Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-05-31
TIGHTEN THE BUCKLES.
BY Rev Theodore l.. CuyIer.

Itis related that cavalry officer, with
/ a small number Of followers, was pur
sued by an enemy who were in large
force. He discovered that his saddle.
! girth was becoming loose; his comrades
were urging him on to greater speed
| but he dismountcd. frightened the loose
! buckle and then rode on, amid the shouts
Of his companions The broken buckle
would have cost him his safety perhaps
his life. His wise delay insured his safe
ty, and sent him out Of the reach OF his
! pursuing enemies.
This incident suggests several spiritual
lessons. \ very obvious one s that the
Christian who is in such haste to rush
off 10 his business in the morning that
he docs not spare any time for his Bible
or for prayer. is quite likely to ride
for Il fair before shutdown. One Of the
most eminent Christian merchants of New
York told me that he never met his fam
lily at the breakfast table until he had
had refreshing interview with his God
over his Bible aud on his knees. His
family worship afterwards was not only
Il tightening the buckle himself. but was
a gracious means of safety to his house
hold One of the greatest dangers IN
these days is that too many children are
growing up-cvcn In nomiually Christian
familcs-With sadly lax sentiments in
many vital directions. They have loose
views about Gods day and Gods Book,
and very loose practices as to attendance
upon Gods worship. They start out in
life with a broken buckle, and when the
stress Of temptation comes. they nre
80 M Tnt1.
and mothers owe 10 their children as well
as to themselves the duty of tightening
the saddle girth.
Not only DO many families suffer from
aXity in parental government. and godIy
parental training, but | fear that some
congregations suffer from laxty in the
teachings Of their ministers. No church
is very likely to rise higher than its own
pulpit. II the shepherd Of the flock holds
loose doctrines, if he is so liberal" that
he gives away, or throws away. vital
truths; if he lets down too many bars
that the Bible wisely puts up, then il il
no wonder that the flock wandcrs off into
the ways of worldlincss There is no
danger in these days of excessive strict
ness, or Of ''puritanicar principles or
practices. The danger is just from the
opposite direction. Would it not be a
wise thing if some pastors, who see that
their churches are being oyertaken and
demoraized by worldly temptations,
should call a halt, and tighten their
bucklesf
The incident at the head Of this brief
article has a very close application to the
maintenance Of vigorous, happy and
useful Christian life. The very word ere
ligon" is derived from Latin word that
signifies ito bind fast" True religion
means the being bound fast to the Lord
Jesus Christ in constant dependence on
him and obedience to him. II Is the
very opposite Of loose thinking and loose
living. How to keep up healthy spir-
itual life is the daily problem with every
Christian. The parable Of the buckle
gives hint. True piety is never self
sustaining. We only can do all things
through Christ that strengthened US"
Without him nothing; with him every
thing Therefore it is that our Bible
exhorts us with prodigious emphasis to
pray without ceasing" When we re-
lax in this vitality important duty, the
enemies will soon ovcrtake us. and over
match us, and leave us in the dust. Broth
rem and sisters, tighten the prayer
buckle.