The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1884-08-05
OUR SUNDAY SERMON.

AS we turn to look back, last Sabbath
blszes In memory like some fiery dragon,
and the days that lead 10 il are scorched
and blackened by its terrible breath. Hun
dreds have been stricken down without a
moments warning, and sank into the arms
of death without struggle. There are va.
cant chairs at the table to-day that last
Sabbath were filled with living. breath
ing, loving presence; and there are hearts
today that ache with sorrow that time
can never heal.
Human life is well described in alIegory
by one who has long made ii a study. He
dreamed, and IN his dream he ssga large
bridge that spanned the terrible abyss OF
Eternity. 1t was the Bridge of Life, over
which hundreds were thronging in the
struggle to reach the end. In It's floor were
placed numerous invisible traps through
which plunged the unfortunate who trod
upon them into the awful gulf below. He
noticed that at the beginning of the bridge
the traps were closely placed, and, as in
fancy passed upon the structure, great
many fell through at the very outset.
Those who passed by in safety entered up
on the span of boyhood, where fewer fell.
The survivors pressed on to the span oil
manhood and womanhoOd. By this time,
the watcher noticed that the throng who
had started upon the bridge had materially
decreased, and as they passed the arch Of
middle age the trans became more frequent
and the number that fell through was con-
stantly growing greater as the proces sion
advanced. At old age, the traps were as
thick as those of infancy, and the number
who had reached this point was very few
compared to what had started. Still farther
on stretched the bridge, with here and there
few decrepit old people struggling along
but just beyond them the bridge vas va
cant and none succeeded in reaching its
planks.
Reader, We are crossing this bridge. Day
by day we see some of those who are press
ing on beside us fall through these fatal
traps and plunge into the yawning chasm
OF eternity, over which we stand, supported
but by single plank. Before us, how
many and where are these traps of death
Who OF us here on this calm Sabbath
morn, who shall have succeeded on our
journey to reach the next Sabbath In
safety? Alas none can tell. Health does
not grant US immunity, youth offers no as
surance of safety, strength is OF NO avail,
and the riches of this earth afford no more
security than the straw upon the tide
which the drowning man essays TO clutch.
Death alone is certain, and just as certain
is the fact that we shall meet him.
Yet we must press on ; backward we can
not turn, neither can we halt in the pres
ent. Forward must We 60 until each shall
step on the fatal trap of his destiny, and
plunge through to that mysterious realm
where myriads have gone before.
With us in our journey are Gods guides,
faith and hope. If We walk with them we
shall escape many of the snares before us.
We have a Guide Book, too, that warns US
of our dangers, point out the beauties OF
the wayside, and describes glorious land
We all can reach if we follow the instruc-
tions given.
Let us strive to reach it, and as each
Sabbath reaches us renew our resolves,
strengthen our resolutions, and appeal to
God TO make them steadfast and abiding.