Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-03-06

IL was sle scarlet ING IN Inc HluuOW
That is the fourth scene in this Bible
drama. When the destroying angel
went through Egypt it was the blood Of
the lamb on the d~oor-posts that saved
the Israelites, and now that VEN
geance 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 immortal interests. They
will trample US down and crush US out
forever, unless there be some skillful
mode of rescue open. The police OF
death already begin to clamor for our
surrender; but, blessed be God, there is
a way out. 1t is through the window,
and a rope so saturated with blood Of
the cross, thatit is red as that with which
the spies were lowered; and il once our
souls shall be delivered, then, the scar
let cord stretched across the window of
our escape, we may defy all lombard
ment, earthly and satanic.
In the first place, carrying out the idea
of my text, we must stretch this scarlet
cord across the window of our rescue.
There comes a time when a man is sur
rounded. What is that in the front door
of his soul? 1t is the threatenings 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. II he attempts
1t he will be cut to pieces. What shall
he do? Escape through the window OF
Gods mercy. That sunshine has been
pouring in for many a day, Gods
inviting mercy. Gods pardon
ing mercy. Gods all conquering
mercy. Gods everlasting mercy.
But, you say, the window is so very
high. All, there is a rope. The very
one with which the cross and its victim
were lifted. That was strong enough to
hold Christ, and it is strong enough to
hold you. Bear all your weight upon 1t,
all your hopes for this life, all your
hopes for the life that is to come.
Escape now through the window. But"
you say, ''that cord is too small to save
me; that salvation will never do at all
for such a sinner as l have been" /
suppose 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 n
scarlet line that can save you. There
have been hundreds and thousands who
have been borne away in safety by
that scarlet line, and 1t will bear you
away in safety. Do you notice what a
very narrow escape those spies had?
l suppose they came with fiustered
cheek and excited heart. They had a
very narrow escape. They went in the
broad door of sin; but how did they
come out? They came out OF the win
dow. They went up by the stairs Of
stone; they came down on a slender
thread. And so, my friends, we go east
ly and unabashed into sin. And all the
doors are open, and IL we get out at all
it will be by being let down owe preci-
pieces, wriggling and helpless, the strong
grip above keeping us from being dashed
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 u
ter of a hotel. He asks for a brandy
smash-called so, / suppose, because it
smashes the man who takes it. There Is
no intoxication in 1t. 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 prospects are brilliant
That drink is not going to destroy
him, but it is the first step on a bad
road. Years have passed IN, and see
that young man after he has gone the
whole length of dissipation. 1t is mid
night, and he is in a hotel perhaps the
very one where he took the first drink.
A delirium is on him. He rises from
his 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 windowsill. Then he gives
one spring, and the Waterman finds his
disfgured body, unacceptable, on the
pavement. o, IL he had only waited a
little-if he had come down on the scar
let ladder that Jesus holds from the
wall for him, and for you. and for me;
out no, ut mduo OHb jump anu noo
gone.
A minister of Christ was not long ago
dismissed from his diocese for i~ntoxica-
ton, and in a public meeting he gave this
account Of his sorrow: He said: II had
a beautiful home once, but strong drink
shattered it. / had beautiful children,
but this fiend of rum took their dimpled
hands and led them to the grave. ] had
a wife-to know her was to love her;
but she sits in Indebtedness tonight
while / wander over the earth. i had a
mother, and the pride of her life was |,
but the thunderbolt struck her. l now
have scarcely a friend in the world.
Taste of the bitter cup l have tasted,
and then answer me rs to whether |
have any hatred for the agency of my
ruin. Hate It'll l hate the whole damn
ing traffic. l would to God tonight
that every distillery was in flames, for
then in the glowing sky | would
write in the smoke of the ruin: Woo
to him that putteth the bottle to his
neighbor's lips That minister of the
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