Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-15

clear as crystal. which when you plunge
your finger beneath the surface and
draw II out there is left no hole, but q
clear. running. smooth surfaced stream.
II Is like beautiful vase which when
once shattered will always show the
scars. No man ever strengthened his
gospel faith by reading bad book. No
man walks closer to Christ because he
goes hand In hand with blasphemous.
evil companion. Run no useless or
dangerous risks In reference to your
relationship with Jesus Christ Avoid
that (which is high"
But IL we should be very careful that
we. like Enoch. walk close to God. how
much more careful should we be that
we ourselves by an evil example should
not lead our loved ones into dangerous
spiritual places. Because youAre able
to row out in a boat and leap over
board and swim back to the shore 1t
does not follow that your son will have
enough strength to fight through the
breakers. Because we are able In one
sense to go through certain tempta-
lions unscathed that is no reason why
those who are following after us will
not fall IL we lead them too near the
dangerous precipices.
Going Into Danger.
How far reaching Is our influence In
leading others to seek their temporal
and spiritual death! remember how.
as lad. my companions led me into
dangerous places: not that I wanted
to go. but I went because they went.
/ was born with a fear of that which
is high. I inherited this from my
mother. To look up at tall building
makes me almost as dizzy as to look
down. Yet. when a boy. again and
again l have followed my companions
over dangerous railroad trestles. span
ming great rivers. When looked
down through the ties into the awful
river depths below have been so
dizzy and faint that. as followed the
boys. got down on my hands and
knees and prayed to God to give me
strength to get over. Yet over those
bridges l went. across those dangerous
trestles. because l was afraid my CON-
panions would call me coward. And
thus. by our reckless actions. by our
evil example. we may be leading
others into dangerous spiritual places
where they will totter and fall into
eternal death.
Running into needless temporal and
spiritual danger reminds me great
deal of that beautiful illustration DIR.
Wise once gave to depict the evil Of
Many years ago the flames Of an
awful confiagration were wrapping
themselves about home. Higher and
higher they went They seemed to
mock and laugh at the feeble efforts Of
men to subdue them. Near by this
home was an aviary containing nearly
a thousand beautiful canary birds. As
the flames crept nearer and nearer the
owner, unable to remove them. opened
the aviary door and let them go free.
With stroke Of wing the birds flew out
and up. They were free. free as the
stars. free as the air. But what was the
surprise Of the spectators as well as
the horror Of the owner. instead Of
seeing the birds fly away to the woods
they few back to the flames. Round
and round the leaping flames they
went. They lowered about that con-
nagration. or fiuttered over that fur
mace. until ut last. one by one, their
wings grew helpless and they dropped
into the fire. until every songster was
destroyed.
When I read that account OF the de-
struction of those hundreds Of birds
said to myself: 'How like the sinners
rescue is that story! Christ comes
and opens the cages Of our sinful lives
and says: You are free. Fly away
to God. Fly away to safety. Fly away
to heaven" But after we have be-
gun to sing little and to test our
spiritual strength we answer: NAY.
nay: do not make me fly away. Let
me warm my golden plumage by yon-
der hot flame of sim" And back we
come to the fires of infamy. We seek
needless temptations. and thus we are
destroyed forever.
oh. my friends. fee temptation as
you would fee eternal death Christ
will save you IL you cling to him.
Christ will never save you IL you de-
liberately. Intentionally and stubborn
ly associate with evil companions or
seek needless spiritual dangers. BY
the shortcomings of your past life
zealously guard against the tempta-
lions of the future not only for YOUR
self. but for those dear ones who are
by your side.
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