The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-10-11

% y.
IS So It is in regard to the Christian
n life. II we had had tho planning Of 9
e Christians life we would have saidi
}. Let him have eighty years OF sun
I shine, fine house to live In; lot his
i surroundings all be agreeable: LEI him
S have sound health; let no chill shiver
|. through his limbs, no pain ache his
. brow. or trouble shadow his SOUL" !.
! enjoy the prosperity Of others -
I much. would let every man
have as much money as no
wants, and roses for his childrcn's
cheeks. and fountains Of glsdness
glancing In their large round eyes
But that is not Gods way. It seems
as il man must be cut and hit, ana
pounded Just In proportion as no is
useful. His child falls from third
story window, and has its life dashed
out; his most confident investment
tumbles him into bankruptcy; his
friends, on whom he depended, aid tho
natural force of gravitation in taking
him down; his life is Bull Run de-
feat Instead Of thirty-two Thousand
advantages, he has only ten thousand
aye, only three hundred-aye. none at
all. How many good people there are
at their wits end about their llveli-
hood, about their reputation. But
they will find out 1t is the best way
after awhile; God will show him that
He depletes their advantages just for |
the Same reason He depleted the army |
of Gideon-that they may be induced
| to throw themselves on His mercy.
So Gods way, in the redemption of
the world, Is different from ours. If
we had our way, we would have had
Jesus stand in the door OF Heaven and
beckon the nations up tonight. or we
would have had angels flying around
the earth proclaiming the unsearcha-
BILE riches Of Christ Why Is it that
the cause goes on so slowly7 Why
is it that the chains stay on, when God
could knock them off? Why do
thrones of despotism stand, when God
could so easily demolish them? 1t Is
His way. in order that all generations
may cooperate, and that all men may
know they can not do the work them
selves. just in proportion rs these
pyramids of sin go up in height will
they come down In ghastliness of
ruin.
I learn from this subject that the
overthrow of Gods enemies will be
sudden and terrific. There Is the army
of the Midianites down In the valley
of Jezreel. suppose the mighty men
are dreaming Of the victory. Mount
Gilboa never stood sentinel for so largo
a host. The spears and shields of the
Midianites CLEAN in the moonlight,
and glance on the eye of the Israelites,
who hover like a battle of eagles.
ready to sweep from the cliff. Sleep
on, oh army of the Midianitesl With
the night to hide them, and the noun
tain to guard them. and strong arms
to defend them, let no slumbering foe
man dream of disasteri Peace to the
captain and the spearmenl
Crash 90 the pitchers! up flare tho Z
lamps! To the mountains! fly! fyl
Troop running against troop, thou ,
sands tramping upon thousands. Hank {
to the scream and groan of the routed Q
foe, with the Lord God Almighty after
them! How sudden the onset, how {
wild the CONSERVATION, how utter the d
defeat! do not care so much what is /
against me, if God is not. You want a h
better sword or carbine than have
ever seen to go out and fight against
the Lord Omnipotent. Give me God
for my ally, and you may have all the h
and battalions
Alas for those who fight against Godl y
Only two sides. Man immotal, which
side are you on? Woman immortal, =
which side are you on? Do you belong a
70 the tree hundred that are going to a
win the day, or to the great host of 7
Midianites asleep in the valley, only y
% be aroused up in CONSERVATION h
ind ruin? Suddnly the golden
BOWL OF life will be broken, and Y
The trumpet blown that will startle =,
,ur soul into eternity? The day of :,
he Lord cometh as a thief in the :,
hight, and as the God-armed Israelites :,
lpon the sleeping foe. Ha! Canst thou p
duck up courage for the day when the =,
which hath never been blown :,
hall speak the roll-caE of the dead,
md the earth, dashing against lost n,
meteor. have the mountains scattered :.
o the stars, and oceans emptied in the = z,
'ir? Oh. then. what will become Of =
'ou? What will become of me? 49,
II those Midianites had only given
Up their swords the day before the dis ~
Ister, all would have been we'll; and =
you will now surrender the sins y
With which you have been fighting III
gainst God. you will be safe. Oh,
make peace with Him. now, through ~
esus Christ, the Lord. With the clutch
4 drowning man seize the Cross. Oh,
~ rrondovf ar1arf Nh~i.k ,...kI VI