Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1870-09-08
lFrom the N. Y. Obseryer.l
The Old Church.

- Oe~% A<eA - EAAs
The days had woven themselve
into months, and the months, h6
grown silently in years, since ! ha,
entered the dear old church. Ant
now my tired feet we're turning
thitherward once more. All me
that it should be so, bnt | feaI
those feet have wandered far from
the narrow way they bad entered
in the long ago, beneath these sa
cred walls. Along the dusty high
way Of life, over its high mountains
of danger and temptation, from
whose summit ! had caught visions
Of far of, fair Beulah down into
its deep valleys Of sordid care and
strife, into whose gloom no glim-
mer, even, Of the heavenly bright
ness bad ever entered, to the sound
af fuota dirges, and of wedding
marctas, these weary feet hevetoil-
ed, until at last they have come
again to these sacred portols. Itis
not 4 beautiful church indeed, /
believe people generally call it a
very ugly one. But to me, the deep,
low galleries, the tall, massive pill
lars, with the vast open dome
brooding over all, are beautiful, for
they are draped about with the
prayers Of the sainted dead, and the
sweet pence Of the "frst love-" lin
ger like incense in the shadows
Even as enter the narrow doors,
the deep JOY of the olden time, the
trustful early love that was content
to lay all things at the Fathers feet
and leaning on his bosom, wait
calmly for the future, came stealing
to my heart again. Over there 1t
was, Istood on that golden Sab
bath morning, when Gods ambas-
sador spoke to me in the presence
Of his people, saying: "Do you be-
lieye in the Lord Jesns Christ, that
He loves you, and gave Himselffor
you?" And the peace that pass
eth knowledge came to my soul as
/ answered, forgetting the people
and looking only into the face of
the Lord al do" Then came the
touch Of the baptismul waters, and
The words, Il baptize thee in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, |
md Of the Holy Ghost. Amen"
And l stood in the presence Of that
,rowd OF seen and unseen witnesses
With His VOWS upon Inc. He only
lnows how sadly those baptismal
'obes have been stained, how often
hose vows have been broken.
In that corner pew | sat when
ivst / took the emblems of my !
aedeemer's dying love, while thro'
ny heart, above the tumultuOus
waves Of love and alteration, went
iingirg only these words, BRO
zen for me Broken for me !'
Oh it is 10 the weary wanderer
Ike coming home again; home to
weet, sacred memories; home to
owing hearts and warm welcome
1ords. They are nearly all here
hat used to meet on those olden
truly there are some va
ant places, but they are not many;
he children are a little older grown,
nd perhaps there are a few more
rrinkles and silver hairs, marking
he fathers and mothers, but they
re nearly all the same, and the
,ving words and warm hand-pres-
ures are the same they gave to the
outhful pilgrim. God bless them.
is peace and rest, after all the
onfict, just to sit quietly here, in
ne old place, and with closed eyes
rink in the sweet peace and Joy Of
ast and present pardon. TO listen
18th a full heart to the well known,
voice that speaks from
he square old pulpit, just, the text
~ wayward heart needed: "De-
ght thyself in the Lord, and He
hall give the desires of thine heart.
ommit thy way un'o the Lord -
'ust also IN Him, and He shall
ring it to pass Yes, that was
rod. sent message, to trust Him.
had, indeed, committed by my
,ays INTO the Lord, but | had not
'usted him and ever since have
cen trying to shape them out my
elf. To-day, please God, I'll learn
lie double lesson: Commit thy
ay unto the Lord, trust also in
inv And perchance, in all the ,
er-iourney, whether l stand upon !
lie momt-top or 90 down into the
alley, alike to both will come vis-
ms of fair Beulah, and back to
,art and life shall come the ebrly i
we and holy influences OF this old {
lurch, to grow and broaden, till |
, Gods grace I stand within the t
)lden portals of the heavenly tenn t
e. j. c. c.
An Enmliehnnan In nnn of OLE