The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1897-03-19

MADE q better world tDan tnlS. IL Is
magnificent in It's ruins. Let US stop
talking SO much against the world.
God pronoun led it very good at the be-
ginning. Though a wandering child OF
God, / see in it yet the Great Fathers
lineaments. Though tossed and driven
by the storms of six thousand years
she sails bravely yet. and as at he
launching in the beginning the morn
ing stars sang together and all the sons
o. God shouted for joy. so at last, when
coming into the calm harbor OF Gods
mercy. she shall be greeted by the
huZzas OF glorifed kingdoms. 1t Is not
the world against which we contend.
but its transgressions. Whatever Is
obstinate in the will. degrading In
passion. harmful in custom, false III
friendship. hypocritical in profession
against all this Christ makes onset.
From false profession he would teal the
mask. From oppression he would
snatch the rod. From pride he would
rend off the plumes. From revenge he
would exercise the devil. While Christ
loved the world so much he died 10 save
it, he hates sin so we'll that to eradicate
the last trace of its pollution he Will
utterly consume the continents n the
oceans. At the gate of Eden the declar-
alton of perpetual enmity was made
against the serpent. The tumult roun-
about Mount Sinai vas only the roar
and fash of Gods artillery of wrath
against sin. Sodom on fire was only one
Of Gods flaming bulletins announcing
hostility. Nineveh and Tyre and Jeru-
salem in awful ruin mark the track OF
Jehovah's advancement. They snow
that God was terribly in earnest when
he announced himself abhorrent OF all
iniquity. They make us believe that
though nations beIl:gerent and revenge
ful NAV sign articles of peace and come
to IN amicable adjustment. there snail
be no cessation of hostilities etWeen
the forces of light and the forces OF
darkness until the Kingdoms of this
world have become the kingdoms Of u
Lord. Afrigh-ed by no opposition. dis
couraged by no temporary defeats.
shrinking from no exposure-every
man to his position, while from the top
Of our schools and churches and semi
naries and asylums. I'm the name OF
God we will set up our banners"
Again, il was the custom IN ancient
times, for the purpose OF gathering
armies, to lift an ensign on the top OF
some high hill, so that all who saw it
would feel impelled TO rally around it.
In more modern times the same plan
has beer employed for the gathering
of an army. Thus it is that the Church
Of Christ lifts its flag for recruits. The
Cross OF Jesus is Our standard, planted
on the hill of Calvary. Other armies
demand that persons desiring to enter
the lists of wal shall be between such
and such an age, lest the folly OF ex-
treme youth or the inirmity of adj
vanceG age be a clog rather than an
advantage. But none are too young
for Christ's regiment: none can be too
old. The hand that is strong enough
to bound a bail or trundle a hoop is
skilled enough TO fight for Christ. while
many a hand trembling with old age
has grasped the arrow Of truth, and
with a dim eye close to il, taking aim,
has sem It's sharp point right through
the heart Of the Kings enemies. Many
OF you lave long ago had your names
written on the roll of celestial troops,
and you like the service well, although
you now bear the scars Of multitude
nous conflicts and can recount many a
long march, and tell Of siege-guns
opened on you that you thought lever
would be spiked. But there may be
some who have not yet enlisted. Your
being here implies that you are seri-
ously thinking about it, and your at
tenuon takes me hope you are only
looking .or the s%tsn6o-s hc:-
Will YOU Lot, q h--.----d .ou, Wit.
all Tic a.otse5 enthusiasm Of ycur ma
ture, ccme bounding into the ranks.
while In the name Of God We set up
our banners?"
Through nat raj modesty do you hold
back and say, Il will be Of no advant-
age TO Christ: l am too awkward 10
learn the step of the host, or 10 be of
any service n the shock Of battle?"
To you J make the reply, Try it. One
hour under Cnrist's drill, and you
would so well understand his rules that
the first step Of your march heaven
ward would make the gates of hell
tremble or their hinges. We may not
be as polished and trim as many Chris
tians We have known, and we may not
as vel! understand sharp-shooting. but
there is rough work which We car all
accomplish. We may be aIe-men, and
hew a pathway through the forests. We
may be spadesmen. and dig the trenches
or throw up the Notifications. We do
not care where. We do not care what
if We Can only help IN the cause Of our
King and shout as loudly as any Of
them at the completion OF the con-
quest.
There are non-professors who have q
very correct idea of what Christians
ought TO be. You have seen members
of the church VINO were as proud as
Ahab and lied as badly as Ananias, and
who we're as foul hypocrites as Judas
You al nor all that. lou say followers
of Christ ought to be honorable, hum
BILE. and s~elf-denying. and charitable.