Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1892-03-25

the Bible does not mentlon ms SSspCo.'
Yet one of the largest verses OF the Bible Is
taken ND in describing his bedstead. so God
ali M and down the Bible honurs sleep.
Adam, with his head on a pillow or Edenic
roses has bis slunber blest by divine gltt
of beautiful companionship. JACOB, with
his head on a pillow Of rock, has his sleep
plorified with a ladder filed with descending
and ascen ding angels. Christ, with pillow
made out of the folded up coat or nsner-
man honors slumber in the back part OF the
storm tossed boat.
In Bible times, when people arose at the
voice of the bird, they retired at the time
the bird puts his head under his wing. One
of our national sins Is robbery OF sleep.
Walter Scott was so urgent about this duty
of sumber that, when arriving at hotel
where there was no room to sleep in except
that in which there was corpse, inquired II
the deceased had died of contagious disease.
and, when assured he had not, took the other
bed in the room and fell into profCundest
slumoer. Those of small endurance must
certainly require rest if even the giant needs
an iron bedstead.
Notice, furthermore, tnat Gods people on
the way to Canaan need not be surprised II
they confront some sort Of giant. Had not
the Israelitish host had trouble enough al
ready? No. Red sea not enough. Water
famine not enough. Long marches not
enough. Opposition by enemies Of ordinary
stature not enough. They must need o.
cubits was the length thereof and four
cubits the breadth of it." Why not let these
1sraelites go smoothly into Canaan without
this gigantic opposition? Oh, they needed
to have their courage and faith further
tested and developed! And blessed the man
who, in our time in his march toward the
Promised Land, does not meet more than
one giant. Do not conclude that you are not
on the way to Canaan because of this OBJ
stacle.
AS we'll might the Israelites conclude they
were not on the way to the Promised Land
because they met Og, the giant. Standing
in your way IS some evil propensity, some
social persecution, some business misfortune
some physical distress. Not one of you but
meets giant who would like to hew you in
twain. Higher than eleven feet this Og
darkens the sky and the rattle of his buckler
stuns the ear. But you are going to get the
victory, as did the lsraelites. In the mama
of the God OF Moses and David and Joshua
and Paul, charge on him, end you will
leave his carcass in the wilderness. You
want battle shout!
Take that with which David, the five
footer, assailed Goliath, the nine-footer;
when that giant cried, with singing con-
tempt both in manner and intonation,
Come to me and will g i've thy flesh unto
the fowls of the air and to the beasts of the
field" and David looked up at the monster
OF braggadocio and detiantly replied: "rhou
CONTEST to me with a sword, and with
SPEAR, and with a shield; but come to thee
In the name OF the Lord of Hosts the God of
the armies of Israel, whom thou has defied.
This day will the Lord deliver thee unto mine
hand, and [ will smite thee and take thine
head from thee. and | will give the carcasses
of the host Of the Phiistines this day unto
the fowls OF the air and to the wild beasts
of the earth, that all the earth may know
that there is a god in Israel"
Then David, with probably three swirls of
the sling about his head, got it Into sufficient
momentum and let fly till the Uranium of
the giant broke in and he fell and David
Ieaped on his carcass, one foot on his chest
and the other On his head, and that was the
last of the Philistine. But be sure you get
the right battle shout and that you utter it
with the right spirit, or Og will roll over
you as easily as at night he rolled into his
iron bedstead.
Brethren, l have made up my mind that
we will have to fight all the way up to the
Promised Land [ used to think that after
awhile would get into a time where it
would be smooth and easy, but the time does
not come and it will never come in this
world. By the time King Og is used up so
that he cannot get into his iron bedstead,
some other giant of opposition looms up to
dispute our ways. Let us stop looking for
an easy time and make it thirty years
war, or a sixty years war, or a hundred
years war, il we live long
Must be carried to the skies
On flowery beds of ease,
While others fought to win the prize
And sailed through bloody seas?
Do you know the name of the biggest
giant that you can possibly meet-and you
will meet him? He is not eleven feet high,
but one hundred feet hign. His bedstead
is as long as the continent. His name is
Doubt. His common food is inddel books
and skeptical lectures and ministers who do
not know whether the Bible is inspired at all
or inspired in spots, and Christians who are
iofA hon hric 90
reach the. Promised Land unless you STAY
that giant. Kill Doubt or Doubt will kill
you. How to overcome this giant? Pray
for faith, go with people who have faith,
read everything that encourages faith, avoid
as you would ship fever and small pox the
people who lack faith.
In this battle against King o. use not for
weapons the crutch of a limping Christian or
the sharp pen OF a cOntrOverSlallSt, but the
sword of truth, which is the word Of God
The word ''lf' IS made up of the same num-
Der of letters as the word "Og," and it is
just as big a giant. If the Bible be true.
If the soul be immortal. If Christ be God.
If our belief and behavior here decide our
future destiny If. If. If. I hate that
word ''If.' Noah Webster says it is con-
junction; say it is an armed giant. Satan
breathed upon it curse when he said to
Christ. IF Thou be the Son of God"
What dastardly and Infamous eff"
Against that giant SIP hurl Jobs II
know" and Paurs ST know" II know that
my Redeemer Iiveth" ''f know in whom I
have believed" Down with the 'If" and I'D
with 81 know"
Oh, that giant Doubt is such a cruel
giant! 1t attacks many in the last hour.
1t would not let my mother alone even in
her dying moments. After life of holi-
ness and conservation such as I never heard
FEATHER, what if after all our prayers and
struggles should 90 for nOthinrn Whv