The Farmville herald. [volume] (Farmville, Va.) 1890-1934, 1905-10-20

uan wuIKs ciuser 10 Cnrlst because ne
goes hand IN hand with blasphemous-
evil companion. Run no useless or
dangerous risks In reference 70 your
relationship with Jesus Christ Avoid
that (which Is high"
How far renching Is our influence In
leading others 10 seek their temporal
and spiritual DEATH l remember how.
as lad my companions led me into
dangerous places, not that l wanted
20 60 hut l went because they went
/ was born with fear OF that which
is high Inherited this from my
mother. To look up M tall building
makes me almost as dizzy as TO look
down Yet when a boy. again and
again | have followed my companions
oys 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. I got down on my hands and
knees and prayed to God to give me
strength 10 get over Yet over those
bridges | went. across those dangerous
trcstles. because was afraid my com
panlons would call me n 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 q great
deal OF that beautiful illustration Or.
Wise once gave 10 depict the evil Of
seeking sin, instead of fleeing sin.
Many years ago the flames Of an
awful confagratlon were wrapping
themselves about a home. Higher and
higher theF went They seemed to
mock and laugh at the feeble efforts OF
men 20 subdue them. Near by this
home was an aviary containing nearly
n thousand beautiful canary birds. As
the flames crept nearer and nearer the
owner. unable to remove them, opened
the avlary door and let them 90 free.
With stroke Of wing the birds few out
and up They were free. free as the
stars, free ms the air. But whatwas the
surprise Of the spectators as well as
the horror of the owner, instead OF
seeing the birds fly away to the woods
they flew back TO the flames. Round
and round the leaping flames they
went. They lowered about that con-
flagratiOn, or huttered over that fur
mace. until at 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
10 heaven" but after we have be-
gun 10 sing "a little and 10 test our
spiCitual strength we answer Nay.
nay: DO not make me hy away. Let
me warm my golden plumage by yon-
der hot flame OF sin" And back we
come TO the fires Of lnfamy. We seek
needless temptations, and thus we arc
destroyed forever
Oh. my friends, fee temptation as
you would fee eternal death. Christ
will save you If you cling to him.
Christ will never save you II you de
libcrately. Intentionally and stubborn
ly associate with evil companions OF
seek needless spiritual dangers. By
the shortcomings Of your past life
zcalously guard against the tempta-
lions Of the future, not only for your
self. but for those dear ones whs are
by your side