Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-09-13

tude of the people OF London during
the great plague about two centuries
ago. Ainsworth, the historian, tells us
that during those narrowing and grew
some months the London stores We're
nearly all closed. The doors OF the pri-.
yate homes were nearly all barred and
bolted save when they were opened at
the approach OF the bell ringer who
was seated upon pile OF stenchful
corpses because he was out driving the
dead cart ami collecting the different
bodies OF the dead. Yet at that time In
London there were men and women
who whlsted and laughed and danced
and sang and blasphemed under the
very shadow Of these horrors.
But, though the leprosy of the soul,
like the leprosy Of the flesh, be dis
ease beyond the reach Of the human
soul. would again draw your atten-
ton TO the fact that Il yields to the
touch OF fhe, Divine Pllysicien. as the
iaffiiction OF Naaman yielded at the Jor-
! dan waters And there are especially
| two or three Incidents about the phys
ical cure OF Naaman with which
would drive this truth home and lead
YOU to the fountain OF life. The hrst
was that he was induced to travel
from Damascus to the home or the
Prophet Elisha through the influence
OF a little captive Jewish maiden who
was n slave OF Naaman's wife. | can
imagine the little Jewish slave lying
awake upon her humble couch as night
after night she hears the great Syrian
general trampl.g up ard down in his
palace roons She hears him groan
when he Is awake. She hears him
moan In his sleep because be Is nope
less leper. She hears him toSs restlessly
Iabout upon his bcd. She hears him
the more readily because she Is sleep
ing I'm nearby room. at the foot OF
Naamans wife's bed. or In al adjacent
room TO her mistress. Then she hears
the gen. al and his wife talking OF the
caur.. " Naaman's trouble. 80 one
day she iimidly pulls at her mistress
skirts and says: Mistress. why do you
not have master seek the prophet or
Isrsel! He would cure him OF his
leprosY! Then the horses were hitch
ed to the chariots. Then the journey
was taken to the farof prophets
home.
The Christians Duty.
Here. my brother is the Christians
duty. The humblest child OF God can
perform it. The service rendered to the
| L., fhfc 90 nffEQ child Won
can render to the moral lepers around
YOU. am doing no more than this
from this pulpit. am telling you
where there is a cure for this fatal dis
ease. However great you may be, II
YOU have In your nature the germ OF
sin, say. as did the Hebrew maid
Would God you would 20 to Jesus. FOR
he would restore you" | cry to you
as did that humble preacher who, one
stormy day started Charles Fl. Spur
geon upon his glorious work when he
cried: Young man. afflicted WIN
doubts aud troubles. look TO Jesus!
Look Lookw VIII you battle In
Christ's blood? VIII you battle now?
Will you 90 to Christ and be spiritually
cured! 1he second raSt ABOUT tue cui
Of the leper Naaman with which
would impress you was tlE.t Ellsha' the
nrophet. told him to 20 and battle III
the river Jordan. lie did not tell Naa-
man to 20 and bathe in Il pool He did
not tell him to wash out or small
bas4n. Elisha told Naaman to 20 and
din in the Jordan. There lie would nave
plenty OF room. That river was so
wide and deep that Naaman could
wade into it up to his thighs. his shoul-
ders. his chin. He could dip into II
again and again and again. SO To-Day,
| MS with Naaman. would bid you VINO
nre covered with the scales OF leprosy
To wade down into the river OF llfe. l
would bid you to dip into that river
which flows from out Of the throne OF
the Lamb because It Is wide river.
II is river so wide and deep that all
, of US can enter ii at once side by slue
, and there will yet be enough water 10
cleanse US all from our sins. wouid
, have you wade today into the river Oh
, life because want 10 take your haho
, I'm mine. and. as your pastor and friend'
, I want to enter this Saviour's river 80
, that I also can be cleansed Of my own
+, sins by your side and have my nesI
, and yours. like Naaman's. become as
: ,ure as little child's My dear friends
). leprous with sin. will you let me ieao
Won TO the river OF eternal cleansing!
!. fcopyright. 1902 Louis Klopsch. n ~
: =