The Union. [volume] (Georgetown, Del.) 1863-1866, 1864-04-15


makes any man q luminary insociety. Ana
when man has once been kindled at the
cross of Christ, he is boundito shine.
And, in order to this, he need not be con-
spicious in society for talents wealth, or IN
tellectual culture. The modest candle py
which housewife threads her needle shines
as truly as does the great lantern that burns
in the tower of city hall.
| An humble saint who begins his day with
household devotions, and serves his God all
day in his shop, or at his work-benchs is as
truly light-holder as if he famed from
spureeon's pulpit or illuminated a thsolog-
ical class from a professors chair. 10 "ahlne'
means somethig more than the mere profess
sion of piety. or the enjoyment of pietyi 1t
is the reflection Of gospel-religon that MAKES
the burner.
Martin Luther was an Eddystsne-tower to
bewildered Europe. On the other hand, the
the humblest tract-visitor or m isslon-schoo
teacher is a lantern-bearer to guide some iost
wanderers towards heaven. Harlan Fage
the pious carpenter, never talked with per-
son for ten minutes without saying something
10 benefit his soul He was steady burner !;
so was Deacon Stafford, of Boston. Thomas
Dakin, a poor pensioner of Greenwich Hos
, nital. distributed over one hundred thousan d
f tracts every year, and when at last death
smote him down suddenly, his pockets were
found filed with racts entitled care you
, prepared to die?" DR.. Nettleton carried his
, gospellamp from town to town-held 1t iortn
9 every evening to gathered companies OF anx.
;oua souls-and during his lifetime guided
many thousands to knowledge of the Sa'
i. yiour Obi what heaven Nettleton will
i, havei
IF every Christian who trims his lamp ane
: keeps the oil of grace up to its full supply
such blessed henefactor to others, what
9 terrible thing for Cristian to let his igh
; 90 out A traveller who once visited a iign
!. house in the British Channel said to the keep
n er. ."neyer-impossible. Sir, yonder are ship
,e sailing to all parts of the world II to-nig d
"a nv burner were out, in few days mign
.g hear from France or Spain, or from Scotlan
or America, that on such night the hgf
house in the Channel gave no warning an
III some vessel had been wrecked. Ahl Slr,
he sometimes feel, when look at my iigh's'
,r- ;f the eves of the whole world were liked
I'M me. Go out Burn dim! never! Sir, never
ter How closely this incident comes home
,se us all. Perhaps in eternity may hear tf
ter some precious soul was wrecked because
srs nulpit was not a faithful light-holder to 4
bic congregation. Some Gospel burners We
I'D neglected and grew dim. One man. peFna
so stumbled into drunkard's grave because
,le- did not warn him soon enough against t
peril of the FIRST glass. Another broke oo'
~ Sabbath for want of keeping the fourth col
.s. n,andment trimmed and burning. Betc
another was not held up the exceeding s.
fulness of sin; and Jesus, the light OF
+, world NAV not have been set forth Alright
~ wandering sinners eco out-burn DIM
ii@o God helm me 30 sav "Never-YEvERW
a. know of certain households in which
id, fear the lamp is out. The boy would
he seen SO often on his way to the theater,
inst the drinking saloon, if father and mott
ovs held up the torch Of loving warning! !
inns giddy daughter, who was once thougnt
- about her soul. might now be Christian
em- there had been light-holdsr near at ha
fter to guide her to Jesus. There was lamp
for profession in the house. 1t did not shine
+bo The oil was cut. Love of the world had
oo+s tinguished it. The dark lantern lett
me- house in midnight.
he Thank God! some lights never 90 ou'
be- Death cannot quench them. They shine
it's ever. Luhcr's great lantern, "the Just 81
and lire by taith," still CLEANS from Wartb
Castle. John Bunyan's lamp wrinkles
Lold- trough Bedford Jail. Old John Brown
does still lighting ten thousand fugitive foots'
veth to liberty. Pastors, parents, teachers
terry be called home to heaven; but, like the
have mother of the story, they "set light in
rrote window" to guide souls 70 the Eaansior
then glory:
nonr "Then grid your lions, my brethren deal
That distant home disee1ningi
some Our absent Lord has left us word,
hold Let every lamp be burning.
All [NeU York Independent.