Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-01-01
Z ELIGIO u S.
THE LAY PKEAOHER.

THE LAY PREACHER.
And he easti ns away his garments. rose aud came
Jesus.
The human tones that addressed the blind
man centuries ago were hushed on Calvary;
yet so interwoven with our daily life Ia the
memory Of Jesus, 30 familiar to us are th,
words Of His lips that their audible utteranct
could scarce increase their power to comman d
obedience.
Though the music Of that sacred voice is
silent, and that gracious presence no more hal
lows the earth yet the memory of bis life and
the record OF bis teachings have given to mans
brief days sancuty and Importance that nse
otherwise impossible
As we ponder upon his wsrds we can almest
near the mingled tones OF command and en-
treaty of expostulation and pity in which they
are uttered and who cannot picture to himself
the benignant eye, the sweet, sad smile, the
mingled dignity and humility that made hin
leader, guide, friend, the heaven sent teecher
to mans fallen race
When the blind man heard the Saviour's call
ne arose, cast away his garments and came unto
him, and the darkened eyes opened upon the
earth and sky, and he saw his d, liverer and
the faces Of the astonished group who had
Witnessed the miracle. Not alone are they
6lind for whom the sun rises and the ligbtnugs
nash in vain. They may enjoy an inner light
vouchsafed OF heaven, which reveals to them
glories TO which all the panoramas of earth and
sea and sky cannot for an instant be compared.
We are hidden, daily, hourly, to lay at our
saviour's feet the offering Of faith and sub
mission we are bidden to come that our mental
blindness may be dispellsd, q blindness more
to be deprecated than that which wells the faces
OF familiar friends
We are called through many channels. The
stream OF life has an uneven flow, now tran
gull, rejecting the fairest hues of heaven, now
swollen and tnrbid ,siraining our frail bark to
the utmost or leaving 1t stranded amid ruin
and desolation. But wherever 1t may bear us,
the same loving voice comes through the
pauses OF the storm and bids US not forget the
rock upon which alone we can securely rest
away.
Christ calls TO US through the grief with
which we lay little human blossom In the
dust, or give the friend Of many years to the
coid embrace OF the grave; nor ia he yoiceless
when fortune frowns and the gathered treas
ures of years melt like April snow kissed by
the sun. He bids US draw nearer unto him and
hnd an immortal friend, an imperishable treas.
ure.
Sweet indeed are his accents when thew
reach US through life's pleasant paths, whea
fortune smiles and friends surround and bless
US, when earth opens to us her glowing and
beautiful pages then let us bear 10 him CRATE
tul and loving spirits, hearts loyal TO his king
dom, casting from our characters all that rem
ders US unworthy of his gracious commenda
ton.
Each one must hear for himself the voice
which bids him to life of purity. holiness
peace. II Comes to him from the riseu Saviour
WIN persuasive eloquence that VIII win its
way II the heart be not wickedly closed against
II. By thelife, sufferings and death OF Christ
oy the fraility of all earthly possessions, by
the pain of parting when death summons, by
the easy prey which everywhere temptation
= nnds, We are adjured to lay one hand upon the
iaock a OF Ages, to cast our burden upon cur
master, end accept from the Father through
ne Son the only real good that the vast realms
Of creation can afford.
The frnits by which Christian may be
known are pure iife y tender aud generous
heart, patience under trial, fortltude under sut
ler'ns, and an unwsvering faith in the world.
that stretches far beyond our mortal ken. Life
mas new signlhcance to him whose brightest
hopes are beyond 1t, and as shadows gather
around the present, the future glows with ever
increasing brightness till the soul tinds its homs
IN heaven even while it wears the garments of