The Lutheran Pioneer St. Louis — 1881, Page 21

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

⤓ Download .txt · copy text

The Lutheran Pioneer,

A MISSIONARY

MONTHLY.

PusiisHeD BY THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN SyNODICAL CONFERENCE OF NortH AMERICA.

R. A. BISCHOFF, Editor.

Entered at the Post Office at St. Louis, Mo., as second-class matter.

Vol. Til. St

Louis, Mo., June, 1881.

No. 6.

The Murderer.

In the land of Brazil, says a well-known
traveler, there is a plant familiarly called ‘the
murderer.’’ When it first comes forth it isa
tender shoot, which the foot of a child can de-
stroy. But if left to itself it will creep along
the earth until it reaches a tree, and up the
trunk it will climb, and up still higher among
the limbs and branches, mounting to the top of
the tallest giant of the forest, and there wave
as in triumph over the desolation it has
wrought; for it has choked the very life out of
the great body of its victim. Many a stately
palm that lifted its head for years in the face
of the storm, standing in its glory and beauty,
and that might have yielded its oil and its
leaves for the benefit of man, has been folded
in the fatal embrace of ‘‘the murderer,’’ and
has been left as a monument of death.

But, my dear reader, there is a far sadder
sight than this. I know of a murderer that
sneaks about among Christians and murders
the souls of many belonging to the church.
Ah, many of those that, on their Confirmation
day, confessed the name of Jesus as their Lord
and Saviour, and who gave noble promise of
great usefulness, have been clasped in the
pdisonous arms of a terrible murderer, and the
name of that murderer—what is it? It is
worldliness—WORLDLINESS !

In the worldly pleasure-gardens, in the danc-
ing-hall, in the theatre, in the saloon, and at
other places where food is given to the sinful
flesh, that murderer is killing the spiritual life
of many a Christian. ‘‘Demas hath forsaken
me, haying loved this present world,’ says
St. Paul, and every pastor must join in this sad
saying, when thinking of many that once prom-
ised faithfulness to the Saviour. Oh, may all
Christians beware of that murderer, and heed
the tender beseeching by the mercies of God.
‘Be not conformed to this world’”’ (Rom. 12, 2.).

he grace of God that bringeth salvation
hath appeared to all men, teaching us, that,
ae ing ungodliness and worldly lusts, we

ould live soberly, righteously, and godly, in
hope resent world, looking for that blessed
Gap and the glorious appearing of the great
And our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Tit. 2,

11—13.). This world is not our home. The
whole defiling scene resounding now with music
and mirth, shall be swept with fiery judgments.
We are pilgrims, we are strangers, walking in
the way of faith and of holiness to our eternal
home above. We cannot seek the transient
pleasures and joys of this world whilst crowns
of eternal glory are already flashing above our
heads. Whilst we behold Jesus standing ready
with outstretched arms to welcome His pil-
grims to their heavenly home of eternal bliss,
we cannot turn away and throw ourselves into
the arms of that great murderer—worldliness.
“Love not the world, neither the things that

are in the world. If any man love the world,

the love of the Father is not inhim. For all
that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and
the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is
not of the Father, but is of the world. And
the world passeth away, and the lust thereof;
but he that doeth the will of God abideth for-
ever,” 1 John 2, 15—17.

Yes, He Means You.

He does, He does, doubting one. Yes, Jesus
means that even you shall come to Him. Cer-

‘tainly He does—you as much as anybody. Had

He not loved you and died for you, then you
might not come to Him. But having done
this you may come, saying:
“T am so glad that Jesus loves me,
Jesus loves even me.”

But do you still say, “Tf I only knew He
meant me??? He does mean you. He has
Himself said so. Hear His invitation: “Him
that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
These blessed words should drive away all your
doubts and fears, and make you hasten to His
open arms. His very heart is in those words.
He will receive you. He will, He will. He
is the willing and mighty Jesus—willing and
perfectly able to save all who come to Him.
To ‘him that cometh’’ is the promise given,
that he will not be cast out. The very heavens
will fall before that word fails. He says, “I
will in no wise cast out.’ He knows your
doubts, and therefore uses such strong lances
Oh, how it ought to put to flight all your fears

You may safely put your trust in that glorious
promise. It is broad enough for all the world,
and is for all the world; therefore it is for you.

‘Just as thou art, without one trace
Of love, or joy, or inward grace,
Or meetness for the heavenly place,
O guilty sinner, come, oh! come.’

8. S.

————— oe

A True Incident.

““The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his
master’s crib; but Israel doth not know, my
people doth not consider.” Isaiah 1, 3. A
farmer who had recently listened to an exposi-
tion from this text was giving food to his stock,
when one of his oxen, evidently grateful for
his care, fell to licking his bare arm. In-
stantly, with this simple incident, the Holy
Spirit flashed conviction on the farmer’s mind.
He burst into tears and exclaimed, ‘‘Yes, it is
all true. How wonderful is God’s word! This
poor, dumb brute is really more grateful to me
than I am to God, and yet -I am in debt to
Him for every thing. What a sinner I am!”
The lesson had found way to his heart and led
him to Christ.— Messenger.

————- oa 0

The Old Cobbler.

He lived in Vermont and was a happy old
Christian, known by all the folks in town for
the simple and joyous earnestness of his reli-
gion. One day a customer came into his little
shop and said, ‘“‘Well, have you any religion
to-day?’’ ‘‘Just enough to make good shoes,
glory to God!”’ said the shoemaker, as with an
extra pull he drew his thread firmly to its
place. His religion was no sham. It was a
religion that makes each one faithful to his
work; that rules behind the counter as well as
in the church; that guides the cobbler as he
patches the old shoe of his customer, as truly
as the visitor of the ‘‘sick and in prison,” and
that never puts the big potatoes only on top!

———2 +1 on ee

Farr in Jesus Christ will give
Sweetest pleasures while we live;
Faith in Jesus must supply

Solid comfort when we dic.