The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1902-02-15

"Some Defending Things to Eujer the
New Year."
Sermon BY Rev. &. W. Bowman.

'''i lI'il KY hN'N' W. W . lbbN iil'tll
The letters Nehemiah asks of the king
are what now in the far cast would be
called n I'irman. \ Persian word mrll-
ing an order authenticated by the Sui
tan's own cipher or monogram. S;uch
Firman carries with it particular al-
thority. 1t is especially assisting and
defending as Il passport for il cnjoins
upon all subordinatcs, authorities, COVER
nOrS Of Provinces, Chiefs of Cities the
granting the traveller bearing such fir
man special protection and all possible
help in his journcyinGs. "Bcyond the
river until ! come unto Judah" iMuauS
that wide. unsettled and in many places
barren stretch Of country lying something
like four hundred miles beyond the river
EuphrateS, and reaching to .Iudca in the
Holy Land. 1t was then, as now. a
region crowded with danger. 1t WAS not
1hickly pcoplcd. There were in ii great
wastes of desert, and marauding bands
Of robbers and murdercrs 1t was pre-
ciSely the region where the traveller
would need such authoritative lcttcrs,-
letters authenticated by the sign manuel
Of the great king. Such letters would
mean food, water, safety from attack,
defence from robbery. Various attempts
had been made before to rebuild the
walls of Jerusalem. by Zcrubable and
Ezra. Now that Nehemiah may make
his journey safely and be favored in it
he asks Of the king this Firman,-thcsr
assisting and defending letters. Wise
| man, this Nehemiah . He will brave
danger, he will undertake difficult duty.
but he will do it shielded as much as pos
sible. There is no hravadO about this
Nehemiah. Do you not see the parallel?
Before us stretches the journey of Il New
Year Of nearly four hundred days. What
1t holds for us, you cannot tell any more
than Nehemiah, standing there in the
ShuShan Palace and looking toward
Judah, could tell everything the difficult
journey might hold for him. But lust as
Nehemiah could not tell precisely what
and how much of danger and difficulty
his journey might hold, but was sure it
held somewhat of them in patches of arid
desert in prowling bandits so while you
cannot tell precisely what the journey
through the New Year holds for you.
you are certain that it holds somewhat
and somewhere for you things like these
work, trial, temptation, death possibly.
all OF these. The question is, what de-
Tending things similar to Nehemiah's
letters, may we carry with ourselves into
and through the journey of the New
Year?
First defending thing.-A historic
Christ. as the revelation of the truth for
life. If we would live rightly we must
closely follow His great example For
he is our cXemplar, in all things. No
man, but the Goldman, is Il safe guide
A little boy said to his father, as he fol-
lowed him along n dangerous path. Il
nm putting my feet right in the hole
where yours have BEEN" then said the
father | must be careful where | walk
Paul says, follow me, as | follow
Christ"
Second defending thing.-An indwclling
Christ as the force for life. Christ in
You. as well rs Christ before you. II
live says Paul, and yet not |. but Christ
hveth in me-" Where does Jesus live?
Asked missionary once in Il mission
school. please sir, he lives in our alley
now said Il little boy who had found the
Saviour. Happy the home. and blessed
the life that has the Christ within.
Third defending thing.-Prayer as the
help for life. Washington and Lincoln
valued prayer. This has been called a
"Prayerless Age" but from Moses down.
individuals and Nations have been safe
where prayer has been the rule, and not
the exception. AS help, there is moth
ing that can take the place of prayer
Fourth defending thing. The Bible the
Guide Book for life. Said the late Dr.
Wayland, President Of Brown Univer-
sity, holding in his hand well worn
Greek Testament, This book teaches me
how to manage n college" That book
is direction in any way Of life. Pity
those who do not love it, they are sure
of losing Heaven. AS we'll attempt to
navigate vessel upon the high seas to
gain certain port, without compass or
chart, as to attempt to gain Heaven with
out this Guide Book.
Fifth defending thing.-A real resolve
toward an accepted Christ, and high
and holy life. Nehemiah was decided to-
ward the journey and the duty. So
should we be decided toward Christ and
live for Him. At the beginning of New
Year many make good resolutions, but
in some instances they prove to be mere
spasms, what is needed is good long
SPELL
Entering the New Year with such de-
Tending things. it surely cannot fail to
be A Happy One.