The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-09
flls up the gulleys. It elevates and trans.

nlls up the gulleys. It elevates and trans
forms. To beauty 1t gives more beauty, to
tact more tact. to enthusiasm Of nature more
enthusiasm. When the Holy Spirit impresses
the image OF God on the heart, he does not
spoil the canvas. II In all the multitudes OF
young men upon whom religion has acted
YOU could find one nature that had been the
| least damaged, would yield this proposi.
tion.
You may now have enough strength oi
character 10 repel the various temptations to
gross wickedness which assail you, but l do
not know in what strait you may be thrust
at some future time. Nothing short OF the
grace Of the cross may then be able to de-
liver you from the lions. You are not
meeker than Moses, nor holier than David,
| nor more patient than Job, and you ought
not to consider yourself invulnerable. You
may have some weak point OF character that
you have never discovered. and in some hour
when you are unsuspecting the Philis' mes
| will be upon thee. Samson. Trust not
In your good habits, or your early train.
ing, or your pride Of character
nothing short Of the arm Of Almighty God
will be sufficient to uphold you. You look
| forward to the world sometimes with chill
ing despondency. Cheer up. will tell you
| how voc may make fortune. "Seek first
the kingdom OF God and His righteousness,
and all other things shall be added unto
you." know you do not want to be mean
| In this matter. Give God the freshness OF
your life. You will not have the heart to
drink down the brlmming cup OF LIE and nc
then ptnr the dregs on Gods altar 10
Saviour so infinitely generous you
have not the heart to act like that. That
| Is not brave. That Is not honorable.
That Is not manly. Your greatest want In
all the world is new heart. In Gods name
I telk you that And the Blessed Spirit
presses through the solemnities and prtvt-
ieges of this holy hour. Put the cup OF life
eternal 10 your thirsty lips. Thrust 1t not
back. Mercy offers bleeding mercy, long
suffering mercy. Reject all other friend
ships, BIZ ungrateful for all other Kindness.
prove recreant to all other bargains, but TO
do not do that. 90. .,-
Iwould like to see some Of you this hour
press out of the ranks Of the world and lay
your conquered spirit at the feet Of Jesus.
| This hour Is no wandering vagabond stag
gering over the earth; it is winged Mes
senger Of the skies whispering mercy to thy
soul. Life Is smooth now, but after awhile
1t may be rough, wild and precipitate.
There comes crisis in the history OF every
man. We seldom understand that turning
point until It Is for past. The road OF NE Is
lOEkou, duu IcaO on tWo o2Hnoo"ANo'
is the way to happiness" and "This
Is the way to ruin" How apt we are
| to pass the fork OF the road without thinking
whether 1t comes out at the door OF bliss or
the gates of darkness. =
Many years ago stood on the .anniVer-
sary platform with minister Of Christ
| who made this remarkable statement:
"Thirty years ago two young men. started
our IN the evening to attend the sPark
Theater, New York, where play was to
| lie acted In which the cause Of religion was
to be placed In ridiculous and hypocrit-
ical light. They came to the steps. The
consciences OF both smote them. One
Lstarted to go home, but returned again to
the door, and yet had not courage 10 enter,
and finally departed. But the other young
man entered the pit Of the theater. 1t
was the turning point In the history OF these
| two young men. The man who entered was
caught in the whirl Of temptation. he sank
deeper and deeper in infamy. he was lost.
That other young man was saved, and he
now stands before you TO bless God that for
twenty years he has been permitted to
preach the gospel"
"Rejoice. o young man, IN thy youth and
let thy heart cheer thee IN the days Of thy
youth; but know thou that for all these
things God will bring thee unto judgment"