The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-20

aries at the West, who arc living on $3.50 year
that they may proclaim Christ to the people
in Now York, says: Il thank you for that
so. Until yesterday we had no meat
in our house for three months. We have suf-
fered terribly. My children have no shoes this
winter" l am speaking of those people who
have only half loaf of bread, but give piece
| of it to others who are hungry and of those who
| have only scutte of coal, but help others TO
fuel and those who have only dollar in their
pocket and give twenty five cents TO somebody
else; and of that father who a shabby
coat, and of that mother who wears faded
dress. that their children may be we'll appareled.
You call them paupers. or ragamufiins or immi-
grants. call them heroes and heroines. You
and may not know where they live what
their name is; God knows, and they have more
angels lowering oven them than you and have,
and they will have higher seat in heaven.
Ihey may have had only cup OF cold water
to give poor traveller or may have only picked
splinter from under the nail Of a child's finger,
or put only two mites into the treasury, hut the
Lord knows them. Considering what they had,
they did more than we have ever DONE and their
faded dress will become a white robe, and the
small room will be an eternal mansion, and the
old hat will be a coronet of victory and all the
applause of earth and all the shouting Of heaven
Will be drowned out when God rises up to give
lbs reward to these humble workers in His
hlngdom, and to say to them, 'Well done, good
and faithful servants" You have all seen or
heard OF the ruin of Melrose Abbey [ suppose
In some respects it is the most exquisite
ruin on earth, and yet looking at it, was not so
lmpressed-you may set it down to bsd taste,
but was not so deeply stirred-as 1 was at the
| tombstone at the foot of that Abbey, the tomb
stone placed by Walter Scott over the grave of
an Old man who had served for a good many
years IN his house-the inscription most sig
nihcant, ard defy any man to stand there and
READ it without tears coming into his eyes; the
eptaph: 'Wel done, good and faithful serv-
anti! .. when our work is over will it be found
that because of anything we have done for God
or the church. or suffering humanity. that such
an inscription Is appropriate for US! God grant
it.
Who are those who were bravest and deserved
the greatest monument-IIord Ciaverhouse and
his burly soldiers. or John Brown the Edinburp
carpenter, and his wifel Mr.. Atkins, the perse-
cuted minister Of Jesus Christ in Scotland was
secreted by John Brown and his wife, and
Claverhouse rode up one day with his armed
men and shouted in front of the house John
Browns little girl came out well Miss is
Mr. Atkins here" She made no answer, for she
could not 6etray the minister Of the gospel
Hal" Claverhouse said; then you are a chip of
the old block, are yous 1 have something in my
people call it a thumbscrew, but 1
call it nosegay." And he got off mis-
horse, and he put it on the little girls hand, and
began to turn it until the bones cracked. and she
cried lie said: Don't cry Don't cry! This is
not thumb screw; this is a nosegay" And
they heard the chids cry, and the father and
mother came out, and Claverhouse said "Ha!
1t seems that You three have laid your holy
heads together, determined to die like all the
rest of your hypocritical canting sniveling
crew. Rather than give up, good Mr. Atkins,
p!ous Mr. Atkins, you would die. l have a tele
scope with me that will improve your vision"
ana pulled out pistol. Now he said
you old pragmatica lest you should catch cold
in this cold morning of Scotland, and for
the honor and safety of the king to
say nothing of the glory of God and
the good of our souls, l will proceed simply, and
in the neatest and most expeditions manner. to
his knees and began to pray. "Ah,"
said Claverhouse 'look out! If you are going to
pray. steer clear of the King, Council and Rich
ard Cameron" 20 Lord" said John Brown.
since 1t seems to be Thy will that should leave
this world for the world where / can love Thee
more, put this poor widow woman and these
helpless. fatheriess children into Thy hands.
we have been together in peace and good will,
put now we must look forth to better meeting
IN heaven; and as for these poor creatures. blind
folded ami infatuated, that stand before me-
convert them before it is too late, and may
they who have sat in judgment in this little
pace, On TINS blessed morning. upon me, poerr
defense1ess fetfoS may they IN the last
Judgment find that mercy which they have re-
fused to me- Thy most unworthy but faithful
servant. Amen He rose M and said: Isabel
the hour is come of which spoke to you on the
morning when l proposed hand and heart to
you, and are you willing now, for the love of
tod. to let del' She put her arms around
him and said: The Lord gave and the Lord
hath taken away Blessed be the name of the
Lord" Stop that snivelng" said Clayerhouse;
II have had enough of it Soldiers. do your
work. Take aim. Fire." and the head of John
Brown was scattered on the ground. While the
wife was gathering up in her apron the
them up for burial, Claverhouse looked into her
face and said: Now, my good woman, how do
you feel now about your bonnie man?7 Ooh"
she said. Il always thought we'll of him; he has
been very good to me. had no reason for
thinking anything but we'll of him. and think
better of him now"
o. what grand thing it will be in the last day
to see God pick out His heroes aud heroines,
Who are those paupers of eternity trudgng off
from the gates ofaheavenl Who are they? The
Lord Claverhouses and the Herods, and those
who had sceptres, and crowns, and thrones but
they lived for their own aggrandizement and
they broke the heart of nations. Heroes OF
earth. but paupers in eternityi beat the drums
of their eternal despair. Woe. Woe. Wool
But there is great excitement in heaven Why
those long processonsl Why the booming of
that great bell in the towerl It is coronation day
IN heaven. Who are those rising on the thrones
with crowns Of eternal royalty? They must have
been great people on EARTH world renowned
people. No. they taught in a ragged school
Taught in ragged SCHOOL, Taught in a ragged
SCHOOL, Is that alll That is all. Who are those
souls waving scepters of eternal dominionl Why,
they were little children who waited on invalid
mothers That al That's all She was called
Little Mary! earth; she is an en-
press row. Who are that great multitude
on the highest thrones of heayen1
Who theyl Why they fed the hungry, they
clothed the naked. they healed the sick, they
comforted the heart broken. They never found
any rest until they put their heads down on the
sepulchre. God watched them. God laughed
defiance at the enemies who put their heels hard
down on these, His dear children; and one dav
the Lord struck His hands so hard on His thigh
that the onnipotent sword ratified in the scab-
bard as He said: Il am their God, and no
weapon formed against them shall prosper
What harm the world do you when the
Lord Almighty, with uusheathed sword, fights
for youl
preach this sermon this morning in comfort
Go home TO the place where God has put you to
play the hero or the heroine. Do not envy anv man
hiz kis $3.50.