Christian Bible Tracts - Sin and Sex

We have here the picture of a spider's web. The spider is a repulsive insect, and few, indeed, admire him. I have read of a man who had a "pet spider," and, when a tune was whistled, the little creature would instantly come out of its hole to listen. Few, however, would like such a "pet." We may dislike the spider, but we cannot fail to admire his work. See the delicate fibres, and the perfect form of this web. What ingenuity and skill it shows! But let us look a little more closely at the spider's work, and see if it has a lesson for us. See, first of all, how ORDERLY and SYSTEMATIC it is. The lines running from the centre to the outer edge seem to be of equal length, and the distance between them seems to be equal also. Then, there are cords that cross the long threads, and these, too, are arranged with perfect order and system. Here is a lesson for us. We are not to work in a HAP-HAZARD way. We are to have ORDER in our plans and pursuits. We are to have "a place for everything, and everything in its place." "To everything there is a season." Eccl. iii. 1. The time to serve God is now. "Seek ye FIRST the kingdom of God." That is the ORDER we are to observe.

See, again, how this work of the spider becomes an agency of TORTURE and DESTRUCTION. The chief mission of the spider seems to be to ENSNARE and CAPTURE other insects. Many a thoughtless fly comes buzzing along, and is hopelessly entangled in the web. It tries in VAIN to escape. It dies a slow, lingering death. How full of meaning are the words you see on the board: "Lying in wait to DESTROY." Many things in this life become a SNARE to us; they DECEIVE us and lead to RUIN. The wineglass may seem tempting, but it carries DEATH in its sparkling contents. "He that is deceived thereby is not wise." Prov. xx. 1. The saloon may be gilded and the hall of revelry may be attractive; but beware of them, for, like the spider's web, they may become agencies of DESTRUCTION. The prophet tells us that the "wicked may weave the spider's web." Isa. lix. 6.

What do you see written above the web? "Keep me from the snare." That is a prayer. Let us adopt it. This is a prayer for those who want to KEEP OUT of the snare. "Keep me FROM the snare." Some people run right into snares, and then wonder WHY they are caught. It is good to GET OUT of the snare, but a thousand time better to KEEP OUT. "Watch and pray that ye ENTER NOT into temptation." Matt.xxvi.41.