The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-09-18

which descended before me. Being
anxious to make doubly sure that /
was on the right road, mile or SO
farther on l accosted an elderly man
who, much to my dismay, informed me
that was all wrong and that the road
to Holmesville lay back the other way,
up hill and over a difficult way. "Are
you sure?" asked, telling him that q
considerable ways back had passed
a man who told me I was going all
right. "Well," said the old man before
me, Il oaght to know. I used to live
near Holmesville and have been over
the road hundreds of times" He then
proceeded to give me instructions and
describe landmarks along the way
which I afterwards found were cor
rect and made the way perfectly GER
tain before me. Roads look good
deal alike sometimes, and it is hard to
strike the right one unless we secure
directions from reliable guide-one
who has been over the road we are
travelling and knows to what point it
leads. We have Guide Book furnished
US, but we need Leader. The day
got on the wrong road to HolmesviIle
had my guide book with me, but I
found needed some one who knew the
way to help me use it. So it is with the
one travelling the Narrow Way. Not
only does he need Guide Book but a
Leader. In order to enter the Mar
row Way one has to seek for the Strait
Gate. 1t is easy to get on one of the
many paths of the Broad Way and
imagine one is going safely on the
Narrow Way. TO really get on the
Narrow Way one has to pass through
the Strait Gate, and to do this one
must needs meet the great Leader,
Christ. who will assure the heart that
it is on the right road and point out
the way, every inch of which He has
been over. tsaaaa
Chance never takes one through the
Strait Gate into the Narrow Way.
When one is about to start upon q
journey, the road is selected and the
time of, the starting of the train
learned. 1t is not mere chance that
takes you to the right depot and
places you aboard the train going to
the point you wish to reach. With
definite purpose you lay all your
plans and so successfully reach the
destination desired So is it with one
who travels the Narrow Way. The
soul believes the declaration of the
Guide Book that it is the only road
which reaches the desired haven of
eternal life. .E.
The Bypaths.-God wants to control
entirely in the life Of the one who
has entered the Strait Gate and
started upon the Narrow Way.
But very few yield perfect obedience
to the will of God, and as
a result the soul gets eff
into the many bypaths which
are met with in the way. These by
paths seem at first to parallel the Mar
row Way and appear pleasant to
travel. One feels freer and the road
smoother sometimes when seeking
ones own will and not exactly fol-
lowing Christ Jesus, the Leader, over
the hard and rougher portions of the
Narrow Way. But the smooth and
pleasant bypath which seems to skirt
the difficult places in the road is but
a snare, and before long leads the
soul into darkness and Doubling Cas-
tie. Then it is hard work to get back
to the Narrow Way again. But our
Guide Book comes to our relief, and
we read: "If we confess our sins, He
is faithful and just to forgive us our
sins and cleanse us from all unright.
eousness." .5sr.a-
Sometimes the Broad Way winds its
way as near to the Narrow Way as
it can, and by its worldly attractions
tries to lure the soul from the right
path. All kinds of assurances are
given that the soul can enjoy the
fruits of sin for season and get back
upon the right road at last. But our
Guide Book declares that she that
putteth his hand to the plow and look
eth back is not fit for the Kingdom
of Heaven" And on the other hand,
we hear Jesus say: "Those that Thou
gavest me I have kept, and none OF
them is lost" If we really belong to
Him He follows us into the bypaths
of sin, and when we have come to our
selves, as did the prodigal SON, He
leads us back to the Narrow Way.
Dear friend, have you wandered from
the Narrow Way in which you started
months or years ago? Have business
cares or domestic trials taken you
from your Leaders side? Have self
indulgence and love of ease caused you
to stop by the wayside while your
Saviour went on? Have worldly at
fractions and pleasures drawn you
into their mad whirl? Have the de-
mands of society been placed before.
and above the call of your Lord to
serve Him? While you are wander
ing from the Narrow Way your
Saviour stands waiting to clasp the
| lost sheep to His bosom and carry IL
| back to the path of safety and right
| eousness. Ssf$
The Narrow Way is the only safe
and happy and prosperous way. The
! Broad Road leadeth to destruction,
but the Narrow Way to life everlast-
1 Srr