The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1899-05-25
/ VOW OF JEPHTHAH
!. !. Cited as a Warning Against
parental Heedlessness.
= =
r.luage Lodges Protest
..e,.f the Sacrifice of the
yaung ON the Altar Of
worldly Ambition.

Aro0yftg0Ls leJc.J w
3 his sermon to-day DIR. Talmage
,.as.s protest against the parental
s..dlessness and worldly ambition
.a;ch are threatening the sacrifice OF
-.,v american children; text. Judges
sl:ss: aMy father, if thou has opened
B s. mouth unto the Lord, do to me ac-
.,,,ine to that which hath proceeded
ct Of thy mouth"
Jsphthah was a freebooter. Early
1.,red out from home where he ought
4 hare been cared for, he consorted
! IN rough men and went forth to earn
rs living as best he could. In those
1 lines it was considered right for man
d i 70 out on Independent military ex-
peditions. Jephthah was a good man
according to the light of his dark age.
but through wandering and a preda-
sory life he became reckless and precipi-
iste, The grace of God changes mans
nm, but never reverses his natural
4 i,mperament. The Israelites wanted
fhe Ammonites driven out of their
stuntry, so they sent a delegation to
jephthah, asking him to become COM
rander.in-chief of all the forces. He
night have said, You drove me out
when you had no use for me. and now
I YOU are in trouble you want me. back
sit he did not say that. He takes COM
rand Of the army, sends messengers to
the Ammonites to tell them to vacate
ile country, and, getting no favorable
/ response, marshals his troops for battle.
Before going out to war Jephthah
makes very solemn VOW that if the
{ Lard will give him the victory then,
d his return home. whatsoever first
comes out of his doorway he will offer
Il ncrifice as burnt offering. The
attle opens. It was no skirmishing
q the edges of dangers, no unlimber-
I iag of batteries two miles away, but
the hurting of men on the point of
sxOrds and spears until the ground
eeaM no more drink the blood and the
hFses reared to leap over the pile of
bedies Of the slain. In those old times
4pusing forces would fight until their
aNords were broken and then each one
vcuh throttle his man until they both
hll teeth to teeth, grip to grip, death
staFe to death stare, until the plain was
me tumbled mass of corpses from
Which the last trace of manhood had
& 1een dashed out.
Jtphthah wins the day. Twenty
eties lay captured at his feet Sound
II victory all through the mountains
q Oilead. Let the trumpeters call up
y survivors. Homeward to your wives
- children. Homeward with your
4 attering treasures. Homeward to have
e applause of an admiring nation.
5ulld triumphal arches. Swing out
ags oil over Mizpah. Open all Your
eooFs to receive the captured treasures.
1Arcugh every hall spread the banquet.
y up the viands. Fill high the tank
& The nation is redeemed, the in
q Aden are routed and the national hon
m 4 indicated.
huxza for Jephthah, the conqueror!
Sspnthah, seated on a prancing steed
anees amid the acclaiming multi
sadess but his eye is not on the excited
q 0Palace. Remembering that he had
aae solemn VOW that. returning
- slctorious battle, whatsoever first
s. e ont Of the doorway of his home
~ should be sacrificed as a burnt
saefing, he has his anxious look upon
- aoor. wonder what spotless lamb,
let brace of doves, will be thrown
lun the fires of the burnt Offering:
" horrors! Paleness of death
Acnes his cheek. Despair seizes his
his daughter, his only child,
aesout the doorway to throw herself
e her fathers arms and shower unon
- more kisses than there were
ands on his breast or dents on his
e'd. All the triumphal splendor van
Holding back this child from his
Ene breast and pushing the locks
rom the fair brow and looking
~ tne eyes of inextingnishable af.
with choked utterance he saws:
y "elh to God lay stark on the bloody
nm. Ny daughter, my only child
g my home, life of NY life, thou are
- whole matter was explained tc
inls was no whining hollow.
'ed girl into whose eyes the father
All the glory of sword and
vanished in the presence of the
q that girl. Tkcre may have been
u snor OF the lip, as rose leaf trem.
81 ~ the sough of the south wind;
may have been the starting of 8
&c raindroE shaken from the
~ei water lily. But with self
lnce that man may not reach anf
woman's heart can compass she
q nuefs herself to lire and to death
: - sales out in the words of my text
lathcr, if thou hast opened tn,
.n unto the LORD. Go unto me what
sa hath proceeded from III,
81, 81 vows lows to the Knife, and the blood
g often at the fathers voice hat
- othe crimson cheek. smokes il
e Elsss ~ = of the burnt offering. No on.
ass1 ns her name. There is no neet
S.: s. Hnow her name. The garland
~ twisted for Jephthah tn,