The Burke County news. [volume] (Morganton, N.C.) 1899-1901, 1899-05-05
Or. IALMAG['S SERMON.
PREPARED ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG
AND OLD.
Subject: "Parental Heediessness" The
Vow ofJephthah Typical OF Much That
IL Distressing in Modern Lffc-Chil.
dren Sacrificed to Worldly Ambition.

TINT: My Gather, il thou hast opened
thy mouth unto the Lord. do 70 me ac-
cordinG to that which hath proceeded out
o. thy mouth."-Judges Ii. sc.
Jephthah WAS q freebooter. Early turned
out from n home where he ought TO have
been cared for. he cons0rted with rough
men and went forth 70 earn his living a.
best he could. In those times 1t was con
eidered right for a man TO 90 out on indie
pendent military expeditions. JcphthaL
was a good man according 70 tho light OF
his dark age. but through II wandering and
predatory life he tecnme reckless and pre-
cipitate. The grace OF God changes a
mans heart. but never reverses his natural
semperalnent. The IsracIites wanted the
AmnOnites driven out OF their country. SC
they sent a delegation to Jcphthah. asking
him 10 become commander in chief OF all
the forces. He IL ht have said, 'YoIl
drove ne ont when you had no use for me.
and now you are in trouble YOU want m
back. but he die not lay that. He take.
Of the army. lends messengers tC
the AInmonltes to tell. them to vacate the
country, and getting no favorable 70.
spbnse. mArshals his troops for battle.
Before going out to the war Jephthah
makes 4 very solemn vow hat il the Lord
will give him the victory then, on his re.
turn home, whatsoever first comes out Of
his doorway be will offer in sacrifice az y
L pAcIIDr. i Nc bitlIt oI)FHS. IL WIS
no diminishing on the edges of dangers, Nc
Numbering OF batteries two miles away.
but the hurting Of men on the points Of
swords and spears until the ground could
no more drink the blood and the horses
reared to leap over the pile or bodies Of
the slain. In those old times opposing
forces would fight until their swords were
broken and then each one would throttle
his man until they both fell. teeth ia
teeth, grip to grip. death stare to deatt
stare. until the plain was one tumbied
mass OF cOrpses from which the last trace
OF manhood had been dashed ont.
Jephthah wins the day. Twenty cities
lay captured at his feet. Sound the victory
all through the mountains Of Gilead. Let
the.trumpeters call up the survivors. Home.
ward to your wives and children. Home.
ward with your glitterinG treasures.
HomeWard to have the applause o: an adj
mirinS nation. Build triumphal arches
Swing out flags oil over Mizpah. Open al
your doors to receive the captured treas
"res. through every hall spread ,he ban
quet. Pile up the viands. Fill high the
tankards. The nation is redeemed. the in
vaders are routed and the national honor
Is vindicated.
lIuzZa for Jephthnh. the conuueror,
Jcphthah. seated on II prancing steed, nd
vances amid the a~cciaiming m%uititudes
but his eye is no: on the excited ]populace.
Remembering that he ind made a solemn
VOW that, returning from victorious battle
whatsoever first came out OF the DOORWAY
OF MS home hat should be sacrificed as a
burnt Offering. he has his nx;ou loos
upon the door. ! wonder what spOtles:
lamb, what brace Of doves, Will be thrown
upon. the fires OF the burnt ofering,
Oh. horrors. Paleness Of death blanche:
his cheek. Despair seize. his heart. Hi.
daughter. his only child, -usheS out tn,
doorway to throw herself in her fathcr
arms and shower upon him more kisse.
than there were wound on nie breast O.
dents on his shield. All tie tr!umpha
splendor vanishes. Holding back this chill,
from his heavinH breast and pushing til.
locks back from the fair brow and ioohin.
into the eyes Of inextinguishable affection
with rhoked utterance he says: Would t,
God lay stark on the bloody plain, "
daughter. my only child. JOY OF my hone
life OF my life, thou art the -acrilc-!"
Tue whole matter was explained to her
This was no whining. hollow hearted cir
into whose eyrsth thu father looked. Al! tn,
glory OF sword and shield vanished liz III,
presence OF the valor % that girl. Tha.,
may have been Il treuor OF the liz. aS
rae leaf tremble> in the souch ~ the south
wind: there NAV have been the starting o
"A tear ike u raindrop shaaen from II,
anther Q! a water lily. But witt a SCI
sacrifice that man may not rrart, and on,
woman heart can compass she >urrerde-
herself to FIR. and - death. Sha cries on
III the words Of my text NM father. +.
thoa hast opencdthv monthruto the Lord
do unto NJ whatsoever hath p-oceede,
from thy mouth.
u course this Offering vas uot pleasin.
to the Lord. e-l eciaily asa provision VA.
made in the law FOR such a contingency
and Jcphthah might have raiaencl u.
daughter tv th- payment x thirtN sh-k-i
a. silver. Bat before vcu hurl 20.
Recommendations 1t Jepathuh cruelty -
Icnher tia; ii aldcu times. when vow:
w"fa made. men taouctt;Gry m.>t eyecut
them. perform than. w.i-thtr tlav w.r.
wicked or good. Tuer. yrr- .va w-s.-
things aho.' f.fhtaaa'> VOW. fir-t. Il.
">cht never = Aayr made =. \aXt. hHs!n.