The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1892-01-15

The net is spread In the sight of any
bird"
Early in the morning went out with
n fowler To catch wild pigeons We
fastened through the mountain gorge
and into the forest We spread out the
net, and covered up the edges of IL as
well as we could. We arranged the
call.bird. its feet fast and its wings
Tapping in invitation To all fowls of
heaven to settle down there. We re-.
tired into booth OF branches and
leaves and waited. After while, look
ing out of the door OF the booth, we
saw flock OF birds In the sky. They
came nearer and nearer, and after u
while were about to swoop into the
net when suddenly they darted away.
Again we waited. After u while we
saw another flock OF birds. They came
nearer, until just at the moment when
they were about 20 swoop they dartcd
away. The fowler was very much dis
appointed as we'll rs myself. We said
20 each other what is tho mnttcr?"'
and why were not those birds
cauCht?"
We went out and examined the net
and 10y the ilutter OF branch OF tree
part OF the net had been so conspicu.
ously exposed, and the birds coming
very near had seen their peril
and dartcd away. When | saw that
said 10 the old fowler THAT reminds
me Of a passage OF Scripture; Surely in
vain is the net spread in the sight OF
any bird" Now tho net in my text
stands for temptation.
The call.bird OF sin tcmpts men on
from branch To branch until they are
about 20 drop into the net II man
finds out in time that it il the tcmpta-
ton of the devil, or that evil men are
attempting To capture his soul for time
and for eternity, the man steps back.
lie says II am not 10 be caught in that
way; ! see what you are about; surely
in vain is the net spread in the sight of
any bird"
There are two classes Of temptations
the superficial and the subterrancous
those above ground, those under
ground. II n man could see sin rs it's
hc would no sooner embrace il than he
would lcpcr Sin is n daughter of
hell, yet she is garlandcd and robed
and trinkcted Her voice is IA MARBLE.
Her cheek is the setting sun. Her fore
head is an aurora She says TO men;
"Comc walk this path with me; IL is
thymcd and primroscd, and the air is
bcwitChcd with the odors of the hang
ing gardens of Heaven; the rivers are
rivers of wine, and all you have To do
Is To drink them up in chaliccs that |
sparkle with diamond and amethyst !
and chrySoprasus See! 1t is all bloom |
and rosatc cloud and llcavcnp Oh! my |
friends If for one moment the choiring !
of all these concerted voices of sin |
could bc hushed, we should see the or
,chcstra Of the pit with hot breath blow
ing through fiery flute, and the sltelc-
ton arms on drums Of thunder and dark
ness beating the chorus: THE end
thereof is death.
| want to point out the insidious
temptations that are assaillng more |
especially our young men. The only
xind of nature comparatively free from
cmptation so far rs ! can judge, Is the
cold, hard stingy, mean temperament
What would Satan do with such man
IL he got him? Satan Is not anxious To
ret man who, after awhile, may dis
putc with him the realm OF everlasting |
mcanncss. II is the generous young |
man. the ardent young man, the warm
hearted young man, tho social young
man, that is in especial peril pirate
goes out on the sea and one bright
morning he puts the glass To his eye
and looks of, and sees an empty vessel
floating from port To port lie says
Never mind; that's no prize for MS.
But the same morning hc puts the glass
10 his eye, and he sees vessel coming
from Australia laden with gold, or
vessel from tho Indies with spices lie
says; That's our prize; bear down on
IL"
Across that unfortunate ship the
graphing hooks are thrown. The crew
Is blindfolded and is compelled to walk
the plank. II Is not the empty vessel
but the laden merchantmen that Is
temptation To the pirate. And young
man, empty of head, empty OF heart
empty Of lifc-you want no young
mems Christian association To keep HIM
safe; hc il safe. lie will not gamble
unless IL is with somebody else's
stakes lie will not break the Sabbath
unless somebody else pays the horse
hire. He will not drink unless some
body else treats him. He will hang
around the bar hour after hour unless
someone else treats him. lilo Will hang
around the bar hour after hour wait
ing for some generous young man To
come in Tho generous young man
comes in aud accosts him and says;
well viii You have drink with me