Sharp County record., 1888-09-20

a half ton in weight, that went ,ii iIIap, i,nRs
tbump! thumpl II that iron OoU'' --'' .
spoken it would have Salu' .,,,u+1 bs
"Whv all this beating? why mus 80" ~
Wounded anv mDre than any otler Hull
The vorkmen would have sad:
1--WE want to make axes OUT Oh you,
tean. sharp axes-axes with Whlcn " noI
down the forest, and build the SNIP anu
eroct houses, and carry on a thouSano
enterprises of clvilizatlon' IIi"'
reason we pound YOU" -, .rrroce
Now, God puts soul into me IuL n"oS
Of trial /, and then it is brought out anu
rnn through the crushing machIne' anu
then il comes down upon the anvil, anu
mon if blow after blow, blow after Olo"'
and the soul cries out: 9u
80 Lord, what does all this mean'
God says: ,,,o-
~ want to make something very use
full out of YOU You shall be some IniIs iti;
to hew with and something to Dullu wlVnt
a is a practical process through winch l
am putting you" want
Yes, nv Christian friends, we wan
more tools in the Church OF Cod NoC
more wedges to split with; we h@vo %
enough of these, Not more pores WIN
which to drill; we have too many OolTS' o.
What we really want is keen, sharp wen.
tempered axes and il there be any otuer
way of making them than in the not Iur-
mace, and on the hard anvil, and unuer
tbe heavy hammer, do not know What ~
is Remember that if God brings any
kind of chastisement upon you, 1t Is only
to make you useful DO not SlI oo"N O''
couraged, and say: ,.. ,
81 have no more reason for living
wish were dead"
Oh. there never was so much reason Iof
vour living as now. By this ordeal you
have been consecrated priest OF the
most high God. Go out and do your WhoIe
work for the Master.
Again, there is comfort in the thought
that all our troubles are a revelation
Have you ever thought Of it IN that con-
nection? The man who has never Deeu
through chastisement is ignorant about d
thousand things in his soul he ought TO
know, For instance, here is man VINO
nrides himself on his cheHrfulneSS, WIN
his fine house, his frilled wardrobe ana
we'll strung instruments of music, ana
tapestried parlor, and plenty of money IN
the bank waiting for some permanent IN
vestment. 1t is easy for him to be cheer-
full. But suppose his fortune goes 10
pieces and his house goes down unoer
the sberiff's hammer, and the banks Will
not have any thing to do with his paper
Suppose those people who were once eIe-
gantly entertained at his table get so
short-sighted that they can not recognize
him upon the street How then? Is 1t so
easy to be cheerful? 1t is easy to be
cheerful in the home, after the days
work is done and the gas is turned on,
and the house is full Of rompling little
ones. But suppose the piano is shut be-
cause the fingers that played on it will no
more touch the keys, and the childish
voice that asked so many questions Will
ask no more. Then is it so easy? When
man wakes up and finds that his re-
sources are all gone, he begins to rebel,
and he says:
"God is hard; God is outrageous He
had no business to do this to me-"
Ny friends, those Of US who have been
through trouble know what a sinful and
rebelious heart we have and how much
God has to put mp with and how much we
need pardon. It is only in the light OF q
flaming furnace that we can learn our
own weakness and our own lack Of moral
resource.
Iremark once more: Our troubles in
this world are preparative for glory
What a transition it was for Paul-from
the slippery deck of foundering ship to
the calm presence Of Jesus! What @
transition it was for Latimer-from the
stake to the throne! What a transition
it was for Robert Hall-from insanity tc
glory! What a transition it was fol
Richard Baxter-from the dropsy to the
saints everlasting rostw And what Q
transition it will be for you-'rom a world
of sorrow to a world of joy! John Hol-
land, when he was dying, said:
"What means this brightness in the
room? Have you lighted the candles"
NO" they replied, I'VE have not lighted
any candles" Then said he:
"Welcome Heayenw the light already
beam.ng upon his pillow, Dye who are
prosecuted in this world, your enemies
will get off the track after awhile, and all
will speak well Of you among the thrones.
Ho ye who are sick now, no medicines to
take there. One breath Of the eternal
Mills will thrill you with immortal vigor,
And We who are lonesome now, there will
be a thousand spirits to welcome you into
| their companiOnship. o I'VE bereft souls !!
there will be no grave-diggers spade
that will cleave the side Of that hill, and
there will be no dirge wailing from that
temple. The river Of God, deep as the
! Joy of Heaven, will roll on between banks
odorouS with balm, and over depths bright
with jewels, and under skies roseate with
gladness, argosies of light going down
the stream to the stroke Of glittering oar
and the song of angels! Not one sigh in
the wind; not one tear mingling with the
waters
There shall bathe my weary soul
| In seas Of heavenly rest,
| And not a wave Of trouble roll
Across my peaceful breast