Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1901-05-25


mightier weapon than that. 1t is the
arrow of the gospel; it is sharp ar
row; it is a straight arrow; it is feath-
cred from the wing of the dove of
Gods spirit; it flies from bow made
out of the wood of the cross. AS far
as I can estimate or calculate it has
knew how to bring the notch of that
arrow on to the bowstring, and its
whir was heard through the Corin-
THAN theaters and through the court
room until the knees of Felix knocked
together. 1t was that arrow that stuck
in Luther's heart when he cried out:
"Oh, my sinst Oh, my sins," If it
strikes a man in the head, it kills his
skepticism; if it strikes him in the heel
it will turn his step; if it strikes him
in the heart, he throws up his hands,
as did one of old when wounded in the
battle, crying, 80 Galilean, thou hast
conquered
Spiritual Archery.
If you want to be skillful in spiritual
archery you must hunt in unfrequented
and secluded places Why does the
hunter go three or four days in the
Pennsylvania forests or over Raquette
lake into the wilds of the Adirondacks?
1t is the only way to do. The deer are
shy, and one bang of the gun cleans
the forest. From the California stage
you see, as you go over the plains, here
and there a coyote trotting along al
most within range of the gun-some-
times quite within range of it. No one
cares for that. 1t is worthless. The
good game is hidden and secluded.
Every hunter knows that. So many
Of the souls that will be of most worth
Cor Christ and the most value to the
church are secluded. They do not
come in our way. You will have to go
where they are. Yonder they are down
in that cellar. Yonder they are UP in
that garret-far away from the door
of any church. The gospel ar
row has not been pointed at
them. The tract distributor and
the city missionary sometimes just
catch glimpse of them, as hunter
through the trees gets a momentary
sight of partridge or roebuck. The
trouble Is we are waiting for the game
to come to us. We are not good hunt
ers. We are standing on some street
or road expecting that the timid an
telope will come up and eat out of our
hand. We are expecting that the
prairie fowl will light on our church
steeple. 1t is not their habit. If tNe
church should wait 100000 of years
for the world to come in and be saved,
it will wait in vain. The world will
not come.
What the church wants now is to lift
its feet from damask ottomans and put
them in the stirrups. The church
wants not so much cushions as it
wants saddlebags and arrows. We
have got to put aside the gown and the
kid gloves and put on the hunting
shirt. We want a pulpit on wheels. We
have been fishing SO long in the
brooks that run under the shadow of
the church that the fish know us, and
they avoid the hook and escape as
soon as we come to the bank, while
yonder is Upper Saranac and Big Tup-
per's lake, where the first swing of
the gospel net would break it for the
multitude of the fishes. There is out
side work to be done. What is it that
1 see in the backwoods? 1t is a tent.
The hunters have made a clearing and
camped out. What do they care If
they have wet feet or if they have
nothing but pine branch for pillow
or for the northeast storm? If a moose
in the darkness steps into the lake to
drink, they hear it right away. If a
loon cry in the midnight, they hear
it. So in the service of God we have
exposed work. We have got to camp
out and rough it. We are putting all
our care on the comparatively few
people who go to church. What are
we doing for the millions who do not
come? Have they no souls? Are they
sinless that they need no pardon
Are there no dead in their houses that
they need no comfort?
Must Have Courage.
/ remark further, if you want to sue
ceed In spiritual archery, you must
have courage. If the hunter stands
with trembling hand or shoulder that
ffinches with fear, instead of his taking
him. What would become of the Green
lander if when out hunting for the
bear he should stand shivering with
terror on an iceberg? What would
have become of Du Chaillu and Living
stone in the African thicket with a
faint heart and a weak knee? When a
panther comes within 20 PAGES of you
and it has its eye on you and it has
squatted for the fearful spring, Steady
there," Courage, o We spiritual arch
ers, There are great monsters of in
! iquity prowling all around about the
| community Shall we not in the
strength of God go forth and combat
them? We not only need more heart,
but more backbone What is the