When the Son of Man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?
DON’T FLATTER THE DEVIL!
Acts, xvii.
We read that the Apostle “was grieved” to hear this possessed woman speaking favourably of him and his companion. He could not bear for it to be even suspected that his mission was tolerated by the devil. Her masters made money by her wrongdoing, and he would not have their patronage. He and Silas were happier in the cell, sore and hungry as they were, than in listening to the praise given by the evil one!
It is better to have frowns than favour from those who are opposed to truth and righteousness. Let Evangelists and such like,
beware of the favour of the wicked.
Do not seek the smiles of those who live by wrong doing. We shall never cast out the devil while conniving at his crimes. It is not by popularity that we win our greatest victories. Paul had no converts he prized more than those who formed the Church in the town where he had been in jail. Let those of us who love an easy and painless life think of his words—
“If we suffer we shall also reign with Him.”
XLI. A SERMON ON A TEXT NOT FOUND IN THE BIBLE.
Mr. Justice Groves.—“Men go into the Public-house respectable, and come out felons.”
My text, as you see, my dear readers, is not taken from the Bible. It does not, however, contradict the Scriptures, but is in harmony with some, such as “Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink.” Habakkuk ii. 15; “Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink.”—Isaiah v. 11. “Take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness.”—Luke xxi. 34. “Be not among winebibbers.”—Proverbs xxiii. 20.