Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-06-28

rebate and degenerate. have done
everything for that child. And, OH he
Is so much to met But the longer he
lives the more dcpr8vcd lie seems TO
get. Oh, Cod why must ] longer drink
OF these bitter waters. made out OF
the tears which have wclled mp from
a mothers broken hearth Well. my
friend, | believe that oven these bitter
waters can yet become sweet. Would
you like me TO tell you how this shall
be?
That Wsyward son.
In the first place, ] must picture your
own spiritual condition before | talk
about the rescue of your son. You are
like II tourist who Is circumnavigatin
the globe. No sooner did you toll your
friends that you were going to he n
globe trotter" than they said. 1--WE
will come down and see you Off" The
docks were crowded on the day you
sailed. The bind was playing. there
were thousands OF people moving on
and off the ship. After the little tugs
| pushed the huge vessel out into the
deep water with your marine glass
you watched the different boats com
ing into the harbor as you passed ont.
You were sailing along day after day.
and the voyage was becoming more Of
pleasure ms the weeks went by. Now
you have touched at Gibraltar. Now
you nre in the Mcditcrra mean sca. You
make lots of friends on board The
hours speed quickly past. You have
/ practically no interest in what is hap
pcning in the boats off in the distance,
which you sight ever and anon. But
ono day a storm comes up. ana the ma
chinery OF your boat is broken. Help
less, You are being driven by the cruel
winds toward the rocks. What do YOU
now do? DO you run to your friends
for help? Why, they are In the same
danger rs yourself Ah no: now yOu
anxiously scan the horizon TO look for
n ship. And when n steamer hcaves in
sight the danger gun signals for help.
Then with batrd breath You watch the
approach Of that vessel. The great
hawsers arc run between the two ships,
then they become taut as the other
boat pulls you into the harbor Of safe
ty. Then you cry: Thank God. Thank
God for help Thank God for rescue
Now, my friends, that is the picture
of your spiritual life, and you know it,
You have been on II voyage Of life
You have been singing and dancing
and making merry with few friend1
on board your own ship. But sudden
~ YOU awake TO the fact that tho NOR.
nj and spiritual lives Of your dear ones
as we'll as your own are in danger OF
eternal shipwrcck. What are You &c
do? Why, today you ought to take thc
gospel marine glass and sweep the
horizon and send forth the danger sig
uals. Who ought You to call to your
help? Shall men como who are JUS
like YOU Nay. What you need is di
vine help for the rescue of yourself
and of that child. 1t IS not too late
Believe mo. it is not too late. And the
way you can bring that divine help t.
the spiritual rescue of your loved one
Is by first signaling that divine he'll
to come to your own rescue. oh, my
friends, If the WaYwardncss of n huS
band or child or friend be the means o.
your own spiritual conservation as wei
as that of others, do you not believe
that these Marah waters shall yet be
come as sweet waters of spiritual life
Now comes the practical question: l.
there any one here who is unwilling t
signal for this divine help and To con
secrate his own life 10 the Master
service when that person fully realize
that where he goes and what he doe
may decide the eternal destiny of some
one whose salvation ought TO be deare
to him than his own life?
Man, woman. child dost thou no
know that anothcrs spiritual life +
depending upon the stand you take 70
Christ? Will you not here and nov
say BY Gods help and mercy l viii
let the Holy Spirit enter into my owl
heart, and then | shall lead my hrs
band. my wife. ICY father my brother
my sister, my child, my friend to thr
mercy seat" VIII you do it: vii
YOU let Christ lift his atoning eros
, and push it into the great depths o
your own sins and make the bite
waters of your evil past sweet as tn,
River of Life:
Copyright 1896, by Louis Klopsch.l
ANTIOIlE SENRES