The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-01-31
EXAMPLES POWER.
DRIVEN FROM
Dr. Taimage Says 'sIn God Is Thy
Refuge"

TEXT: can Abimelcch took an Ak in his
hand aud cut down bough from tho trees
and took II and laid II on his shoulder and
said unto the people that were with him:
do as have done Aud all tho people like
wise cut down every man his bough." "
Judges tx, 4S.
Abimeech is q name malodorous in Bible
history and yet full o! profitable suggestion
Buoys are black and uncomely. but they tell
where the rocks are. The snako's rattle is
hidcous. but 1t gives timely warning. From
the piazza OF my summer homo night by
night saw lighthouse fifteen miles away,
not placed there for adornment, but to tell
mariners to stand of from that dangerous
point. SO all tho iron-bound coast or moral
danger is marked with Saul and IIorod and
Rehoboam and Jezcbcl aud hbimolech.
These bad people are mentioned in the Bible
not only as warnings. but beyaus there wcro
sometimes flashes OF good conduct in their
lives worthy OF imitation. God sometimes
drives very straight nail with Il very poor
hammer.
The city OF Schcchem had to be taken and
Abimcicch aud his men werc To do il. | sec
the dust rolling up from their excited march.
hear tho shouting OF the captaius and tho
yell OF the beSeGcrs. Tho swords clack
sharply on the parrying shields. and the vo-
ciicration of two armies in death grapple is
horrible to hear. The battle goc, on all dgy
AMI as the sun Is setting Abimnlcch aud his
nruly cry "Surrcndcr," TO the beaten foe,
and, unable longer to resist, the CITY of
'Shrchrm falls. AMI there arc uools of blood
and discovered limbs ant glazed eyes look
Ing up haSginglv for mercy that war never
shows and dying soldiers with their head on
the lap Of mother OF vile or sister, who have
come out Tor the last offices of kindness aud
affection, ani groan rolls across the city,
stopping not. because there is no spot for il
to rest, SO full is tho place of other Croans
A city wounded! A city dying, A city dcai,
Wall for Snechcm ull yo who know tho hor-
rorS OF u sacked town.
~ j look over thu city / find only ono
h;;iiiinS standing, an I that is tho trmplc OF
the god Berth. Some soliCrS outside OF
the city in tower, hnding that they can no
'longcr defend Shechcm, now begin to look
out Tor their own personal safety, and they
NY to this tempt" Of Berth. They go within
the door. shut il. aui they say: Now we
are safe. Ahim"lrrh has taken the whole
city, but h" Caur"t take this tcmpl" OF
Berth. Here we Sha, hr under The protcc-
tinn Of the gods q BrrIh ~" god. do
Your best now for these rriU-"rs. II Won
hnNu "y"S. pity them. Ii you have hands
hrinthcm. II you hay" thundrghult., strike
inr'Mcm. Eut how SHALL Ahinr!crh and his
army taic this temrlr U1 Berth and In" men
who ar there 'rrt.irip Wiii ti:"v 30 il with
tn" sw"r,t? Nay. vii! :h"N Il, il with the
spear? Nay. With ia ha! GRIN. ram rolled
M by hundred armed strength crashing
:tg:,nst the walls? Nay hhimrr"n marches
he hcws of a limb Of tree and puts that
limb upon his snouldc", aud t1en ho says to
his men. ''You do tn" same
l. They arc obedicnt to their commander.
There is a struggle us to who shall have axes
The whole wood Is full OF bending bouvhs
;Iert the crackiing and the hacking. and the
sS1 sHSIss. until every ono of the host has u
Nn'h OF u, tree cut down. and not ONLY that
but has put Ii ON his shoulder Just as Abb
m"'ech showed him how. Are these men nll
armed with tho tree branch? The rcply
comes, "Aii armed" Aud they march on.
On. what II strnng" army. with that strange
equipment. They come up to the foot OF
the temple at Berth, and Abimrirch takes
his limb OF a tree and throws it down. and
the first platoon of soldiers como up. and
they throw down their branches, and the
second platoon: and tho third until ali
around about the temple Of Berth thrrr j. a
pile OF tree branches. Tho Shcrhrmilrs look
oHt rom the window OF the temple anon
what seems to them childish uinv on thr
parts al their enemies Eut soon ,hc iiintS are
Stiurk, and the spark hryiu> t. kindir th,.
brush and tn" tiamu comes up all through
-th" pile AMI the rel elements leap tu the
easement. and til" WOO work begins to blaze
and one arm OF famr j. thrown uu on the
right Sido OF th" temple. aui another arm Of
hImC L. thrown up on the left side OF the
temple until they rinSr their lurii pairs
under the wilt night sky, and the c.y ol
'|irc! within and"Frr" without announces
thN terror, an III" NiranGulation, and the
do I'm ot thc Sh""' mites, and the complete
overthrow Oi tn" t"nuIr of tho god BERTH.
Cl men ih"r" went up Il shout. long and loud
from tn" stout lungs and swarthy chests OF
Se!m"lcrh and hIs men rs they stood amid
~" nShcs and the dust crying, Victory
'Sirtoryr'
,Gh, my fricn ls the Gospel ~ not 4 svho-
Gi'Ti; 1t l. NOT "a>ui-try: il ~ not pulcmic- or
m science Of suuu',Dl.: Ills blood rriiact:
~ - warm hearted invitation; II is I"apinS.