Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-12


has been many man up to his chin in
scientific portfolios which proved there
was no Christ and no divine revelation,
his pen scimeter flung into the heart of
theological opponents, who nevertheless
has been discounted and captured for
God by some little 3-ycar-old chd who
has got up and put her snowy arms
around his sncwy neck and asked some
simple question about God.
Oh make flank movement. Steal n
march on the devil Cheat that man into
hcavenl A So treatise that will stand
all the laws of homilctics may fail to do
that which n penny tract of Christian
cntreaty may accomplish. Oh, for more
Christians in ambuscadc-not living in
idleness, but waiting for quick spring,
waiting until just the right time comes.
DO not talk to a man about the vanity Of
this world on the day when he has bought
something Mt To- and is going to sell it
at 10" But talk to him about the van
ity OF the world on the day when he has
bought something at 80" and is COM
PEELED to sell it at "12p Do not rub n
mans disposition the wrong way; do not
take the imperative mood when the sub
junctive mood will do just as WE'LL do
not talk In pcrfervid style to a phlegmat.
ic nor try to tickle n torrid temperament
with an iciclc. You can take any man
for Christ If you know how to get at him.
DO not send word to him that tomorrow
ut 10 o'clock you propose to open your
batteries upon him. but come on him by
skillful, perscvering, God directed am
buscade.
Importance of Good Aim,
Lesson the fourth: The Importance of
"a Ii inn nj Il, -.
how are those people in ambush up yon-
der to know when they are to drop on
the city. and how are these men around
Joshua to know when they are to stop
their fight and advance? There must
be some sGnal-a signal to stop the one
division and to start the other Joshua,
with a spear on which were ordinarily
hung the colors Of battle points toward
the city. lie stands in suct a conspicu-
Gus position, and there is so much of the
morning light dripping from that spear
tip, that all around the horizon they see
it. 1t was as much as to say: There is
the city. Take it,"
God knows and we know that a great
deal of Christian attack amounts to moth
ing simply because we do not take good
AIM Nobody knows and we do not
know ourselves which point we want to
take when we ought to make up our
minds what God will have us to do and
point our spear in that direction and
then hurl our body, mind. soul, time eter-
nifty at that one target. In our pupits
and pcws and Sunday schools and PRAYER
meetings we want to get n reputation for
saying pretty things. and so we point
our spear toward the flowers. or we want
reputation for saying sublime things,
and we point our spear toward the stars,
or we want to get reputation for his
torical knowledge, and we point our
spear toward the past, or we want to
get a reputation for great liheralty. so
we swing our spear all around, while
there is the old world. proud, rebellious
and armed against all righteousness. ana
instead Of running any farther away
from its pursuit we ought to turn around.
plant onr foot in the strength of the eter-
nal God, lift the old cross and point IL in
the direction Of the worlds conquest till,
the redeemed of earth, marching up from
one side and the gloriied of heaven
marching down from the other side, the
last batt!cmpnt Of sin is compelled to
swing out the streamers of Emanuel
y church of God, take aim and conquer!
The Need of Courage.
! have heard it said, Look out for a
man who has only one idea; he is ire
slstible." | say look out for the man who
has one idea, and that "A determination
for soul saving. | believe God would
strike me dead if | dared to point the
spear in any other direction. Oh, for
some Of the courage and enthusiasm Of
Joshua, He flung two armies from the
Tip of that spear. 1t is sinful for us to
rest unless it is to get stronger muscle
and frcsher brain and purer heart for
Gods work. feel on my head the hands
OF Christ IN a new ordination DO Won
not feel the same omnipotent pressure?
There is work for all of us. Oh, that
We might stand up side by side and point
the spear toward the city! 1t ought to be
taken. 1t will be taken. Our cities are
drifting off toward loose rcl zion or what
is called liberal Christianity" which is
so liberal that it gives up all the cardi-
nal doctrines of the Bible; so lib
ernl that it surrcndcr> the rectitude
of the throne of the Almighty That is
liberality with vengeance. Let US de-
eide upon the work which we as Chris
tlan men have to do ana in the strength
of Cod 20 to work and do it,
1t is comparatively easy to keep on n
parade amid shower of horouets and
hand clippings and the whole street full
OF enthusiastic huzzas, but it is not so
easy TO stand up in the day Of battle. the
face blackcued with smoke, the uniform
covered with the earth plowed up by
whizzing bullets and bursting shells. half
the regiment cut to pieces, and yet the
commander crying Forward, march,"
Then it requires old fashioned valor. Ny
friends. the great trouble of the kingdom