Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-07-01

He reaches for the flowers that with er
in a day, far over the edge of an awful
abyss thus endangering his eternal all.
He, as Bunyan puts it, rakes for few
worthless straws and refuses the un-
fading and glorious crown held out for
his acceptance.
What can be done to arouse him ?
Thank God, He does not leave him to
perish. GAS an eagle stirreth up her
nest" etc. Let US look at the figure.
Here the instructive acts of the
parent bird are used to represent Gods
dealings with the children of men.
The young eaglets are very comfort
able in that nest CONSTRUCTED Of sticks,
away up on the rocky cliff, far from
the haunts of men they are safe,
warm and we'll fed. But the parent
eagle knows that though they would
remain content, it would not be best
for them, they need to use those pin
ions and rise toward the Sun; tn at
for them to fail to develope their la
tent powers will be death. So, she
spreads abroad her wings and futters
Ger the nest, thus teaching them how
to fly. They are still unmoved. What
next expedient shall be tried? All !!
true to instinct, mercitul though harsh,
unused till milder measures oft were
used in vain, "'sl1c stirreth up The
nest" pulling out one stick after
another until all support is gone, then
fly they must. So God the Holy
Ghost moves upon, yea, futtereth,
over the soul at ease though endan-
gered, to incline it heavenward. And
when we fail to hear His voice, and
Will not be led by His Holy Spirit, He,
in the greatness of His love, driven to
it by infinite pity, as last resort,
stirs up the nest. One stick after
another is removed, those things we
cling to and lean upon. Our proper
ty "makes to itself wings and flies
away" Health and strength are
Withdrawn. Our friends near and
dear are taken and leave US sad be-
hind; sometimes the darling child !;
sometimes the faithful husband, then
again it is the wife, father, mother,
friend. Sometimes [ know God
takes member Of holy household,
when perhaps the community needs to
be jostled. will not say that this
community is worse than others, but
how few comparatively are consecrated
to holy christian life. God has been
stirring our nest of late. I trust we
shall soar heavenward as a result.
But, as we do so, we shall realize our
weakness and insufficiency. The bur-
dens of life will be upon us, and fierce
gales of temptation will threaten us
with death. Let US come once more
to the text. The eaglets have been
driven from the eyrie and with mex
perienced wing they falter in their
flight. See, they begin to futter and
descend They're falling fast and will
be dashed in pieces upon the rocks
beneath But kind mother is nigh,
whose child ne'er runs beyond her
Watchful eye; and as they fall she
dives beneath and "beareth them upon
her Wings" she fondly ''taketh them
from danger and from death. So
God watches over his children, to
rescue them in every evil hour. "Hc
knoweth our frame and remembereth
that we are dust" He says of the
feeblest, ''He shall be holden UP. -
'sFear thou not for [ am with thee be
not dismayed for [ am thy God, will
strengthen thee, [ will help thee; yea
[ will uphold thee with the right hand
of my righteousness Il will never
leave thee, nor forsake thee Then
in his own good time, he takes the
righteous to himself. "Enoch walked
with God and he was not for God
took him." The tree having attained
some growth, and having been made
symmetrical, is transplanted to the
paradise of God. The gem polished
by the hand of the Master Lapidary
Of the universe, is set in the crown of
Jehovah to sparkle and scintillate for
ever. The student having passed
through the preparatory department,
enters the college Of the skies. The
weary storm-tossed mariner gets home.
The conqueror enters the metropolis
of his empire and sits down on the
throne to enjoy everlasting peace and
glory. God has. done, and is doing
all that is necessary, all that he can to
save US. IF we are not saved, sus-
tanned, comforted "above all our tri-
h11lnt tom y nnd orlnr;HnA In hooror o..