Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-11-28

can De against US. anus pro,ccucu. yuu
need not spend much time in answering
your assailants
Impostors.
Many years ago word came Ia me that
two impostors rs temperance lecturers,
had been speaking in Ohio in various
places and giving their experience, and
they told their audience that they had
long been intimate with me and had be-
come drunkards by dining Mt my table,
where always had liquors Of all sorts !
Indignant % the last degree, went down
20 Patrick Campbell, chief Of Brooklyn |
police, saying that was going to start
that night for Ohio to have those villains
arrested, and wanted him to tell me how
to make the arrest He smiled and said:
"Do not waste your time by chasing these
men Go home and do your work, and
they can do you no harm l took his
counsel, and all was well. Long ago
made up my mind that II one will put his
trust in God and be faithful to duty he
need not fear any evil. Have God on your
side. young man, and all the combined
forces Of earth and hell can do you no
damage
And this leads me to say that the might
lest defense for u young man is the posses
sion of religious principle. Nothing can
take tho place Of it, He may have man
ners that would put to shame the graceful
ness and courtesy of n Lord Chesterfield.
Foreign languages may drop from his
tongue. He may be able 10 disuss liter
allure and laws and foreign customs. He
may WELD pen of unequaled polish and
power His quickness and tact may quail
~ him for the highest salary OF the count
ing house He may be as sharp rs Herod
and as strong as Samson, with rs fine
locks as those which hung AbsIlOm still
he Is not safe frcm contamination. The
more elegant his manner, and the more
fascinating his dress. the more peril. Satan
does not care for the allegiance OF a cow
ardly and illiterate being. He cannot
bring him into efficient service, But he
loves To storm that castle Of character
which has in 10 the most spoils and treas
ures IL was rot some crazy craft creep
ing along the coast with valuelcss cargo
that the pirate attacked, but the ship, full
winged and tagged, plying between great
ports, carrying its millions Of specie. The
more your natural and acquired accom-
plshmcnts, the more need of tho religion
Of Jesus That does not cut in upon or
hack mp any s;nnothness Of disposition or
behavior. Ii gives symmetry. Ii arrests
that in the soul which ought tn he arrest
cd and propclS that which ought tn he
propelled. Ii fills up the gulleys. 1t ele-
Yates and transforms To beauty it gives
more beauty, tn tact more tact, To enthus-
iasm 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 PROPOSE
ton.
Cling To the Cross.
You may now have enough strength OF
character To repel the various temptations
TO gross wickcdness which assail you, but
do not know in what strait yo: may he
thrlst ut some future time. Nothing short
of the grace Of the cross may then be able
to deliver you from the lions. You are not
meeker than Moses, nor holicr than David,
nor more patient than job, and you ought
not tn consider yourself invulncrable. You
may have some weak point of character
that you have never discovered, and in
some hour when you are unsuspecting the
Philistines will he upon thee, Samson
Trust not in your good habits. or your
nothing short Of the arm Of Almighty
God will bc sufficient to uphold you. You
look forward to the world sometimes with
n chilling dependency. Cheer up. will
tell you how you may make "A fortune
Seek first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness. and all other things shall bc
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
tho heart to drink down the Drumming cup
of life and then pour the dregs on Gods
altar. To "a Saviour so infinitely generous
you have not the l.eart To act like that
That Is not brave. That Is not honorable
That IL not manly. Your greatest want in
all the world is new heart. In Godfs
name l tell you that And the Blessed
Spirit presses through the solemnities and
privileges of this holy hour. Put the cup
of life eternal to your thirsty lips. Thrust
IL not back Mercy offers it-blceding
mercy, long suffering mercy. Reject all
other friendships he ungrateful for all
other kindness. prove recrcant 10 all other
bargains, but TO despise Gods love for
your immortal soul--do not do that
Iwould like to see some Of you this hour
press out OF the ranks If the world and lay
your conquered spirit ut the feet of Jesus
This hour is no wandering vagabond stag
Rering over the earth: ii is n winged mes
kcnger "A Che skies whispering mercy 10
thy soul Life Is smooth row, but after
awhile IL may be rough. wild and precipi-
tate. There comes u crisis in tho history
OF every man. We seldom understand
that turning point until IL is far past.
The road OF life Is forlled and l read ON
two signboards: This is the way to happi
4
apt we are 10 pass the fork of the road
without thinking whether It comes out mt
the door of bliss or the gates of darkness
Many years ago ! stood on the anniver
sary platform with "A minister OF Christ
who made this remarkable statement:
Thirty years ago two young mer started
out in the evening to attend the Park
thcater, New York, where "A play was To
be acted in which the cause of religion was
to be placed in ridiculous and hypocrit-
ical light. They came to the steps. Tho
consciences of both smote them Ono
started To go home, but returned again 10
the ioor. and yet had not courage to enter,
and finally departed. But the other young
man entered the pit of the thcater. Ii
was the turning point in the history of
these two young men. The man who en-
tered was caught in the whirl of tempta-
ton. He sank deeper and deeper In in
fanny. He was lost. That other young
man was saved, and he now stands before
you to bless God that for 20 years he has
bee permitted TO preach the gospel
rejoice, q young man, in thy youth
and let thy heart cheer thee in the days Of
thy youth; hut know thou that for all
the " things God will bring thee into judg
me IT. ."