West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-03-24

Won't you Join He on ihe road TO heaven ??
"Oh. no." you say. II couldn't DO that. "
Can't DO ID ,t1 Then you refuge = second
cross DO ron not mean 10 take any
cross? IL you cannot 30 that the Savior
says, you cannot be- ny disciple"
But here is scme one whose cross vii,
be to svow his religious principles in the
family circle. Would you dare TO ask the
blessing of 9od at the tea table Would
you dare kneel down by your bedside and
say your prayers If you knew your
brother or sister were looking at you =?
Oh" you say, III have a quick temper,
and If I should pretend TO be a Christian
in the fsmily circle and lose my temper,
they would eey, You're n pretty Chris-
tiaD,' and they cow you down. They
keep you back from Christ and from
doirg your duty by their saycasm, when,
instead of being cowed down you ought
to take that whole family into heaven,
God helping you. NO" you say, II can
be IN ayowed Christian anywhere but al
home.' just as feared for some Of you.
have poiGtel out q third cross and you
cannot carry II, and you cannot be Christ :
disciple. There vas a company of rough
men together at l O'Clock Ia the morning.
and a man said my wife is a Christian,
and If ] should 90 homo at this hour and
order her TO get Us an entertainment. she
would get il with good cheer aud withou,
one word of ceDsure. They laughed a,
him and said she would not they laid a
wager, and started for his home, snd they
knocked at I or 2 O'Clock in the morning.
The Christian wife came to the door and
the hueband said "Get us something 10
eat; get it right away" She said
What shall ! get?" And no ordered the
bill OF fare, and it was provided without
one word of censure. After his royster-
ing companions had gone out OF the
house he knelt down and said ''Oh, for
give me. / am Wicked / am most
wicked Get down and pray for me :"
And before the morning dawned on the
earth the pardon OF Christ had dawned
on that man. Why His wife was O
thorough Christian. He could not resist
the power of her Chris ian influence.
And you in your family are to take up the
cross and follow Jesus, and you are 10
bring them all in-husband, wife, father,
brother, sister-it you can only take up
the cross and follow Jesus.
There has some one come here 10. day
that you have not seen. You did not see
him come in at the door, Nor through
any of these aisles did you see him come;
but he is here. He started in the East
the far East. He comes in wan and
weary, his feet blistered with the way.
bis garments draggled with the dust, his
eyes dim with tears, his cheeks red, not
with health but with blood from the
temples.
take hold of his coa and / sew, at
does not fit thee?" And he replies, cit is
borrowed. For my vesture did they cast
lots" And thcc l say, Thine eyes are
red as if from lack of Sleep" and he ans
wers, eyes, the Son of man hath not where
to lay his head" Then | look at he loo
On his back and / say: WHAT ia ,bis2,
And he says; 1T is the cross [ carried for
thee and the world of sin. l. all these
people take e cross aud follow me-" And
he marches on and the procession il form.
ING to-day, the great cross bearer going
ahead, and we who nave smaller crosses
coming on after in this great march 10
heaven; an6 as some people halt md ssy
we will not join n procession where VIZ
have to carry a burden or suffer shqme .,
Jesus turEs upon them with a moi.st,
aud o~mnipotcnce that makes the very
earth tremble as he ssys: ''Wnosoever
doth not bea. HE cross md follow me
can not be my disciple" Who here today
is anxious for God and heavsn9 Who is
ready to start forth and say: "Let others
do RS they may, l will take Christ in the
presence of heaven and earth and b.u
la the strength of God | nos, take the frat
step forward. Fare well, my sinsi Fare
well, %inconstant worldl Farewell, every
thing That would hinder me from going
forward! Welcome, Jesusl What thou
commandest me to bear l will bear
Only lead the way, .hou great cross
bearer, and will follow with my own
burden" Are yon willing to take q cross
that you can get a crown? Who ia on
the Lords slider l wish to-day we might
divide of. Who is ashamed Of Christi
Who will turn his back upon the Lamb
of God that laee;h Away the sin of the
world.