Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-05

which political party he belongs, but
this IL what you should want to know
Whom Is Saul serving? What kind of
men wish him to he elected to the
throne? Is this Saul who is seeking Of
fee today prepared to fight the saloon?
Does this Saul promise to obliterate
the gambling hclls Of the city? Does
he promise to close up the dens of In
fanny? Does he want the Bible in the
public schools? Is he the friend or the
foe Of the dissolute members Of the
community? with whom Is he train.
ing? Do you elect Saul to a position Of
ly because he is brilliant of tongue and
overlook The fact that he Is rotten in
morals? That Is the question Samuel
had 70 answer. And that is the reason
God is hurting the rebukc Of my text
at the prophet Of old, as well as at
some of rs today: "IIow long wilt thou
mourn for Saul? How long? How
longT
His Political Proteee.
But there was still another reason
why Samuel chung to this recrcant
king. Saul was Sanue's political pro
tcge. Samuel was the instrument IN
Gods hands chosen to make him king.
Samuel lifted the amounting horn to
pour the sacred oil upon Sauls head.
and in one sense Samuel looked upon
him as loving parent sometimes looks
upon the crring deeds Of fnvorite
child He tried TO shield him and pro
tcct him and to ward Off his coming
doom. And when Samuel did this he
was like Eli lie only FASTENED the
coming tragedy of this handsome King
Oh, 1t Is an awful thing to sec a IA
Their and mother shutting their eyes to
the sins Of n child. | almost tremblc
when | speak upon this. Yet | am
firmly convinced that many young men
and women have gone to destruction
in the past not because their parents
have been too strict, but too lenient
with the self evident shortcomings Of
their children.
There Is only one way to deal with
the sins of children, and that is to Grad
icate them while they are young. And
the more insignificant those sins seem
to be if let alone the more surely they
will destroy the temporal and spiritual
life of tho child. DO you see that mag
nifcent oak tree growing there on thu
hillside: Yes. it is a beauty. 1t has
lifted itself like mighty giant. No
tornado Is strong enough TO blow that
tree down. It has struck its roots
clear down TO the solid rock.
But" YOU ask, what are those
strange looking vines crawling up the
sides of that tree?' Then you come
nearer and say "Why, they are the
vines Of the wild grapes. See how fine
they are I must take some home to
the children" All" say, SIS that
so? Is that tree covered with the
grapevines? Then when you are eat.
ing the wild grapes YOU are eating the
lfeblood Of the tree" II you will
carefully examine the stems Of the
wild grapevine. you will find then
filled with n lot Of rootlile suckers
These suckers fasten themselves int
the tree and draw the life out Of III
tree. and, give thcn time. like all var
pre ivies. they will grow bigger al
bigger Then the suckers will st"
deeper and deeper into the tree un
after awhile that mighty tree "
drOop and die Those few wild Crap
may be very appetizing to your pnlat
They are very costly when they Kill
tree to produce few lunches Of fru.
Such are the bitter vampire sins
IN ! tr ho
when the child steals the candy aft.
you have forbidden him to have It.
may not seem to be much when c..
tells You fasehood. 1t may r.
seem TO he much when child pr
tends to go 10 school when he Is goi
skating. 1t may not seem to he mu,
when a schoolboy commences TO smo,
cigarettes and drink beer. 1t may II
seem to he much when the boy refus
to go to Sunday school or to churc'
| These are little things in a childs liz
| But though the wild grapes are az.
| thing, remember these little sins
the vampires sucking away the chile
| spiritual life That fruit in made o
of the lifeblood OF the childs spiritu
existence. Beware, parent, how "
like Samuel. allow the sins OF Snn
develop unrebuked.
No One Like saul
But, lastly. I think Samuel gricy
for Saul because he said: IF s.
fails, who can make a success? WI
In ali Israel there is not another H.
him. He is the handsomcst and T.
best What shall we do? What sh"
we do?" Rnt God said: Fear no
Samuel. will raise up another Ia
thy amounting horn and 20 whore .r
thee. David will do for me what Sa'
! has failed to do" So when we fnd
great man 80 hstray we say: "Oh
what shall we do? What shall W
do?" But God will bring US anothc:
Fear not. Fear not. Only follow Go'
md he will bring the right man (.
thee. If God anolnts a man. then /
Is Gods work, and we have only 10 ii
| his will.
And is it not a blessed thought tina
no one IL essential 10 the Lords work
God Is always able 10 send some or
to take the vacant place. Oh, how Of
ten We think we are necessary to tn,
church or society. We say, what vi!
the home 90 without u.s." or "Whn
will the church do without u.s." OF
What will our business do without us 2
| fria ha lima al