The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-01-27

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Learn again from this subject that
people sometimes are surprised to find
out that what they have been struggling
with in the darkness is really an ange
of blessing. Jacob found in the morn.
ing this strange parsonage was not an
enemy, but God dispatched messenger
to promise prosperity for him and his
children. 80, many man at the close
of his trial, has found out he has been
trying to throw down his own blessing
If you are Christian man / will go
back in your history, and find the grand
est things ever happened you have been
your trials. Nothing short of scourging
imprisonment and shipwreCk could have
made Paul what he was.
When David was fleeing through the
wilderness, pursued by his own son, he
was preparing to become the sweet sim
ger of Israel. The pit and the dungeon
were the best schools from which Joseph
ever graduated. The hurricane that
upset the tent and killed Jobs children,
prepared the man of Uz to write the
magnificent poem that has astounded
the ages. There is no way to GET the
wheat out of the straw but to thresh it.
There is no way to purify gold but to
burn it. Look at people who have al
ways had their own way, they are proud,
disConted, useless and unhappy. If you
want to find cheerful people, 60 among
those who have been purified as by fire.
After Rossini had rendered "Wilham
Tell" the five hundredth time, party
of musicians came under his window in
Paris and serenaded him, They put upon
his brow a crown of laurel leaves. But
amid all the applause and enthusiasm,
Rossini turned to friend and said, "I
would give all this demonstration for
few days OF youth and love-" Contrast
the melancholy feeling of Rossini, who
had everything this world could give
him, to the joyful experience of Isaac
Watts, whose misfortunes were innu-
mtrable.
1t is prosperity that kills, and trouble
that saves. When the Israelites we're
on the march, amidst great privations
and hardships, they behaved we'll AT
ter awhile they prayed for meat, and the
sky darkened with large flock of quails
which fell in great multitudes all about
Them; and the Israelites ate and stuffed
themselves until they died. Oh, my
friends, it is not hardship, or toll, or star
vation that Injuries the soul, but abund'
ant supply. 1t is not the vulture Of trou.
BILE that eats up the ChriStian's life, it is
the quailsl You will yet find out that
your midnight wrestle by the brook
Jabbok is with an angel of God, come
| down to bless and to save.
Learn again, that while our wrestling
with trouble may be triumphant, we can
expect it will leave its mark upon US. ia.
cob prevailed, but the angel toucned
him, and his thighbone sprang from its
socket, and the good man went limping
on his way. We must carry through
this world the mark of this combat.
What plowed those premature wrinkles
in your facet What whitened your hair
before it was time for frost2 What 81
lenCed forever 30 much of the hilarity of
your household Oh, it is because the
angel of trouble hath touched you, that
you go limpiDg on your way. You need
not be surprised that those who have
passed through the fire do not feel as gay
as they once did. Do not be out of pa
LlbuC6 Will GuUbO WIN COu1O Oub Vi JuOlT
dependency. They may triumph over
their loss, and yet their gait shall tell
you they have been trouble touched. Are
we stoics that we can, unmoved, see our
cradles rifled of the bright eyes and the
sweet lipsP Can we stand unmoved and
see our gardens of earthly delight up
rooted? Will Jesus, who wept himself,
be angry with US if we pour our tears
into the graves that open to swallow our
loved ones? Was Lazarus more dear to
Him than our loved dead to US? No; we
have a right to weep, Our tears must
come. They fall into Gods bottle. Af-
hicted ones have died because they cod |
not weep. Thank God for the sweet, the
mysterious relief that comes to US thro'h |
tears Under this gentle rain, the flow
ers of comfort put forth their bloom.
God pity that dry, withered, parched,
all consuming grief that wrings its hands
grinds its teeth and bites its nails into
the quick, but cannot Weepl We may
have found the comfort of the Cross, and |
yet ever after show that in the darkness,
and by the brook Jabbok, we were trou-
BILE touched.
Again, we may take the idea of the |
text and announce the approach of the |
daydawp. No one was ever more glad |
to see the morning than was Jacob after
that night of struggle. 1t is appro-
pirate for Christians and philanthropists
to cry out with this angel of the text:
"The day breaketb." The worldly pros-
are Frightening. The tyrants of the
earth are falling fat in the dust. The
church Of Christ is rising up in its power
to go forth, fair as the morn, clear as
the sun, and terrible as an armv with
banners" Clap your hands, all ye peo-
pie, the day breaketb The bigotries of
the earth are perishing. The time was
when we were told if we wanted to get
to heaven we must be immersed or sprin-
kled; we must believe in the persever.
anCe of the saints; or in falling awav from
grace; We must be an Armenian or Calvin
ist to get to heaven. We have all come
to confess now that there are non-essen-
tisls in religion.
During my vacation one summer l
wss in Presbyterian audience; it was
sacramental day, and with grateful heart
l received the holy communion. The
next Sabbath 1 was in Methodist audi
enCe, and sat at lovefeast. The follow
ing Sabb ,th l was in an Episcopal audi.
enCe, and knelt at the altar and received
the consecrated bread. l don't know
which service l enjoyed the most. II
believe in the communion Of saints and
life everlasting" "The day breaketh."
AS look upon this audience I see
many who have passed through waves
of trouble, that came up higher than the
girdle. In Gods name / proclaim cessa-
ton Of hostilities. You shall not always
90 saddened and heart-broken. God
will lift your burden. He will bring
your dead to life; He will stanch your
the hearts bleeding; know He will. AS
father pitieth his children, SO the Lord
pities you. The pains Of earth will end;
the tomb will burst; the dead will rise;
the morning star trembles on q bright
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