Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-04-24

ture that are protected by massive
walls. so high aud thick that the heav-
lest OF battering rams can only make
the slightest fluctuations. but they
try 10 destroy their victims 10y strategy.
BY throwing them or their guard;
wounding Achilles not through the
brcastplatc. but in the heel; conQuering
Alexander the Great nos with the
sword. but with the wine cup; destroy
ing Charles Stewart Parnell not with a
mans gruff voice. but with n woman's
gentle arm; making Thomas Cranmer
sign bis recantauon not by the power
OF argument. but hy the power of fear.
1t only needs n comparatively light
blow between the eyes TO stun the most
powerful animal which was ever driv-
en- into the Chicago slaughter houses.
1t only needs one small sinful tempta-
ton 80 appeal to us in the right way
10 destroy any man unless he is upheld
by divine panoply.
SIN Strikes the weakest Point
Evil temptations always assail their
victims nj their weakest points. Is
there any man foolish enough to think
that his character is so perfectly form
moral armor? \ constructor who
would not try to strengthen his sag
cling girder is criminal Awful was
the catastrophe when a few years ago
great bridge across the river Seine
broke under the feet OF the multitudes
merely because one of the iron links
snapped. Poor is the general who
would not be vigilant about the weak
est part Of his Notifications. 1t was
after the famous mine was eXplod-
ed under the earthworks of Peters
burg that the Federal troops were able
TO drive back Robert Il. Lees forces
into Richmond. And can it be that
with all your brain and force and past
experience you do not realize there is
some helplcSsness, some weakness. in
your nature? Have you never been
tempted in the past and ovcrthrown?
Can you not realize that you may be
tempted again i'm the future and over
thrown in the same way?
BY being aware of and trying to
strengthen our weaknesses we are able
to supplement our strength a well
known and thrilling story is told that
the engineer of the Holland dikes was
one night invited TO n party. That aft
ernoon an awful storm arose. AS the
hour drew near for the festival the
engineer wavered, but at last he said
"No; l will go to the bikes, where my
duty calls. My services may be need
ed there" When he arrived upon the
bikes. he found that under the cease
less bombardment of the seas some of
the stones in one place had become
loosened and little water was begin
ming 10 triclllc through. That little
stream was gradually growing larger
Over the walls the engineer went He
tried 10 stop that hole first with stones.
Then he took OF his coat and damned
il into the looscned rocks. More
clothesr' he shouted. More clothesw
And he made his men take of their
garments. and at last the bikes were
saved. Had that water been allowed
10 tricklc on and had not the weak
part OF the wall been strengthened all
the bikes would have. been swept away.
and thousands of men. women and
children would have been drowned
Solomon well said that when man
with his moral weaknesses SCOTS at sin
he IS fool. heard the reformed
John Cough. after he had been forty
years teetotaler, say: Rather than
eat n piece OF mince pie favored with
brandy | would cut Off my right arm.
| would no more touch IL. knowing my
physical and moral weakness for drink,
than would be willing to touch
lighted match 10 a kcg of gunpowder."
fc
from sin than Il Is to fight sin. God
gave us two feet as well as two fists.
That means there are certain times
when we should flee from temptation;
that we should never allow ourselves
10 be placed In n position where we
may be tempted. Temptation always
fendishly strikes its victim at his weak
est point. Therefore "let him that
thinketh he standeth take heed lest he
fall"
EGcccn OF Evil Induigenccs.
Evil indulgences should not be derid-
cd. They duh the moral sensibilities.
Their sinful effects cannot be seen so
much in the wasting away of the moral
tissues, as Brights disease might
wreck the kidneys or tuberculosis might
eat away the lungs. But evil indul-
gcnces have Il hardening or n dulling
effect, as cirrhosis hardens the liver or
rs paresis affects the cell tissues OF the
brain. 1t is said that when n mans
right side is benumbcd through the eff
feet OF Il paralytic stroke the doctor
can take pin and drive it into his
limb and the patient is oblivious to the
sense OF pain. SO when human being
is suffering under the paralyzing eff
feet of sin lie loses his moral sensibili-
ties. What appeared TO him once as
wrong now appears to be right. and
what was once right II - does not ap-
pear 10 have any special significance in
his life.
The gradual dulling or the paralyzing
OF the moral scnsibilities by the touch
Of sin may lie seen in the life OF n coun-
Try boy who has come 10 live in our
large cities. When that young man
left homo, he was as pure as his sister
or his mother. lie had delicate, spir-
itual touch. He could distinguish
right from wrong as readily as a
| trained artists eye can tell the har-
mony Of colors or musicians ear can
be shocked at the slightest discord.
But after awhile that young man al
lows himself TO be led into question
able enjoyments. When he first saw
enchanting sin. II fiery blush mantled
his check. But after awhile his per-
ceptions are dullcd; evil is no longer re-
pulsive TO Linn; he begins TO believe
that the theater may have q beneficial
influence. He can argue for it with a
clear eye and steady heartbeat. Aft
err awhile he can go and with absolute
ly no qualms or upbraidings of con-
science can sit and listen to the vilest
of talks which are being uttered upon
the stage; sit there with young girl
! by his side who is no more ashamed OF
what she sees and hears than is her
masculine escort. The fact that the
young man is able to argue with you
and that he sees no wrong in watching
| n sinful MAY prONpS bavOnd a douT,f