A very striking account is given by Dr. Livingstone of
the way in which some of the African tribes catch their prey.
A trap
is made, which is called the hopo.
It is formed somewhat in this way: two
fences of great length are placed in the form of the letter V.
The
opening at the extremities of the two hedges is about a mile apart, and at
the place where the two meet, a large deep pit is dug, secured on all sides
and covered with green bushes.
Hunters then scour the country, and drive the
animals into this hopo.
With shouting and cries and brandishing of spears
they drive them on further and further, and before danger is perceived their
escape becomes impossible:
They are forced on in the direction of the pit,
and at length they fall in and are thus taken and killed.
This account has often seemed to me as a sort of parable.
It reminds us of the craft and power of our enemy;
It shows the peril in
which many poor souls are placed, before they know it; it teaches the reason
why so many fall and perish and are lost forever...
They know not the trap
which has been set for them; they are beguiled into a fatal security;
They
know not how danger is closing them in on every side;
They think that at any
time they can easily turn round, while every moment it is becoming more
difficult to do so;
They see not the fatal pit to which their sins
are bringing them, and where soon they will be overwhelmed in utter and
hopeless ruin.
Consider the path of Herod Antipas.
He has taken
pleasure in hearing the Baptist preach, he has done many things that he
taught...
But he will not give up his adulterous passion for Herodias.
Hence
he is within the fatal fence.
He is hurried along an evil course; the
early dawn of religious impressions fades away;
The faithful preacher is no
longer heard, but is cruelly imprisoned.
But he is driven on still further:
Satan has a fresh temptation prepared.
On his birthday he makes a great
supper, and the daughter of Herodias dances before him.
He is intoxicated
with the draught of vanity and pleasure, and she draws from him a foolish
promise:
He will give her all she desires, though it were up to the half of
his kingdom.
She asks for the head of the Baptist;
And then he becomes a
murderer, yes, and a murderer of one of God's faithful servants!
Still
further does he tread the same path...he becomes a mocker of the Lord Jesus,
and then shares with Pilate and the Jews the guilt of His crucifixion.
Nor
have we any reason to think that he ever turned again into the path of
holiness and life.
Dear young reader, as you value your peace of mind, as
you value your happiness in this life, above all, as you value your eternal
salvation...let me most affectionately entreat you to keep away from
dangerous ground!
Do not mingle, more than you can possibly help, in the
society of the careless and ungodly.
Make friends of those who are the
friends of Jesus.
Walk not in the way of the wicked...join not their
company, nor take pleasure in their conversation.
To follow this rule will save you from many a dangerous
pitfall.
Avoid very carefully, scenes and places where you may be tempted to
evil...the theater, the concert-hall, the dancing-room, and the like.
Probably Herod would never have slain the good faithful man who had sought
his salvation so earnestly, unless he had been dazzled and bewildered by the
feasting and the dancing.
Keep away from such scenes altogether if you would
be safe.
You may imagine you can go without any mischief, but you
don't know the treachery or depravity of your own heart.
Not a few, but
thousands of young people have been drawn aside at such places from the
plain path of peace and virtue...it has been step by step.
The safe-guard of
the fear and dread of evil has been broken down...
Dress and vanity
and display have taken the lead, Christ and His words have been
forgotten...
The corrupt passions of the heart have been excited and then at
Satan's convenient season, temptation has come...
And the young sister whose
course might have been so bright and happy and useful, forfeits her
birthright and her blessing, and gains instead a harvest of shame and
sorrow!
Whatever you may think about it, such places are
dangerous ground, and it is safer far to avoid them altogether.
A young man
who was condemned to death for murder was asked how he entered upon a course
of crime:
He gave a very short account of it. He said, "I gave up prayer, I
gave up reading my Bible; I took to bad company."
Be sure these are doors to
the pit of Hell...be wise and walk in an opposite direction.
There is another very dangerous spot I would mention...By-path Meadow.
I mean that it is wise to watch against the
beginnings of anything wrong.
Questionable courses, thoughts and
feelings and habits that may not seem very decidedly contrary to that which
is commanded, but yet are likely to lead you astray...such things are
perilous to souls.
I would name such a habit as loitering near the door or
the gate, and wasting, perhaps five or ten minutes, which ought to have been
otherwise employed.
Or, again, taking something from another that you had no
right to, or with an idea of restoring it when you had opportunity;
Or
asking in a friend to a mistress's house, or going to some other place which
you knew was not allowed.
Things of this kind which you feel are
questionable, and make you uncomfortable and afraid of being straightforward
with those about you.
Or, again, I might name the danger of yielding to a
sullen and discontented spirit, like King Ahab, when Naboth refused him his
vineyard.
Such things as these are like the little thieves which
creep in at the window and open the door for the greater ones that follow.
Avoid also, as most dangerous ground, any place of
worship where anything is taught contrary to the plain doctrines of God's
Word.
Such places may be very attractive, the singing may be very cheerful
and pleasant, but you may there learn to believe that which may ruin your
soul.
Whatever cannot be plainly proved by Holy Scripture, is not to be
believed as necessary to salvation.
There is great peril in looking upon the
bread and wine in the Lord's Supper, as so holy that you must bow your head
to them; or in thinking you must confess your sins to a priest before you
can be forgiven.
These are only human traditions...do not believe
them for a moment.
By all means go to the Lord's Supper, go in true
penitence and faith; you will feed on Christ in your heart, and will find it
a precious means of grace.
But do not regard the bread and wine with
superstitious reverence, as if they were the body and blood of Christ.
Christ's body is in Heaven and not on earth. It is in your heart by faith,
and not with your mouth that you can partake of Him.
Then, as to
confession, it ought to be to your great High Priest, Jesus Christ.
Tell
Him all your sins, and He will at once blot them out through His precious
blood.
He has not told His ministers to hear confessions, but their
office is to declare and pronounce forgiveness of sins to all those who
truly repent and believe.
In all these matters, my young friend, be sure your only
safety is to read and search the Scriptures, and receive nothing beside that
which they teach you.
If thus you do, the Spirit of God will be your
teacher:
He will guide you into all truth, and your feet will stand firm on
the Rock of God's truth which can never be shaken.
Oh, watch young friend, against all these various perils.
You may be within the hopo before you know it; and when the first step has
been taken, it is not easy to retrace it.
God only knows the terrible end to
which it may lead you.
Before I leave the subject, I would address a few words
to any who may have been drawn aside, more or less, into crooked paths, and
would now gladly return into the way of peace.
Whatever be your present condition, and whatever be your
sins, remember there is a Savior, a mighty Savior, who can help and deliver
you.
The trap set for your overthrow may have been well laid.
Satan, like
Nimrod of old, may be a mighty hunter, experienced in catching and
destroying his prey;
Your own efforts to escape the meshes and toils of the
snare may be utterly unavailing: but Jesus can save to the uttermost.
He can
open a way of escape...
He can break down the highest fence that your
spiritual foes have raised to obstruct you;
He can raise up a friend to help
you;
He can give you a praying heart;
He can reveal to you His great
readiness to forgive and cleanse you;
He can overcome your bad habits;
He
can dispose you to think and speak and act aright;
He can work in you both
to will and do of His good pleasure.
Only arise and look to Him for grace.
Be really in
earnest: be willing to take pains and trouble.
Watch and pray, that you
enter not afresh into temptation or yield to old sins.
Trust only in Him,
and He will surely deliver you.
Your cheerful song shall be that of David:
Psa 124:6 Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
Psa 124:7 Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
Psa 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
From the arts that would allure us, From the toils that would ensnare,
You, who slumber not, secure us By your ever watchful care;
And if e'er from You we roam, Fetch, oh fetch, Your wanderers home!
~George Everard~
