel had been theocraey.
God had been their King. but Saul was
made their King in place Of the Almighty.
He pursued David and unawares placed his
life in the youthful warriors hands. Then
he consulted the Witch of EndOr and from
her learned that the Phllistines would over
come the Israelitish hosts. He went into
battle, was defeated, and wounded by the
arrows of the archers.
1.-The text is brimful of suggestions. The
arrows of the devil fly and pierce the bodies
and souls OF multitudes of young and old.
Fatal are these wounds unless the healing
balm be applied by the Great Physician.
The arrow of strong drink pierces many a
breast and wounds multitudes in society.
1t strikes even in the church OF God and
has found its way into the pulpit.
"Of how many poor souls can it be said,
the archers hit himP From the time
when Noah drank wine the world has not
been free from the dreadful scOurge of
wine. Well has it been said that Noah did
the best and the worst thing Tor the world;
he built an ARK against the deluge OF water,
DuL lDtEOuuCtu uClusG dSdllob MlilCH tlC
human race has ever since been trying to
build an ark-the deluge Of drunkenness.
This arrow, lurking in millions of saloons,
strikes to the heart of multtudes. Millions
fall"
WHERE IS THE REMEDY
After quoting statistics regarding the
consumption of liquor In the United States
and its effects, culled from reports Of
prisons and lunatic asylums, the reverend
gentleman said:
Something must be done or our beloved
nation will be sunken in infamy and buried
a wreck. The Government receives about
S90000.000 yearly for internal revenues. 1t
is large revenue, but for every dollar that
the Government thus receives rum steals
ten, in the property destroyed, in the GRIM
inal trials that are necessary, in the poor
houses, in the almshouses and peniten-
tiares that are required to take care of the
victims. Then there is the inestimable
amount of the value of the human souls
that it destroys. We see examples all
around US; poor souls shot at and hit by the
archers.
How can we put the Philistines to
flight? Can it be done by politics. L do
not believe it can entirely. 1T must be done
by gradual education. Public sentiment
must be educated against the liquor traffic.
Children must be educated to see the evil.
People who control the Dallot-box must
learn to know that fntemperance is at the
bottom of most vice and crime. 1t is a
fatal arrow shot into the midst of the ma
tons masses.
THE ARROW OF CUPIDTTY.
''Cupidity is another arrow which buries
itself deep in the human heart. 1t is an
inordinate desire for gain. We find it
everywhere. Satan shoots this arrow with
power.
Another arrow is gambling which di-
rectly or indirectly strikes the whole world.
When this arrow strikes 1t sticks and is
y ,nrr II 4
sell their birthright TO heaven for mere
mess of pottage. 1t has been called the
master sin. How are the mighty fallen,
pierced by this arrow.
Another arrow is that Of fashion and
unhoiy ambition. 1t pierces many heart,
and leads to ruinous rivalry. Fashion is
right within the bounds OF common sense
and ones income. The man or woman
who does not regard it is not fit for & good
neighborhood.
mo extremes are so ridiculous as the
over-fashionable, and they who pride
themselves that they do not care for fash
ion, and. to demonstrate it. become eccen-
trio 1t is the arrow of extreme fashion
that Satan shoots at many. Many men are
in prison who wished to excel others aud
have elegant homes, give grand entertain
ments, etc.
THE DAY OF RECKONING.
But the day of reckoning will come.
God keeps the account. Many are hit by
the arrows of the archers. Oh! the curse
of social shams and fashion. The ques-
ton of the day is: Who can be trusted p
Many in business have been thrust through
with the arrow dishonesty Gods wrath
is turned against deception. We find de-
cet in society and also in the church Of
Christ. Hypocrisy God abhors. He who is
of Christ must be Christ's, and show it.
No armor will resist the arrows of sin and
Satan but the full armor Of God. God pro-
vides it. 1t is the girdle of truth-the
breastplate of righteousness
Against spiritual wickedness in high
places we need faith. all the graces to help
us. We must combine in ourselves all the
Christian graces which Christ bestows and
clothe ourselves in a suit of mail which no
shaft of the enemy can puncture. God
grant that we may all be thus clothed and
that it shall not be said Of US, as it was of
IsraePs first king, The archers hit him
and he was sOra voundad hv tho archars -