The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-03-27
STRUGGLE OF LIFE.
Words of Inspiration in the Sermon
of DR.. Talmage.
He shows Us That We Have Many
Celestial Sympathizers in Our
Fight with the Lions
of Today.
copyright 1902, by Louis Klopsch. N. VI
Washington,

copyright, 1902, by Louis klopsch' N. VI
Washington,
This discourse of DR.. Talmage is
full of inspiring thoughts for those
who find life struggle and shows
that we have many celestial sympa-
thizers; texts, Hebrews 12:1: Seeing
we also are compassed about with |
so great cloud of witnesses" Cor
inthians 1922: Il have fought with
beasts at Ephesus.'
Crossing the Alps by the Mont Cen
is pass or through the Mont Gems
tunnel, you ate in few hours set
down at Verona, Italy, and in few
minutes begin examining one OF the
grandest ruins of the world, the
Amphithearel. The whole building
sweeps around you in circle. You
stand in the arena where the combat
was once fought or the race run, ana
on all sides the seats rise, tier above
tier, until you count 40 elevations,
or galleries, rs | shall see fit to call
them, in which sat the senator's, the
kings and the $4,000 excited sPecta-
tors. At the sides of the arena ana
under the galleries are the cages
in which the lions and tigers are kept
| without foGd until, frenzied with
hunger and thirst, they are let out
upon some poor victim, who, with his
sword and alone, is condemned TO
meet them. I think that Paul him.
self once stood in such place and
that it was not only figuratively, but
literally. that he had fought with
beasts at Ephesus."
The gala day has come. From all
the world the people are pouring
into Verona. Men, women and chill
dren, orators and senators, great
men and small, thousands upon thou
sands come, until the first gallery is
full, and the second, the third, the
fourth, the tifth-all the way up to
the twentieth, all the way up to the
thirtieth, all the way up to the fortl-
eth. Every place is filled. Immensity
of audience sweeping the great cir
Gle. Silence. The time for the con-
test 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
breathlessly watching. l hear the
door at the side of the arena creak
open. Out plunges the half-starved
lion, his tongue athirst for blood, and
with a roar that brings all the gal
leries to their feet he rushes against
the sword of the eombatant. Do you
know how strong IL stroke man will
strike when his life depends upon the
first thrust of his blade? The wilt
, beast, lame and bleeding, sinks bach
toward the side of the arena; ther
r rallying his wasted strength he
comes up with fercer eye and more
terrible roar than ever, only to b'
, driven back with a fatal wound
while the combatant comes in will
stroke after stroke until the mon
ster is dead at his feet, and the 25,
600 clap their hands and utter ;
, shout that makes the city tremble.
Sometimes the audience came t.
:, see a race; sometimes to see gladi
a ators fight each other, until the pee
pie, compassionate for the fallen
Z turned their thumbs up as an appea
h that the vanquished be spared, an
= sometimes the combat was with will
= beasts.
V To one of the Roman amphitheat
= rical audiences of 100000 people PAT
}. refers when he says: 1--WE are con
passed about with so great cloud c
witnesses" The direct reference
the last passage is made to race
but elsewhere having discussed tha
take now Paul's favorite idea of tn
=. Christian life as a combat.
~ The fact is that every Christia
man has a lion to fight. Yours is
=, bad temper. The gates of the arer
o. have been opened, and this tiger hs
% come out to destroy your SOUL 1t h;
!. lacerated you with many woun
. You have been thrown by it time ar
~ again, but in the strength of &C
IT you have arisen to drive it back.
n verify believe you will conquer.
, a think that the temptation is gettir
10 weaker and weaker. You have give
"a it so many wounds that the prospe
n is that it will die, and you shall
10 victor, through Christ. Courag
ID brother! Do not let the sands
a. the arena drink the blood of yo
H. soul!
ct Your lion is the passion for strol
as drink. You may have contend
he against it for 20 years; but it
#. strong of body and thirsty of tongr
You have tried to fight it back wi
broken bottle or empty wine flas
Nav, that is not the weapon. Wi
ny one horrible roar he will seize th
nj by the throat and rend thee lii
from limb. Take this weapon, sha
a1 and keen-reach up and get it FRI
SO Gods armory-the sword of
Spirit. With that thou mayest DIR
"! him back and conquer!
'u But why specify when every N
'as and woman has lion to fight?
there be one here who has no bes