The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-12-31

lecturers, had beer speaking in Ohio, |
in various places, aid giving their ex-
perience, and thev told their audience |
that they had long been intimate with |
me, and had become drunkards by |
dining at my table, where l always had |
liquors of all sorts. Indignant to the |
last degree, | went down to the chief |
of Brooklyn police, saying that was
going to start that night for Ohio to
have the villains arrested, and l want
ed him to tell me how to make the ar
rest. He smiled and said: "Do not
waste your time by chasing these men.
TO home and do your work and they
can do you no harm" took his coun
sci, and all was well. Long ago made
up my mind that if one will put his
trust in God and be faithful to duty,
ne 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
mightiest defense for young man is
the possession of religious principle.
Nothing can take the place of it. He
may have manners that would put to
shame the gracefulness and courtesy
of a Lord Chesterfield. Foreign lam
guages may drop from his tongue, He
may be able to discuss literature, and
foreign customs. lie may WELD pen
OF unequaled polish and power. His
quickness and tact may qualify him
tor the highest salary of the counting
house. He may be as sharp as Her.
cd and strong as Samson, with. as
fine locks as those which hung
AbsolOm, still he is not safe
from contamination. The more ele-
giant his manner, and the more fasci-
mating his dress, the more peril. Sa-
tan does not care for the allegiance of
a cowardly and illiterate being. He
can not bring him into efficient serv-
ice. But he loves to storm that castle
of character which has in it the most
spoils and treasures. 1t was not some
crazy craft creeping along the coast
with a valueless cargo that the pirate
| attacked, but the ship, full winged and
tagged, plying between great ports,
carrying its millions of specie. he
more your natural and acquired ac-
mplishments, the more need of the
religion of Jesus. That does not cut in
upon or hack up any smoothness of dis
, position or behavior. 1t gives sym
= metry. 1t arrests that in the soul
, which ought to be arrested, and pro.
l PEELED. 1t fills up the gulleys. 1t ele-
| Yates and transforms. To beauty it
E gives more beauty, to tact more tact,
$ to enthusiasm of nature more enthusi-
asm. When the Holy Spirit impresses
5 the image of God on the heart He does
not spoil the canvas. If in all the
Y multitudes of young men upon whom
: religion has acted you could find one
Y nature that had been the least dam
4 aged, ! would yield the proposition.
+ You may now have enough strength
e of character to repel the various
o temptations to gross wickedness which
Il assail you, but | do not know in wha,
e strait you may be thrust at some
t future time. Nothing short Of the
f grace of the cross may then be able tc
q deliver you from the lions. You are
e not meeker than Moses, not holiel
l. than David, nor mole patient thar
It Jacob, and you ought not to con
l. slider yourself invulncrable. You may
t. have some weak point of charactel
if that you have never discovered, and il
s, some hour when you are unsuspectint
II the Philistines will be upon thee, Sam
d son. Trust not in your good habits, o
IS your early training, or your pride o
If character; nothing short of the arm o
,e Almighty God will be sufficient to up
m hold you. You look forward to th
world sometimes with a chilling
to despondency. Cheer up; l viii
to tell you how you may max
" a fortune Seek first the King
,r dom of God and His righteous
in ness, and all other things shall b
I'd added unto you" know you do nc
" want to be mean in this matter. Civ
t. God the freshness of your life. Io
,e will not have the heart to drink dow
,r the brimming cup of life and then pou
the dregs on Gods altar. TO a Saviou
to so infinitely generous you have ne
We the heart to act like that. That
he not brave, that is not hOnor
va BILE, that is not manly. Yor
be greatest want in all the world
a new heart In Gods name, l te
H. YOU. And the blessed spirit press
cd through the solemnities and privilege
so of this holy hour. Put the cup of Ii
as eternal to your thirsty lips. Thrust
N, not back Mercy offers it; bleedir
at mercy, ong-suffering mercy. Reje
or all other friendships, be ungratef
,st for all other kindness, prove recrea
no to all other bargains, but to despi
las Gods love for your immortal soul
ho not do that.
3D. would like to see some OF you tt
IN hour press out the ranks of the wor
he and lay your conquered spirit at t
feet of Jesus. This hour is no wa
ho dering vagabond staggering over t
II earth; it is winged messenger OF t
he skies whispering mercy to thy SO
.'S Life is smooth now, but after awh
sou it NAV be rough. wild and preci
It, tate. There comes crisis in the n
use tory of every man. We seldom und.
all stand that turning point until it is
sat past. The road of life is forked, an
ork read on two sign boards: This is
her way to happiness. This is the W
sun to ruin" How apt we are to pass
L.