Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1897-09-02

church or out OF the faith. My state
Of uncertainty Is Que % unrest. Some
times doubt nv Immortality. aud
look upon the deathbcd as the closing
scene. after which there j. nothing.
What shall | do that have not done'
! All skepiicism is dark ami doleful
land. Let me say that this Bible i,
either true or false. IL il be false we
are AZ we'll of as you; II IL be true.
then which Of u is safer?
/ Let me also ask " neither your ,rou-
bic has not been that you confnundcd
{ Christianity with the inconsistent char
actcr OF ,omc who profess il? you are
a lawyer. la your profession .herc are
mean and dishonest men. i that any
Z thing against the Laws You are doc
/ tor There arc un~killed and con-
! temptib.c men in your profession. Is
/ that anything against mcdicineg You
are merchant. There are thieves
and dcfrauders ia your business. Il
that anything against merchandise
Behold. then, the unfairness Of charg
ing upon Christianity the wicked
mes, ~ it, disciples. We admit some
Z
fcss religion. some Of the most gi-
gantic Swindles of the present day
have been carried on hy mcnborS OF
the church. There are men standing
| in the front rank in the churches who
would not be- trusted for live dollars
without good collateral security. They
leave their business dishoncstics in the
vestibuic OF tine church as they 90 in
aud ST At the communion. Having
concluded the sacrament, they get up,
1 wipe the wine from their lips, ~ out
and take up their sins where they
left of. To serve the devil is their
regular work: to- serve God a sort OF
/ play-spcll. With sunday sponge
1 they expect t. wipe off from their BUSH
ness slate all the past weeks incon-
sistencies. You have no more right 70
take such a mans life n a specimen of
/ religion than YOU have To take the
/ twisted irons and split timbers that lie
ON the beach at Concy island rs speci-
men Of an American ship. 1t is time
/ that we draw line between religion
aud the frailties of those who profess
it,
bo you not feel that the Bible. take
+ i; all ia all. is about the best book that
{ the world has ever seem 10 you know
any book that has a. much in it, DO
/ you not think. upon the whole, that
Z Its influence has been beneticent? |
come To- YOU with both hands extended
toward sou. In one hand have the
Bible. aud in the other hand have
I nothing. This Bible IN one hand will
Surrender forever just a. soon as in my
other hand you can put 4 book that is
better.
invite you back into the good old
fashioned religion ~ YOUR fathers
the God whom they worShipcd, to the
I Bible they rcad. 10 the promises they
I learned. 10 the cross ON which they
hrng their eternal expectations. You
have not been happy a day since you
swung otT. YOU will not b. happy .
minute until you swing back.
Again. therc may bc some who. in
the attempt after a Christian life, will
have 20 run against powerful passions
and appet.t->. Perhaps u Is a DISPOSE
tion tp au-ev that y1u have 10 con
tend against, AMI perhaps, while in a
Te-y Serious mpo 3. yuu hear Of some
thing that makes you feel that you
AUST swear or die. know a Christian
maa who was once - eNasperated that
be sal - a mean customer: Il can not
swear Al sou myself. Tor am mem
dsr - the church. but IL you will 20
.asu,tair, nay partner in business
N54l swear 80 you. AL your good
rteazatlaa> heretofore have b.en torn
- latter, h. Exp a,i1n ~ temper. Now
taers Is ~ harm ia getting mad il you
aa4e go uzi a. SIN. You need L
Hrllle All s1!t.c ihose hOc-breathed
passions. aud 81 ith them ride down in.
5lstlas aat wong There are thou
saHd tAlngs iu the world We ought q
o. mai a. There j. no harm in yet
ing hHt z you oaiy bring % the forge
That g hleA needs hammeriug. \ man
IS aJ has up power of RI ghteous indiy.
uat5au ], an imh-c.ic- Bu, b. sure il i,
a righteous Indignation. and not a
p-tu.aney that h.urs AMI unravels. ant
dep ete~ the soul
Taere IS iar-,e class Of persons il
uiilife who have sill in them appe
tiie> that were aroused in early man
aazat. a. q slime s. hen they prided them
selves ou being a little fast ''higl
avrrs. free aud easy. hail fellow
+, Wei. met They are now paving il
compound interest for troubles the
collected - years ago. some Of yol
are trying 70 escape, aud you will
set very narrowly. - with the skin
81 your teeth God aud your owl
sou. only know what the struggle is
omnipotent grace has pulled out man,
soul that was deeper in the mir
T, than you are. They line the beael
% Heaven-the multitude WHOM
+, tod has rescued you from the thrau o
. suicidal habits II you this day turl
back on the wrong and start anew
4 tod will help you. On, the weakness
) u human help. Men will sympathiz
. Tor awhile, and then turn you off.
i You ask for their pardon, they wi
:. give II and say they will try you again
but failing away again under tn
power of temptation. they cast you oi
+. forever. But God forgives savent
+, times seven; yea, seven hundred time.
yea, though this be the ten thousandt
!. time, lie Is more earnest. more symps
thetie, more helpful this last time tina
4 when you took the first mistep.
). II, with all the influences favorabl
p for a right life, men make so man
I mistakes. how much harder it is whel
= for instance. some appetite thrusts il
= iron grapple into the roots of tn
e tongue, and pulls a man down wit
/ hands of destruction, II, under sue
:; circumstances lie break away, Their
4 will be no sport in the undertaking, n
IS holiday enjoyment but a struggle i
n which the wrestlers move from side
e side, and bend, and twist, and waite
N for an opportunity TO get in heavi.
Ir stroke, until with one final effort.
d which the muscles are disiended, al
,e the veins stand out, and the bio,
ID starts. the swarthy habit falls und
/; the knee of the victor-escaped at la
)f as with the skin of his teeth"