Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1880-03-18
It is ours to rcmoye obstructious from

It Is ours to remove distractions from |
the pilgrims path lest they stumble |
and fall. The scriptures make very |
plain the path to the cross. The
Holy Ghost is the guide and compan-
ion of every true seeker Of salvation;
angels, invisible to eyes of flesh yet
real to the spirit, are sent to minister
to the heirs Of salvation. For this
work we are Tot held responsible
There is with US a responsibility to
take up the stumbling blocks ont Of
the way of Gods people. Who can
doubt that there are souls In this
community seeking to come to the
cross? What worker for the Lord Je-
sus Christ has not been face to face
with the responsibility Of directing
anxious souls. They are trying to
take the first steps in the path that
leads to life and light. God forbid
that we should come short Of our du-
ty, that any should be lost for want
of word which we can speak. five
are to follow Christ, shall we not
shine? II we are to have the light Of
life shall not others see it2
We must .follo,c Christ in order
to obtain the mastery over the prin-
cipses of the scOrld. We are CON-
manded to overcome the world and
this command implies that we have
the power to obey. We must con-
troll the worlds sentiments and take
possession of its resources in the
name and for the sake of Christ.
Christianity must give laws to socie-
ty. Christianity is an Ishmaelite-
its hand is against every vice and
every vice is against it 1t neither
seeks nor accepts alliance with any
thing but purity and truth. This is
the intolerance of religion of which
we hear 80 much complaint. 1t is
lntolerant of vice and inIqnity and
wrong-doing. Christ driving out the
traders from the temple was significant
of the work we are called upon to do.
The whole earth is yet to be made
the church Of God and we are the
instruments with which the work is
to be accomplished. If we would
effect it, we must have something Of
Christ's energy, dissemination and
fearle ssness.
And now, young men, / am about
to close these sermons which have
been directed especially to you.
God grant his blessing upon the
work of these Sabbath evenings. l
have enjoyed it and l hope you have
not wearied under it. Kindly you
have listened while gladly I have
preached. Let not this night, how
ever, separate as. Come back again,
come often, come always. Over that
door every one Of you may read
"Welcome." If by my words l
have made you my friends, l rejoice.
If through weakness my words have
been to any of you the cause of
alienation, / weep. 1 ask you're
member that to err is human, TO for
give is divine. But in saying good
night, I woul ! again remind you that
you are now building for immortali-
ty, that the life you now live is the
cornerstone Of your life hereafter.
See, then, that you lay it in Christ
Jesus. See that the structure rises
according to the plans and principles
laid down here in the Bible-snd
then you need never be ashamed.
The multitudes of the earth, when
gathered at the Judgment-throne,
will look upon your life as beautiful.
Christ will give you ''the we'll done"
and you may rest satisfied. The en-
gineer of the East River bridge was,
while it WAS building, confined to his
house by sickness. 1t was put up,
however, according to his plans.
When he was brought to see it, and
his eye caught the first view Of the
magnificent towers and the festoone-
ry Of wire, he exclaimed--"Oh, il
looks just as I expected9" Happy
will you be, young man, il on the
day Of Judgment you can look up
on the completed structure of your
life and exclaim-"Thanks be to
Gods grace! 1t looks just as I ex-
pected it would when my. Master
taught me to build it.
For the journal.