Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-04-17

escape WAS like that OF the man who
some years ago was addressing a
great religious meeting In the city OF
Boston "it was u dark night" said
tue speaker. when three young men
were passing down the street of an
eastern city. Their steps Quickened as
they came near TO a house OF evil re.
sort When the doorbell was rung one
or these young men hesitated. He
turned and said: Boys, am not going
in. an going back Scared. are
your said his two companions. Yes
answered the young man, 4 am scared
Ibe two companions tried to persuade
the faltering one to 90 In. He almost
yielded. He went even to the thresh-
old; then he turned and broke away
aud ran back to his boarding house
aud threw himself on his knees and
thanked God for saving him from fall
ing" Then the speaker. addressing his
audience. said: Friends. two OF these
young men entered the house OF evil
resort that night. Those two young
mems bodies now lie In dishonored
drunkarjS graves The third young
man who almost entered that evil
house ana turned and ran away that
night. gave his heart to God and en-
tered the gospel ministry ana is now
addressing you" Oh, We men and wo-
men. have your moral ana spiritual
escapes baen so narrow as that? Thank
God today that. like the passengers on
tue AieSandrian co.a ship. YOU have
escaped. Again and again you have
morally aud spiritually escaped safe to
lGnI.
The insrstituds Of the Sailors.
But there are two other facts to
which wish 90 call your attention In
reference to these soldiers and sailors
escaping trom the wrecked Alexandrisn
corn ship The first was the beha yior
OF the soldiers aud sailors toward Paul
when the ship vas In its greatest dan
ger Cannot YOU see the faces OF the
men and the women brighten aud smile
as Paul utters his words OF cheer and
encouragement But did the men who
listened to Paul so thankfully in times
or danger bCfriend him when safety
was in sight2 Nay Both the sailors
and tue soldiers were equally migrate
tdL no sooner did the ship come to
anchor than the sailors said TO each
other. Come, men, let's save ourselves
and let all tue others look out for them
selves" Then they started for the
lifeboat to pile Into IL aud shove or,
anJ only through Paars warning to
tue soldiers were they prevented de-
sorting the ship But were the soldiers
any bctters Nay. When their safety
was In sight they drew their swords
and said, Come. let US Kill Paul. for
II We set TO shore he may escape, and
then We will have to answer to Caesar
with our lives for bis escape" But the
centurion wanted to save Paul aud
kept them from their purpose Thus OF
the men whom he had befriended In
The storm, cheering ami encouraging
them In the hours of darkness. one set
proposed 10 Kill Lhu and the others
tried to desert him when refuge was
ia view.
Let us not sit In judgment on them.
Rather let US ask ourselves how we
have acted toward God. who has pre-.
served our lives from danger aud has
Kept uS I'm the paths OF righteousness.
Have We been eager to show gratitude
To hinE Have We been active In his
seryicsF Have We sought FOR the poor
and AFFLICTED 10 help those less happy
than ourselves, that In ministerinx to
them We may please hin 10 whom We
owe so much and who said. 'Inasmuch
as We did 1; unto them We did it unto
us?"