The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-11-08

Of Christ deserts, IL tha. anythingl
against the Christianity which bel
swore to support and defsrd? How do
you judge of the currency OF coun-s
try? By counterfeit bill? Now, you
must have patience with those who
have been swindled by religious pre-
tenders. Live in the presence of others
. frank, honest, earnest Christian life.
that they may be attracted to the same
Saviour upon whom your hopes de-
pend.
Again, there is field Of usefulness
but little touched, occupied by those
who are astray in their habits. All.
northern nations, like those Of North
America and England and Scotland
that is. in the colder cimates--are dew
astated by alcoholism. They take the
fire to keep up the warmth. In south
ern countries, like Arabia and Spain,
the blood is so warm they are not
tempted to fiery liquids. The great
Roman armies never drank anything
stronger than water tinged with vine-,
gar, but under our northern climate
the temptation to heating stimulants
is most mighty, and millions succumb.'
When. a mans habits go wrong the
church drops him, the social circle.
drops him, good influences drop him.,
we all drop him. OF all the men who
get of the track but few ever get on
again. Near my summer residence
there is ife-saving station on the
beach. There are all the ropes and
rockets, the boats, the machinery for,
getting people off shipwrecks. One
summer / saw there is or 90 men who
were breakfasting after having just es-.
capped with their lives and nothing
more. Up and down our coasts are
built these useful structures, and thei
mariners know it, and they feel that
1t they are driven to the breakers there
will be apt from shore to come rescue.
The churches OF God ought to be -
| many life-saving stations, not 70
much to help those who are in smooth
| waters, but those who have been ship
wrecked. Come, let us run out tho
lifeboats! And who will man themf
We do not preach enough to such
| men; we have not enough faith -
their release. Alas, if when they
come to hear us we are laborioualy
| trying to show the difference between
sublapsarianism and supralapsariAn1
ism, while they have q hundred vipers
OF remorse and despair coilin&,
around and biting their immortal spir-
its. The church is not chiefly for
goodish sort Of men, whose procliyi-s
ties are all right and who could get 70
Heaven praying and singing in their
own homes. It is on the beach to-
help the drowning. Those bad cases
are the cases that God likes to take
hold Of. He can save pig sinner -
well as small sinner, and when :
man calls earnestly to God for help
he will go out to deliver such q one.
If it were necessary, God would come
down from the sky, followed by al
the artillery of Heaven and million
angels with drawn swords. Get 100
such redeemed men in your churches
and nothing could stand before them.
for such men are generally warns
hearted and enthusiastic. No formal
prayers then. No heartless singing
then. No cold conventionalisms then.
| Destitute children OF the street Of
fer field Of work comparatively un-
occupied. The uncared for children
are in the majority in most xpf our
cities. When they grow up X I'M
| reformed, they will outyote your chill
dren, and they will govern your chill
dren. The whisky ring will hatch out
other whisky rings, and grog shops
will kill with their horrid stencil pub
lie sobriety unless the church Of God
rises up with outstretched arms and
infolds this dying population In her
bosom. Public schools cannot do Il.
Art cannot do 1t. Blackwelrs island
cannot do it. Almshouses cannot d0
It. Jails canont do It. Church Of God,
wake up to your magnificent missionl
You can do it! Get somewhere, some
how to work!
The Prussian cavalry mount by put
ting their right foot into the stir
rup, while the American cavalry
mount by putting their left foot inte
the stirrup. I do not care how you
mount your war charger H ron only
get into this battle for God and get
. there soon, right stirrup or left stir
rup or no stirrup at all. The unoccu
pied fields are all around M, and Will
should we build on another mani
} foundation? I have heard Of wha1
was called the "thundering legion
: It was in ITO, part Of the RomAl
) army to which some Christians be
, longed, and their prayers. II was said
8 were answered by thunder and light
, ming and hail and tempest. whic1
7 overthrow an invading army an
: saved the empire. And would !.
: God that our churches might b =
( mighty In prayer and work that the.
> would become q laundering legion b
: fore which the forces Of sin might b
( routed and the gates Of she'll nigh
e tremble. Launch the Gospel ship "a
' another voyage. Heave away nov
= lads! Shake out the reefs in the fort
5 topsaill Come, o Heavenly wind, =
j, fill the canvas! Jesus aboard will Il