Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-08-04
Written for the Perrysburg Journal.l
OUR CHRISTIAN FRIENDS.

We often speak of our friends in our christian
march, but experience has taught us If we would
b. the true disciples of the Most High we will
of necessity find ourselves much Of the time left
alone. Like our Savior. while on earth, He
had but few friends until His mission was nearly
fulfilled. He had no one to sympathixs with Him
in his deep sorrow. ThJrgh the cross we have
to bear is mere dust in the balance, yet our life
must in some way bear some of the oharacteris-
tics of His holy life and example, il We would
be His children. When we feel lonely and for
sakeu, we will remember that alone He ful hled
his mission on earth alone He was about His
Fathers business alone He labored alone He
suffered; and when We contemplate His lonely
aud homless life on earth, ga man of sorrow ac-
quainted with grief" He that was King of
Heaven ,drspised on earth He that was Lord of
the universe had not where to lay His weary
head to rest. not for his own sius and transgres-
siOns, but for guilty fallen man, for he was all
goodness, gentleness and love. When we re
member what great things He has done tn save
our souls from ruin, how can we turn our backs
to Him and shut the door Of our hearts and keep
Him out pleading with us till His msLte is wet
with the dews OF the night. He shows the prin
of tue nails in His bare feet He shows His
hands and pierced side; all this have suffered
for thee, guilty sinner, wilt thou be my disciple?
10 we not Oiien Dll tliID depart hnu trouble us
no more till we have u more convenient season.
Oh, why not like laithless Thomas, fall at his
feet at once exclaimng "my Lord and my God
| will fol Ow thee wheresOever thu " lit lead me
for thou alone hast the words of eternal life."
He that is too wise to err and too good to lie
unkind, has promised If His children pass thrO'
the fires of affl: ction they shall not be burned
though they pass through the aouds they shall
not overflow them though cloud and storm en-
compass thee, be not afraid. Thou knGwest the
shadow could not be were there no sun beyond
the shade. Some that have hearkened unto the
/ Saviur's voice and started IN tue Heavenly way,
| have got weary and travel slow, and sometimes
lose sight of the blessed, Savior, but when we
tiud ourselves in this condition, do not turn back
| but let US do as the beloved disciple did after
| Christ was baptized. He departed to the will
de.ness and the disciple followed him but Jesus
took himselfaway so fast that the disciple could
! not keep in sight Of Him, but tue faithful one
had no mind to turn back, but followed on by
the footprints Of Jesus left in the sand.
| So come thou weary one fresh courage
take though your pathway lays
through an enemies county; though you
travel the desert alone though temptations as
sail you on every side, look for the foot prints
in the sand and go on. There can be no mis-
take. You are in the right path as long as you
can see the footprints OF Jesus in the centre Of
the path. There are many bYpaths along the
narrow road and the traveller eau see great
distance along some of these there is beth
fruit and flowers on either side there are
many in these by-ways, the sound of music
and dancing is often heard on either side
of the narrow path and the pleasure seekers
| often come up 70 the lone traveller TO persuade
him to leave this narrow path. They tell him
il is no better than the other ways only 1t is a
little higher ground They will say too that we
can return To the narrow way at any time so
we might turn aside for season to revel in the
by-ways. Here they will gather on either side
of the path and for the arguments and the
strains of sweet music, the lone pilgrim will be
inclined tn yield unless he does as Bunyon' S
pilgrim did. put his fingers in his ears and rush
forward shouting " life, life, eternal liie." Now,
while plnding along we are left 80 far behind by
some and some are in the rear OF us, that we are
| now left alone with our guide fac ahead Of us,
but after we get quite used 10 the way and be-
gin to think we are making some progress on
our Journey and become cOntente ed to be alone,
behold we see great lions In the way, looking
| iercely toward us, and our guide is so far
ahead that we no longer bohOld his form, when
to our great relief we hear his clarion voice
calling 10 MS that no wild beast shall walk
therein, so we pass on unharmed. But little
further on comes the testing point. Satan sends
ont his emissaries IN every form. one comes up
with message lac claims is from the throne, he
is wearing garments Of white, he claims his
errand is one OF love and mercy and warns you
that you are in tho wrong path. He even pleads
with tears in his eyes, but heed him not, look at
your chart find the footprints in the path lis
ten for tho voice Of your guide and go on
Though Satan has brought up the bravesl oI
his hosts and your way looks hedged up, do not
fear here you may hear the sweet voice o
vOur beloved guide coming back to you on the
wings Of the winds then shall no evil befal
thee and when we get To the place where ouI
path appeared to be hedged up, TO our great JOY
we see the enemies were beside the path and
not in 1t. He that has promised to guide vii
never leave or forsake us.
Though earthly friend might us deceive,
And kindred prove untruej
Though parents might their children leayeJ
And children parents too.
Yet Jesus hath this promise given,
Z" | never will fOrsake -
In life, in death, in earth and heaven,
His love we'll still partake.
What though along thy weary way,
No pleasant flowers may blOOmi
What though there be ne kindly ray,
Nor star to light the gloom.
What though there be no loving heart,
For thee no cheering tone,
Yet rouse thee. act thy n0bler part,
Weak, doubling soul strive on.
Strive on, there is no joy for thee,
Save that thyseIf shalt bring
Strive on mid want and misery,
Sorrow and suffering.
Strive on then, for the tempest hour,
Hath lessons deep aud strong;
Aud il shall give thee wonderuus power
10 WELD against the wrong.
A disturbed preacher remarkedi "If that