Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-12-14
SATURDAY might
SERM0NSSgasA,o
BY....:<Nl,l41lMA@
= Ei:..iE.
REySAMUELW. pURvISD.D
A CROOKED STICK.

XVIII. II.
Said Isaac to Esau. THY brother
came with subtilty and hath taken thy
blessing" From that hour Esau sleeps
with one eye open. watching his chance
for revenge Under the scourge OF fear
Iacob fees We read. And Jacob went
out" These were the words written or
Cain. And Cain went out from the
presence OF the Lord" What lash Is
sin. Its scorpion sting drove Adam
from Eden. Ncbuchadnezzar to the
beasts. the prodlgnl TO the swine pen.
Judas TO suicide. Success won by du-
plicity is short lived. A reputation for
goodness that comes through Juggling
piotk phrases In the prayer meeting
won't last long God demands we shall
be the real thing or not nj all. Tonight
Jacob Is filled with triumph; tomorrow
he runs for his life. Sometimes the
church tries 10 force results by meth
DDS that put sideshows and street
takers to blush. Cardboard converts
that have been buffaloed by bass drum
and megaphone evangelists nre hard TO
find three months later. Our church
finances are not given by self denial or
tithing. We must have sensational,
side splitting. stomach filling methods.
Money or results got by unrighteous
methods never enrich individual or
church.
Tho Lonely Wayfarer.
In the gray and gloom OF the morn
ing Jacob goes forth from his fathers
tent on n long and perilous journey of
400 miles toward Haran-no guide, no
companion. Yes. he would have COM
panion. the worst defenseless trav
eler can have-a guilty conscience.
Hard roads. scanty fare. bad weather.
exposure to sickness robbers and wild
beasts are quite enough to remind
weary vngabond that there's no place
like home But there's worse thing
than all these--a secret whisper ut each
step. ut need not have been" II wasn't
q pleasure trip In his Imagination the
wrath OF Esau glowered from every
shadow Had there been county
newspaper the local correspondent
would have written among Its "Beershe-
ba Items" some such complimentary
reference rs this: "Our enterprising
and versatile young shepherd. Mr..
Jacob lsaacson OF Beersheba. has gone
on short trip for his health to his
uncle. Sheik T.nban. In Padan- Aram.
Jacob has been applying himself too
closely 10 business OF late and deserves
an outing A host Of friends wish him
we'll" Many tlattering little item In
the society column has tragedy be
hind II. Folks seldom thank the editor
for saving their faces" Surely his I'M
selfish fabrications are overlooked by
a prodigal loving God. Jacobs neigh
Dor. would have laughed cynical
laugh when they read the itsem and
chuckled. Reckon Esau could tell n
different tale"
A Runaway Boys First Night.
When the evening shadows fall
inconsistencies crccps over Jacob. He
longs for the tender resting place OF
childhood Even the God of his IA
Tiers seems to have forsaken him In
his folly and sin The darkness In his
soul Is deeper than the shadows OF
night. He has only the sky for shell
ter. hooting owls for company. sand
for mattress and the stones of Bethel
for q pillow II Is easy to sin: II Is not
easy to lie on ssi's pillows. The way
OF the transgrcssor Is hard" Stones
are hard pillows. However. hardships
are not misfortune always II they
tougher our better selves. Those who
are looking for soft snaps" really lead
hard lives Learn 10 have few needs
and fewer desires Hard luck is not
the worst thing that can befall man
who is doing wrong. The rougher the
way is the more likely he will be to get
out OF II. Sometimes when n man
thinks his misfortunes are driving him
straight to the devil they are driving
him straight TO God Jacob thinks OF
home and loved ones He turns and
means uneasily Soon the boot Of the
owl In the tree. the cry OF the Jackal
on the desert. the howl OF the lone
wolf on the moor. lull him to sleep.
Ills spirit Il now IN the hands OF God.
Mans helplessness Is Gods opportu-
nifty.
The Sky Ladder.
The pilgrims had their Plymouth
rock. Jacob his Bethel. The lowliest
places are sometimes the highest. As
Jacob slept he dreamed The outlines
e the distant mountains became dim.
The rocks were colorless. Then comes
a change. The rocks become jasper.
the mountains II staircase OF gold. A
ladder is set up on earth. and the top
reaches TO heaven. Angels OF God are
ascending and descending Il, A ladder
must reach earth or no mortal can
ascend Il: II must reach heaven or no
angel can descend Il. We must set the
ladder OF our life plans on the ground
well based on our workaday world.
Then We climb step by step. No one
leaps 10 the top. Railroads suggest
specd. ladder slow progress. No one