Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-02-27


of DIR. Talmage is full Of inspiring
thoughts for those who find life a
struggle and shows that we have many
celestial sympathizers; texts, Hebrews
xii, 1, Seeing we also are compassed
about with so great cloud Of wit
nesses;" | Corinthians wv, 80, 81 have
fought with beasts at Ephesus."
Crossing the Alps by the Mont Cents
pass or through the Mont Gents tun-
mel. you are in few hours set down
at Verona, Italy, and In few minutes
begin examining one Of the grandest
ruins of the world, the Amphitheater.
The whole building sweeps around you
in O circle You stand in the arena
where the combat was once fought or
the race run. and on all sides the seats
rise. tier above tier, until you count
forty elevations, or galleries, as | shall
see fit to call them, in which sat the
senators, the kings and the $4,000 ex-
cited spectators. At the sides of the
arena and under the galleries are the
cages in which the lions and tigers are
kept without food until, frepzied with
hunger and thirst, they are let out up
on some poor victim, who, with his
sword and alone. is condemned to meet
them. | think that Paul himself once
stood in such place and that 1t was
not only figuratively. but literally, that
he had fought with beasts at Ephe-
sus'
The gala day has come. From all the
world the people are pouring into Nero-
ma. Men. women and children. orators
and senators. great mon and small.
thousands upon thousands come. until
the first gallery is full, and the second,
the third the fourth, the fifth-all the
way IN to the twentieth. all the way
IN TO the thirtieth. all the way up to
the fortieth Every place is filed. I'm
mensity of audience sweeping the great
circle Silence The time for the contest
has come A Roman official leads forth
the victim into the arena. Let him get
his sword with firm grip into his right
hand. The $4,000 sit brcathlessly watch
ing ! hear the door at the side Of the
arena creak open. out plungcs the half
starved lion. his tongue athirst for
blood and with roar that brings all
the galleries to their feet he rushes
against the sword of the combatant.
Do you know how strong n stroke a
man will strike when his life depends
upon the first thrust of his blade? The
wild beast, lame and bleeding. sinks
back toward the side of the arena {;
then rallying his wasted strength he
comes up with fiercer eye and more
terrible roar than ever, only to be
driven back with fatal wound, while
the combat8nt comes in with stroke
after stroke until the monster is dead
at his feet, and the $4,000 clap their
hands and utter a shout that makes
the city tremble
Sometimes the audience came to see
race; sometimes TO see Eladiators
fight each other, until the people, com
passionate for the fallen, turned their
thumbs mp rs an appeal that the van
pushed be spared, and sometimes the
combat was with wild beasts
All Have Lions to Fight.
To one OF the Roman amphtheatrical
audiences of 100000 people Paul refers
when he says. I'VE are comprised
about with so great cloud of witness
es." The direct reference in the last
passage is made to n race but else
where having discussed that, l take
now Paul's favorite idea of the Chris
tan life as Il combat.
The fact is that every Christian man
has lion to fight Yours is Il bad tenn
per. The gates of the arena have been
opened, and this tiger has come out to
destroy your soul. 1t has lacerated
you with many a wound. You have
been thrown by it time and again, but
In the strength of God you have arisen
to drive it back. l verify believe you
will conquer think that the tempta-
ton is getting weaker and weaker.
You have given 1t so many wounds that
the prospect is that it will die, and you
shall be victor, through Christ. COur-
age, brother, DO not let the sands of
the arena drink the blood of your soul.
Your lion IS the passion for strong
drink. You may have contended
against it for twenty years but It Is
strong of body and thirsty OF tongue.
You have tried to fight it back with
broken bottle or empty wine flask.
Nay, that is not the weapon. With one
horrible roar he will seize thee by the
throat and rend thee limb from limb.
Take this weapon, sharp and keen
reach up and get it from Gods armory
the sword OF the Spirit. With that
thou mayest drive him back and con-
quer.
But why specify when every man
and woman has lion to fight? II
there be one here who has no besetting
sin, let him speak out, for him have
offended. If you have not fought the
lion, 1t is because you have let the lion
eat you up. This very moment the con-
test goes on. The Trajan celebration,
where 10000 gladiators fought and
1000 wild beasts were slain, was not
so terrific struggle as that which at
this moment goes on in many soul
The combat was for the life of the
body; this Is for the life OF the soul