The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-07-02
ASATURDAY
3E% NIGHT
! / SERMONS
BY
MAhuEI WpuRynll
PROSECUTING THE RIGHTEOUS.

PROSECUTING THE RIGHTEOUS.
Text. Blessed are they who have been
prosecuted for righteousness sake -
Matt y 10.
1t takes frost to bring out the color
in the autumn leaves, No frost, no
rich colors The same rule is mt work
IT, Christian character No adversely.
ho nobility: no storms. no calm Is 1t
Ietter to have the beautiful mountain
foliage with biting frost or dull SEA.
shore foliage without frost: The early
church knew persecution. 1t was a
matter of quivering flesh. asonized
nerves. racked bodies. 1t meant tor.
ture Of loved ones with all the devilish
iu.enuities Of diaboic minds 1t meant
climax Of hate. gnawing poverty. lone
liness. hunted like wild beast. social
uStracism. disgrace. Whatever was
frightfuI and terrible was crowded into
the word persecution. And the perse.
cuted must call themselves happy.
Bi,lden to rejoice. Welcome all as
good fortune. hail it with jubilation:
And they did it. Prisons became pal
aces. wildernesses blossomed. They
sang in cells. opened their arms to the
sword. entered the flames with praises.
give their bodies for raviShinent or
mutilation with eyes rejecting heaven.
NJ Of ,sf
was the seed Of the church. The world
today says Blessed are the popular"
They get votes. honor. money. friends.
But to he unpopular: Your stock goes
down everywhere The test of success
anywhere is popularity. If n minister
has ten persons less than last Sunday
or 10 cents less in the collection plate
it's most time for a change IN pastors:
at least an explanation is due from
him.
The Seed Of the Church.
As the world prosecuted Christ. so it
will prosecute those like him 1t has
always been so. for thus they perse-
cuied the prophets who were before
them. Elijah was outlawed. Zechariah
slain. Jeremiah imprisoned. Daniel east
to the lions. John beheaded. Jesus cru
cited, the apostles martyred. 1t has
been so since necessarily the per-
setution OF fire and thong and dun
geOn and stake. but one more refined.
the persecution of smile and sneer.
ridicule and ostracism. 1t may take
the form Of mental injury and moral
indignity. 1t is any suffering endured
for the sake of Christ. The form VII
rieD Its degrees are unequal. But not
many will escape who unffinrhingly
bear the cross Of their Lord One
would suppose if a man were devoting
his life to good he would be immune
from attack for it. Quite the contrary
He will be attacked not only by enc
mics In front. but by friends in the
rear. The path upward for self and
humanity's sake can be made only
through great struggle. However, the
text says the charge must be false
"For Righteousness Sake"
uth ltctSC sou vi
your meanness and general "cussed
ness: don't cali that righteousness
and cry to God for vengeance. four
boy comes in from school bawiing. A
big boy has bitfed him in the face
The principal actually saw it and did
not expel the boy on the instant. Yo,
grab your hat and coat or shawl and
bonnet. You'll tell that teacher what
you think Of her and her school They
are pack of hood,ms. The idea: A
big bully of Il boy hitting yonr little
lamb. He'll end his days ON the gal
lows, surely! Then you suddenly stop
What were you doing when he bill
your" Il just kicked him on the
shin" Before he hit you!" Yes m
"O-h- You hang up your hat. We'll
listen. the next time boy hits yo,
for kicking him ON the shin and yo'
come home bawiing. yonli hawl worse
for You'll get what Paddy gave thu
drum-a good whacking. Underestimate
I've had members In my church Ina
CtCt VIZ SCCLASu ~ II
there was a reason. Sometimes theil
actions were SO sacrosanct that il
made them positively odious. There
are folks whose goodness is hard TN
compromising. bitter in Judgment oj
others. self righteous. scolding. sour
unsmiling- they made many Il person
feel they would he far happier anon.
out and out sinners, Then when thing.
did not go right they would whine witt
sickenins cant. Real religion is big
broadminded. cheerful. free.
The Fruit of Fine Tree.
Many Il person is prosecuted for his
own uuchristiy way OF trying to d.
good rather than for the reform itself
II we use bad methods or mean Ian
guage or passion or false denunciation
then we are being prosecuted for OH
own meanness and viciousness There
is no comfort in this text of Christi
II we are unpopular through fanlts d
our own, when we are disiiked for ou
irritability. nncharitaL!eness. haughti
ness. Obstinacy or seifishness. We I'M
derestimate the power OF beauty Oh
character. The hest fruit does not come
from gnarled and grabbed trees. !,
New York chemist says perfumes arr
the best disinfectants. Essence o.
thyme will kill typhoid microbes il
thirty-five minutes. a 2 per cent sossl
fiar 1,f rrnpor Su1 pho 70 f.,l-aS mi M n q ~.
per cent carboIic acid twelve days
A furrier has discovered saehet pow
der keeps moths out as welt as the de
testable moth ball. Righteousness i: