, 1873-10-13

Sermon by tho 1sev. r. u. Thomas. OF
tho Michigan Avenuo Church,

Sermon by tho Esev. r. II. Tlaomns, OF
tho Michigan Avonuo Church.
Tho following is an abstract Of discourse do
1ivorod by Dr.. J. D. Thomas, Of the Michigan
Avenue Baptist Church yesterday forenoon. Mrs.
Wilde, tho daughter OF tho Rov. Luther Stone,
died during the early part Of last wcok, and the
following, though not q funeral DISCOURSE spa
cialy rofcrB to tho sad occurrence. The text In
John, 9th chapter part Of tho 4th verso: "And
the shoop followed Him, for they know Els
voice." Said DR.. Thomas Since NC last met
together, ono OF our number has boon callod
away, and 1t Ia fitting, bcforo no rcBuno our life
journey, we should halt moment and consider
this subject. It is strange feeling to D friond
whom d loved ono goos out, unattended, alone,
nevor to return. To ono who has not the conso-
lation Of tho Gospel 1t is torrblc, foar-fraught
occurrence; but not 60 to us, who
know tho voice of tho Shepherd. Tho
lifo Of our sistor WIS no aventful ono, as mon
mark events, and during tho last part OF her
existence full Of pain, but to those who know
hor intimately 1t was IN object Of deop interoBt.
There is hidden ltfo to evory ono Which is
known to but few. The outward lifo OF O Chris
tian may be little diftoront from THAT OF any
other, but there arc innor conflicts and triumpls
which the world SEQ not. III this littlo Bible Of
hers, here and thoro arc marked many of tho
stations on her ufes journey. II to-day wo
wished to recall the memory Of loved one, it
would not bo by tho outward physical linea-
menta, but by the soft deep tones Of the
| voice which Ind impressed ue. Thus
tho voice Of Christ is bost known and re-
memberod- remember an anecdote Of a
mother who had for long timo lost o child,
| and when Hhe WAS found tho child had forgotten
ller parentH. In vain wcro tho familiar things Of
her childhood brought to her recollection. Atlast
tho mother, sitting by her, sang tho cradle-song
sud, with sobbing cry Of :" Motherl' tho child
recognized tho relationship by tho familiar,
loug-forgotten voice. When q loved ono leaves
US, 1t is the voioo Of God that calla and wc REQ
ognizing 1t. curb and ressrain o. our reluctant and
strange, and dim forebodingB tlll our hoarts with
foar we come to o Rod Sea forbidding our fur
ther progress; then conloa the VOICE
Of Ai1n' saying, "Ho .o. rot AFRAID. III w., we 70
the Shepherd knows the etrugGSles
sheep. comes to recognize instinctiyoly HiH
voice; Ile calls Ills own sheep BY namo, asking
ing us strength therefor,--not faith II rule Or
systom, but q, deop. living truat, There Ia a
doep meaning in that ''cellng by name" show
each one. How touching tho luoldopt Of Christ
| huu AAIy ~ t4lH oupu1QIIBt Hutu 6Q0t LTQuHiel
and atrald, was quictsd BY Ais voice, saying
"lla1y." 1t ia pogaonal contract made be-
tween each ono and hs' Lord. Down into tht
valleys And up tho mountain-Bido, through dill
cultios and trials, re hear His voice calling us
and when we are done with oarth, when lifo't
light grows dim, the voice TINT calls uB homt
will be no strange one to uB, and though Gun
not minutoly recount tho history Of hef> life, ye
/ can aay that sile knew His voice, md followot
It, not {alnting nor Reluctantly, but bravoly ant
unswervingly.
Perhaps cannot better cloBo those rornarle
than by reading tho following atanzas, that acen
to o1pross her heart;
Light after larknsss, gain utter loss,
MFength after suffering, crown after crosB,
8wcet utter bitter, praao after sigh,
Home aftes wandering, smile after CRY.