The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1890-02-27


of the cross, that tits as red as that
with which the spies were lowered: and
II once our souls shall be delivered. then.
the scarlet color stretched across the win.
dow o. our escape, we defy all bonn
bardment, earthly aud Satanic.
In the first place, carrying out the idea
ofmy text, we must stretch this scarlet
cord across the window of our rescue.
There comes time when man is sur.
rounded. What is that in the front
door of my soul2 1t is threateninps of the
future. What is that in the back door of
my soul2 1t is the sins Of the past. He
cannot get out Of either of those door
ways. If he attempts it he will be cut to
pieces. What shall he do2 Escape
through the window of Gods mercy.
That sunshins has been pouring in for
many day. Gods inviting mercy. Gods
pardoning mercy, Gods all conqueriug
mercy, Gods everlasting mercy. But,
say, the window is so high. Ah, there is
rope, the very one with which the
cross and its victims were lifted. That
was strong enough to hold Christ, and it
is strong enough to hold you. Bear all
your weight upon il, all your hopes for
his LIE, all your hopes for the life that
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 sinner as have
oeon.' suppose that the rope with
which Rahab let the two spies to tho
ground was thick enough, but they
took that or nothing. And, my dear
brother, that is your alternative. There
is only one scarlet line that can save YOU.
There have been hundreds 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 mar
| row escape those spies had2 | suppose
| they came with the flush check, and
with excited heart. They went in the
broad door of sin; but how did they
come out? They came out out of the
window. they went up by the stairs Of
stone; They came down on slender
thread. Aud 80, my friends, we go easily
ana unabashcdly into sin, and all the
| doors are open; but if we get out at all
1t will be by being let down over preci-
plces, wri!gglng 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 50
easy 20 get 0, Off
r JCsA Aau 0e he ar; :
cou. Ner OF MOTEL. He tssa6 vfora 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 docs not give any glossiness
to the eye. lie walks home in beautiful
apparel, and all his prospects are bril-.
liant. That drink is not going to destroy
him, but is the first step on bad road.
Years have passed Oh, and l see that
young man after he has gone the whole
length of dissipation. 1t is midnight,
and he is in hotel-perhaps the very
| one where he took the first drink. x
dclirium is on him. He arises 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 wu!chman finds bis
dlsngurcd body, unrecognizablc, on the
pavement. o, if he had only waited a
llttle-lfhe had come down on the scarlet
ladder that Jesus holds from the wall for
him, and for you, and for me but no, he
made one jump, and was gone.
a minister Of Christ was not long ago
dismissed from his diocese for intoXica-
tlon, and in a public meeting he gave
this account OF his sorrow. He said: 81
had beautiful home once, but strong
drink shattered it. | had beautiful
children; but this tiend of rum took
their dim pied hands in his and led them
to the grave. l had a wife-to know
her was to love her but she sits in
Wretchcdness tonight while | wander
over the earth. had mother, and
the pride of her life was |; but thunder
bolt struck her. / now have scarcely
friend i'll the world. Taste of the bitter
cup have tasted, and then answer me
as to whether l have any hatred for the
agency OF my ruin. Hate it! l hate
the whole damning traffic. I would TO
5od tonight that every distillery was in
lames, for then in the glowing sky |
would write in the smoke of tie ruins:
No to him that putteth the bottle to
his neighbor's lips" That minister of
the gospel went in through the broad
door of temptation: he came out at the
window. And when see the tcmpta-
tlons thaS are about us in all countries.
and when know the proclivtcs to sin
III every mans heart, | see that if any of
uS escape IL Will be very narrow cs.
cape. ., If we have my friends, got off
iiOiiA Jul SIM lcJ us VIC ING scarlet thread
by which we have been saved across the
window. Let us DO it in praise of him
whose blood dyed it that color. Let it
be In announcement Of the fact that we
shall no more be fatally assaulted
"Ihcre IS now no condemnation to them
that are IN Christ Jesus" Then let all
the forces of this world come up in cay
airy charge, and let spirits of darkness
come on an Internal storming party at.
tempting to take our souls; this ropc
twisted from these words, ''The blood
or Jesus Christ cleanscth from all sin"
will hurl them back defeated forever.
Now, as stand here, you do not see
any hands outstretchcd towards me, aud
yet there are hands on my brow-hands on
Doth my shoulders. They arc hands of
parental bcnediction. 1t is quite q good
many years ago now since we folded
those hands as they began the last sleep
on the banks of the Raritan in the vii
lage cemetery, but those hands arc
stretched out towards me to-day, and
they are just as warm aud they are Just
as gentle as when sat on her knee at
five years Of age. And / shall never shake
OF those handG. I do not want to.
They have helped me so much thous-
and times already, and I do not expect
to have trouble or a trial between
this and my grave where those hands