Milford chronicle., 1888-03-23

watching, when yon knew that the soul had
He'd, you took from tho hand, which gave
back no responsive clasp, from that ema-
ciated finger, the ring that she had worn 50
I long and worn so well.
On some anniversary day you take up that
ring, and you repoiish it until all the old
luster comes back, and you can see in it the
/ flush Of eyes that long ago ceased TO weep
I Oh, IL is not an ummeaning thing when tell
you that when Christ receives a soul into his
keeping he puts on it a marriage ring. He
endows you from that moment with all his
wealth. You are one-ChIlst and the soul
one in sympathy, one in affection, one in
hole
There is no power in earth or hell to effect
a divorcement after Christ and tho soul are
unised. Other kings have turned out their
Z companions when they got weary OF them,
and sent them edrift from the palace gate.
Ahasucrus banished Vashti: Napoleon for
sook Josephine; but Christ is the husband
I that is true forever. Having loved you once
he loves you to the end. Did they not try to
divorce Margaret, the Scotch girl, from
Jesus! They said: "You must give up your
religion She said: Il can't give up my
religion And SO they took her down to the
beach of tho sea, and they drove in a stake
at low water mark, and they fastened her to
4 it, expecting that as the tide came>up her
faith would fail. The tide began to rise, and
came up higher, and to the girdle, and to the
lip, and in the last moment, just as the wave
was washing her soul into glory, she shouted
the praises of Jesus
Oh, no, you cannot separate a soul from
Christ. 1t is an everlasting marriage Bat
tie, and storm, and darkness cannot do it. Is
it TOO much exultation for a man, who is but
dust and ashes like nlyself, TO cry out today;
Il am persuaded that neither height, nor
depth, nor principalities, nor powers, nor
things present, nor things to como, nor any
other creature shall separate me from the
love of God which is in Christ Jesus, my
Lordr Glory be to God that when Christ
and the soul are married they are bound by
a chain, a golden chain-if might say so-a
chain with one link, and that one link the
golden ring of Gods everlasting love.
go q step further, and tell you that when
Christ receives a soul into his love he puts pn
him the ring Of festivity. You know that it
has been the custom in all ages to bestow
rings on very happy occasions. There is
nothing more appropriate for birthday gift
than ring You delight to bestOw such a
gift upon your children at such time It
means joy, hilarity, festivity. Well, when
this old man of the text wanted to tell how
glad he was that his boy had got back, he
expressed it in this way Actually, before he
ordered sandals to be put on his bare feet,
before he ordered tho fatted calf to b. killed
to appease the boys hunger, he commanded;
'Put ring on his hand.n
Oh, it is a merry time when Christ and
the soul are unitedl Joy OF forgivenessl
What a splendid thing it is to feel that all is
right between mo and God What glorious
thing it is to have God just take up all the
sins of my life and put them in one bundle,
and then fling them into the depths of the
sea, never to rise again, never to be talked
of again, Pollution all gone. Darkness all
illunined. God Feconciied. The prodigal
home. "Put a ring on his hand"
Every day find happy Christian people I
find some of them with no second coat, some
of them in buts and tenement houses not
one earthly comfort afforded them; and yet
they are as happy as happy can be. They
sing "RocS Of Ages as no other people in
the world sing it. They never wore any
jewelry in their life but one gold ring and
that was the ring Of Gods undying Affection
Oh. how happy religion makes ns bid 1t
make you gloomy and sadi Did you go with
your head cast down? l do not think you
got religion, my brother That is not the ef-
feet Of religion. True religion is joy. Her
ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her
paths are peace.n
Why, religion lightens all our burdens. It
smooths all our way. 1t interprets all our
sorrows. Il changes the jar of earthly dis
cord for the peal Of festal bells In front of
the flaming furnace of trial it sets the forge
on which scepters are hammered out. Would
81.
swine feeding and try this religionl All the
joys of heaven would come out and meet
you, and God would cry from the throne;
"Ppt n ring ON his hand
You are not happy, see It, There Is no
peace, and sometimes you laugh when you
feel a great deal more like crying. The
world is a cheat 1t first wears YOU down
with its follies, then it kicks you ont into
darkness. II comes back from the massacre
of a million souls to attempt the destruction
of your soul today. No peace OIt Of God,
but here is the fountain that can slake the
thirst. Here is the harbor ". ere you can
drop safe anchorage.
WOuld you not like, ask you-nOt per-
functOrily, but as one brother might talk to
another-would you not like to have a pillow
of rest to put your head on? And would you
pDb like, whGn you pstirG at night, to feel
that all Is well, whether you wake up to-
morrow morning 0t 6 O'Clock, or sleep tho
sleep chat knows no waking! Would you
not like to exchange this awful uncertainty
about the future for a glorious assurance Of
heaven! Accept of the Lord Jesus today,
and all is well. II on your way home SOME
peril should cross the street and dash your
life out, it would not hurt you. You would
rise up Immediately. You would stand in
the celestial streets You would be amid the
great throng that forever worship and are
forever happy. II this day some sudden dis
ease should come upon you it would not
frighten you. II you knew you were going
you could give a calm farewell to your beau
tiful home ON earth, and know that you are
going right into the companionship of those
who have already got beyond the toiling aud
the weeping.
You feel ON Saturday night different from
the way you feel any other night OF the
week. You como home from the bank, or
the store, or the shop, and you say: "Well,
now my weeks work is done, and tomorrow
is Sunday" 1t is pleasant thought There
is refreshment and reconstruction in tho very
idea. Oh, how pleasant it will be, if, when
we get through the day Of our life, and we
go and lie down in our bed of dust, VIC can
AtdAlAts " ttif AOM lAb MoAk - III 0uAlS3
and tomorrow is Sunday-an everlasting
Sunday
Oh. when. thou city Of my God
Shall thy courts ascend,
Where congregations ne'er break up,
And Sabbaths have no endg
There are people in this house today who
are very near the eternal world. II you are
Christians, l bid you be Of good cheer Bear
with You our congratulations to the bright
city. Aged men, who will soon be gone,
take with you our love for our kindred in the
better Land, and when you sec them tell
them that we are soon coming. Only few
more sermons to preach and hear. Only
few more heartaches Only few more tolls
Only few more tears. And then, what an
enhancing spectacle will be open before usi