The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-10-23
A Oamp.Me Mesting Sermon.

A writer in Harpcrs Monthly for Decem
Dor, attended camp.mecting in Tennessee
and among other good things said ho report
sermon of Elder VIM. Hill. Our reader
will be amply paid BY its perusal, and vii
be oil the better by remembering its lesson
clad in rude garments though IL be-:
"Tho singing concluded, Father Hill an
nounced his text: 'Ho that ondureth h
the end shall receive crown of life.'
Endureth what, brethren3 ] take II to b
the cross-tho cross which every gcniwin,
suro-euough Christian must bear like hi
blessed Master afore him. We hint all 60
the same cross-oh no! Thar's no two jcl
like no moro than our eyes or noses. Th'
same pattern wouldn't ct us all but thar,
nary rale child of God but has his eros
made purpose for him and no other. Ant
lot him love it as Gods kiss; not endure |,
a.whinin', an grudgin', an a-draggin' Il
long in tho dust. Let him bear IL proudly
as soldier carries his gun (; and tenderly
as the lover holds tho rosebud given by hi,
sweetheart.
It's Christ's draft for crown. You know
howmen carry drafts to the bank for gold
and silver. Bime-by, in the fields OF glory
you'll see stacks and stacks Of golden crown,
all glitterin' with jewels, and shinin' with
stars-and they're oil crowns Of life. Once
on your head, II will ache no moro. You,
hair will never turn gray. Sickness, pain
and death will bo done forgot for ever and
ever more-for they're all crowns of life.-
But though there's heaps an heaps you
must show draft or nary ono will you
get.
Tho Lord will say. 'Whar's your cross,
strangcrT And when you show him the
battered old thing ho'll answer, 'All right
angel, give this brother or this sistor crown.
And, brethren, tho heavier, tho crookedor,
tho uglior the cross, jcs so much brightcr'll
bo the crown. P'r'aps twas thorny cross,
tcarin' your flesh, and spotted with your
blood. Well, every blood.drop I'll turn to a
costly jewel in your splendid crown, and will
shine like tho sun while you dance in silver
slippers above.
So you SEQ you must endure it to the end
fur thar's no possumin' thar. Twon't dc
that you toted 1t good spell, till so mighty
tired that you jos got shct Of 1t forncnst that
big hill or deep river. You'd heap better
never teched IL If you don't endure clear to
the end.
We can't allus know for sure sartain.
brethren, who's barrin' tho cross in this yer
world and who's not, for it's world Of
make. believes and shams. When mind oil
tho humbugs I've seen on this yer globe, it
pears like 1t might possum the groat iro at
last, and stead o'burnin' sound and solid
like, jcs roll up inter big ball Of gas and
hustle of into space.
No, bretheren, the cross. bearers ain't Ia
bclcd here below, and wo'ro sometimes
nightly taken in. Ono goes loging and
limpin' along like his back was most broke
with cross Of lead, and we say, 'Thar's o
saint. Jes look at Brother B. endurin' his
cross. He's amos ripe for glory' Like
enough he hasn't the shadow Of cross, and
is just packin' around his luggage of sell
and sin. And here comes sister singin'
and skippin' like ready to fly, and We say,
'Giddy Sister A., poor thing! I'm afcard
shes nary harp and crown abovo!' And
perhaps tho insecin' Lord knows jes how
she's endurin' q sharp cutting right on her
heart, and in her arms, and that she does II
so gladly out of love to Him who died fol
her crown Of life.
No, bretheren, we can't say who's cross.
bearers here, without any doubt; uud ex
pcct, II am ever 50 happy rs TO reach
heaven, to bo completely through othcred
with the folks shall meet and miss. Thom
mover thought o. seein' tbar'll take me BY
the hand and soy, How dye, Brother Hill !?
and them that l reckoned had good title,
years ago, to mansion incorruptible. and
whom hope to find settled down to house.
keepin' nice and comfortable won't DO thar,
nor nowbar tharsbout. Yes, expect to be
surprised--but moro at finding William Hill
safo landed on the shores Of glory than at
any body clso. I'm such vile sinner that
il will through-othcr me out and out.
A crown OF lifo in heaven! Friends, II
you only knowcd the place you wouldn't
groan about your cross. It is so Oxccedin'
glorious that ono glimpse Of !. struck Paul
dumb, and he wrote afterward that the Ian.
guagc hadn't yet been made that could de-
scribe It. I tried last night, In my poor
way. to give somo ideo Of that celestial
country and what said then Is oil true,
every word--ior, brcthoren, it's ralo Ten.
ncsscc Of Q place.
II 70 mind ycr own cross yell have plenty
to do without studyin' about your neigh.
boris croes, that's noways like yours. But
thar's many one who, in the words OF
Scripture, strains at anothcr's gnat when he
could vomit camel himself; and I'm nigh
ty afcard some O. you'll miss goin' into
heaven ysrsclvs from bein' 90 busy watching
who does got In, that the door will be shet
plum-to aiorc you mind. Now hold on to
,o,. ;rI;,;J,,.l -.o-. .vo,v laak one of We