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   ANY a man may see his
portrait here! The spendthrift hacks away his estate and falls into
destitution and disgrace. The drunkard cuts at his health and strength,
his family comfort and household peace, and when he has finished his mad
work, he drops into ruin, through his own folly. The man of low,
debauched habits, is chopping, with fearful effect, at his own body and
soul, and will, ere long, rue the lusts which hurl him into disease,
agony, and death. There are other fools beside the man in the woodcut,
who are lopping off the branch which holds them up. It is base
ingratitude when men are malicious and cruel to those who are their best
friends. Wives and parents often have to feel sharp cuts from those whom
they lovingly support and are anxious to preserve from ruin. Shame that
it should be so!Self-righteous reader, you are ready
to join with us in any censure which we may pass upon the madness of the
sins we have just hinted at; but permit us to ask you, whether you
yourself are not photographed in our picture? You are resting upon the
bough of good works, and yet, every day, your faults, imperfections, and
sins are rendering it less and less able to bear your weight. It never
was a firm support, and if you know yourself, and are candid enough to
confess your shortcomings, you will at once perceive that it has become,
in the judgment of conscience, a very frail dependence, quite unworthy
of your confidence. Had you never sinned, and, consequently, never made
one gash in the bough, we might tolerate your trusting to it; but since
you have cut at it again and again, and it is ready even now to snap
beneath you, we pray you, leave it for a surer resting-place. All
reliance on self in any form or shape is gross folly. Feelings, works,
prayers, almsgivings, religious observances, are all too feeble to
support a sinful soul. "Other foundation can no man lay than that is
laid—Jesus Christ the righteous." "Whosoever believeth in him is not
condemned." " He is able also to save them to the uttermost who come
unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."
Trust Jesus and he will never fail you.
5.—Sword and Trowel Tracts—6d. per 100. Passmore & Alabaster, 23, Paternoster Row.
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