Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-03-23

only by the Old Testament, but also by
the New. In the Old Testament we
hear Rahab saying to the Hebrew
spies. "For the Lord your God, he Is
God In heaven above and In earth be-
neath," while I'm the book OF James
we read these words: Likewise also
was not Rahab the hariot justified by
works when she received the messen-
gers and had them sent out another
way" cannot go into detail to show
how she was converted. but 1 can as
sert this conversion as q fact. And
can also go further and say that when
Rahsb was saved spiritually her ia
Tiers household was also saved spirit
ually. Let me take you out for little
while upon the Jericho wallis. Never
was besieging host more ridiculed
than the Hebrew army. When Joshua
and his troops first came I'm sight the
women ron to cover. The men In their
mailed armor took their positions upon
the walls. The great stones were
placed In piles. ready to be dropped
upon the heads OF the besiegers as they,
with scaling ladders, might try to climb
to the top. The swords were sharp
ened, the spears were glistening In the
sun. But great was the surprise Of
the garrison when they saw the besieg-
Ing army form into line and follow q
few priests as they marched around
the city. all keeping step to the blow
Ing OF the rang horns. Round they
went. and Mt night they came back to
camp. This they did one day, two days..
tiaE&E1eysaf four dnys b sthis tifus thes
ipha bitaafs loststheir fear. But as /
yak in and cstsof the city and see
the Merchants behind their counters
and the, women singing In the streets
and the boys shooting atsfAe Hebrew.
armx their Ifeie pebbles Il find one,
house barred aud bolted. There is a red
rope across its window. This Is the
house of Rahab.
Rnhab's Family.
We knock and hear q voice call,
Come in," and in we go. There find
the mother. father. brothers and sisters
of Rahab sitting together. as though
they We're waiting for something awful
to happen. say to the old man, who
is evidently the father Of these grown
up children: Man. what are you doing
here2 why are you shut up in this
house? Why are you not sneering and
scoffing and making merry with the
other inhabitants of the city of Jeri-
cho. deriding the besieging army? Do
you feel that the city is to be destroy
ed by the footing OF a rams horn 2"
With that the old man turns upon me
a look OF solemn significance and says:
Friend, knowest thou not that God
has sounded forth the deathknell OF
this city? My daughter Rahab had q
vision from him. She not only sur
rendered her heart TO God. but she has
led US all TO read his prophecies and
learn to love him also. Jericho shall
fall. His messengers have thus told
Us. We are all here waiting for his
summons. Yes. we are all here, father,
mother and our boys and girls. We
are all here in Rahab's house to meet
the manifestations of Rahab's God"
Is this an absurd picture ! have
drawn? Have you not In your own
afe seen one Christian girl or boy win
whole family to Christ? We have.
And do you not fully realize that II
you once surrender your heart to Jesus
Christ. as Rahab gave hers to God.
you, by the help of the Lord Jesus
Christ. can capture your whole family
for the Saviour? There is a beautiful
story told that many years ago in Per-
sia Christian lady married n Hebrew
husband. Time passed ON and little
girl came 10 bless that home. When
the child was abo..s t,a years of age
she sickened unto death. Just before
she was about TO pass away she turned
TO her Hebrew father and said: papa,
when go TO heaven and meet my Saw
iour he will say. Why does your ia
Their hate mey Then what shall / say,
papa?" With that the father said.
Tell him did hate him once, but that
love him now" All. that may be the
story OF our own life. II you will, you
can win your whole family for Christ
No one has greater influence than you
with that father. that mother that Sis
ter, that brother. Like Rahab. are YOU
converted through and through, so that
your dear ones know that your CONVEX
sion Is ne sham? Whatsoever We shall
ask In my name that shall We receive"
Is 1t too much to test Gods promises
in the salvation OF your own dear
ones?
But learn another fact from Ra-
hab's reward. A man or woman may
make complete social wreck. OF life
and start, all over again. They. may be
moral onteasts and yet reforms AZ did
lerH kuiey- or John d, Cough or
job Ns~tosf ORA Richard Isaxter or
TRAAab and rehablitfats tfsknsesves ana
bseems userui servants OF Jesus Christ
$40 1mfxhty nesSehgers for the better
meqt Of the worlds, salvation. You can
ma this gospel truth not only taught In
the character OF my text, but also from
many other characters OF the Bible.
some time ago i read powerful dis
course by the greatest of English
preachers. Its title was "Shayen and
Shorn. but Not Beyond Hope" It's
hero was Samson. This sermon de
scribed Samson betrayed by Deiiiah:
Samson with his hair q; Samson
shorn OF his strength; Samson with his
eyes out; Samson grinding in the prison
house. But after awhile Ii showed
Samson with his hair growing and
getting back hls great strength. Old
samson never got back his eyesight,
but he was able again to put forth that
old strength, and In his own death he
slew more Of his Lords enemies than
ne ever slew. In his life. Cannot you
see the old grizzled giant. shaggy
bearded and his hair like lions name,
and the old muscles again knottfng
themselves out in their strength7 Now.
my text says -Rahab was = hariot she
was social outeasts But Rahab. tie