The Bossier banner., 1892-07-28

our sins. We must pause, and ABSORB
the strength of one promise some-
times hear people .boasting about how
many times they have read the Bible
through, when they seem to know no
more about 1t than passenger would
know about the state of Pennsylvania
who should go through it in st. Louis
lightning express train and in a Pull
man sleeper" the two characteristics
Of the Journey, velocity and somno-
lehee. 1t is not the number of times
you go through the Bible, but the num-
Der of times the Bible goes through
you. Pause, reflect. Selah!
Oh, it is good that the Lord sometimes
halts US. David says: 'It is good that l
have been afflicted. Before | was
afflicted / went astray, but now | have
kept Thy word" Indeed, we must all
soon stop. Scientists have improved
human longevity, but none of them
have proposed to make terrene life per-
petual. But the Gospel makes death
only selah between two beatitudes-
between dying triumph OH one side of
the grave and celestial escort OH the
other side Of the grave. Going out
of this life to the unprepared is great
horror. Give me more laudanum,"
said dying Mirabeau; ''give me more
laudanum that may not think of eter-
nifty and what is to come" And dying
Hobbies said: 81 leave my body to the
grave and my soul to the great per-
haps" 1t was the discord of an inidel's
life breaking down into the jargon of
despair; but the Gospel makes the death
| of the Christian a selah between re-
demption and enthronement. Almost
WE'LL" said dying Richard Baxter, ''al-
| most we'll" "Play those notes over
again-those notes which have been so
| great delight and solace to me-" said
| the dying Christian Mozart. "None but
| Christ, none but Christ" exclaimed dy-
ing Lambert.
| Richard Cameron, the Scotch cove-
nanter, went into the battle three times
praying. Lord, spare the green and
take the ripe. This is the day l shall
get my crown. Come; let us fight it to
the last. Forward!' So you see there
is only a short pause, a selah of inter
mission, between dying consultations on
the one side and overtopping raptures
on the other.
My flesh shall slumbef in the ground
| Till the last trimpet's joyful sound
Then burst the chains with sweet surprise,
And in my Savour's imagine rise
l next speak of the Selah of emphasis.
Ewald, the German orientalist and
theologian, says that this word means
to ascend; and wherever you find it, he
says, you must look after the modula
ton of the voice, and you must put more
of emphasis. All! my friends, you and
need to correct our emphasis. Weput
too much emphasis on this world, anC
not enough on God and the next world
People think these things around MS are
so important, the things of the next are
not worth our consideration.
The first need for some of us is tt
change our emphasis. Look at wretch
edness on throne. Napolean, while
yet emperor of France, sat down de
jected, his hands over his face. A laC
came in with a tray of food and said
Eat, it will do you good.' The en-
peror looked up and said: "You ar,
from the country?" The lad replied
Yes" "Your father has cottage ant
few acres of ground?" Yes 'sTher
? is happiness!" said the detected EN-
peror. All! Napoleon never put tn,
emphasis in the right place until h
was expiring at St. Helena. On tn
t other hand, look at satisfaction ami,
the worst earthly disadvantage. ''
t never saw until l was blind,' said
/ Christian man. 81 never knew wha
contentment was while l had my eve
E sight, as l knew what conten
is now that l have lost my eye
, sight. I affirm, though few woul,
/ credit it, that 1 would not .exchang
: my present position and circumstance
: for my circumstances before | lost m
4 | eyesight." That man put the emphasi
/ in the right place. We want to pu
: less stress upon this world and NOR
stress upon our God as our everlastin
f portion. David had found out tn
:, nothingness of this world and the al
e sufficiency of God. Notice how he il
a | teriects the selahs. Trust in tn
a Lord at all times; ye people, pour OF
: your heart before Him. God is a refue
: for u.s. Selah.'' blessed be the Lor
f who daily loads us with benefits, eve
| the God of our salvation. Selah.'' eth
4 Lord shall count, when He writeth IL
. the people, that this man was Dor
e there. Selah." Let the world have il
: honors and its riches and it's pomp. Le
b me have the Lord for my light, IN
p peace, my fortress, my pardon, m
t hope, my Heaven.
Y What sinners value resign;
: Lord! it's enough that Thou art mine.
shall behold Thy blissful face
And stand complete in righteousness.
n This world is all an empty show,
But the bright world to which go
Hath joys substantial and sincere;
;, When shall wake and find me there?
o glorious home! o blest abode!
4 l shall be near and like my God,
I And sin and sense no more control
d The endless pleasures of my soul.
= But when 1 speak of the Selah of en-
4 phasis | must notice it is startling,
I? dramatic emphasis. 1t has in it tt
: bark, the hist of the drama. Ths
4 wakening and arousing emphasis W
e who preach oAinstruct need to use MOI
e frequently. The sleepiest audiences