The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-08-28

and discharged its magnificent cargo? Not
| one of their names has come to us, but there
| was no work done that day in Damascus or in
all the earth compared with the importance of
their work. What if they had in their agita-
ton tied knot that could slip? What if the
sound OF a mob at the door had led them TO
say: Paul must take care of himself, and we
VIII take care of ourselves" No, no! They
held the rope and in doing so did more for the
Christian church than any thousand of us
VIII ever accomplish. But God knows and
has made eternal record Of their undertaking.
And they know. How exultant they must
have felt when they read his letters to the Ro-
mans, to the Corinthians, to the Galatians, to
the Ephe5ians, to the Philippians, to the Co
lossans, 10 the Thessalonians, to Timothy, to
Titus, to Philemon, to the Hebrews, and when
they heard how he walked out of pr soniwith
the earthquake unlocking the door for
him. and took command of the AleXandrian
corn ship when the sailors were nearly scared
to death, and preached sermon that nearly
shook Felix off his judgment seat. / hear the
men and women who helped him down
through the window and over the wall talking
in private over the matter, and saying: "How
glad am that We effected that rescued In
coming times Others NAV get tho glory Of
Paul's work, but no one shall rob us of the sat-
isfaction OF knowing that we held the rope"
There are said to be about sixty-nine thous-
ana ministers OF religion in this country.
About fifty thousand l warrant came from
early homes which had to struggle for the nee
essaries of life.
The sons of rich bankers and merchants gen.
orally become bankers and merchants. The
most of those who become ministers are
the sons OF those who had terrific
struggle to get their everyday
bread 1.-THE collegiates and theological educa-
ton of that son took every luxury from the
parental table for eight years. The other chill
dren were more scantily appareled The son
at college every little while got bundle from
home. In it were the socks that mother had
knit, sitting up late at night, her sight not as
good as once it was.
And there also were some delicacies from
the sisters hand for the yoracicus appetite of
hungry student. The father swung the heavy
cradle through the wheat, the sweat rolling
from his chin believing every step of the way,
and then sitting down under the cherry tree at
noon thinking TO himself: 81 am fearfully
tired, but it will pay if can once see that boy
through college, and if L can know that he will
be preaching the gospel after L am dead" The
younger children want to know why they can't
have this and that as others do, and the mother
says: "Be patient, my children, until your
brother graduates, and then you shall have
more luXuries, but we must see that boy
through"
The years go by, and the son has been Or
dained and is preaching tho glorious gospel,
and great revival comes. and souls by scores
and hundreds accept the gospel from the lips
OF that young preacher. and father and mother
quite old now, are visiting the son at the viii
lage parsonage, and at the close of u Sabbath
of mighty blessing, father and mother retro
to their room, the son lightning the way and
asking them if he could do anything to make
them more comfortable, saying if they want
anything in the night just TO knock the
wall. And then all alone father and mother
talk over the gracious influences of the day,
and say: "Well, it was worth all we went
through TO educate that boy. 1t was u hard
pull, but we held on till the work
was done. The world may not know it,
but, mother, we held the rope, didn't we?"
And the voice. tremulous with joyful emotion,
uHs ms fnth hold fltn ran I
feel my work is done. Now, Lord, lettest thou
thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes
have seen thy salvation" "Pshaw!" says
the father, ~ never felt so much like living
in my life as now. | want to see what that
fellow is going on to do, he has begun 50 we'll"
Something occurs to me quite personal 1
was the youngest of a large family OF children
My parents were neither rich nor poor. -Four
of the sons wanted collegiate education,
and four obtained it, but not without great
home struggle. We never heard the old people
say once that they We're denying themselves
to effect this, but / remember now that my
parents always looked tired. don't think that
they ever got rested until they lay down in
the Sommerville cemetery Mother would sit
down in the evening, and say: ''Well, don't
know what makes me feel so tired?' Father
would fall Immediately to sleep, seated by the
evening stand, overcome with the days fatigue.
One OF the four brothers after preaching the
gospel for about fifty years entered upon his
heavenly rest Another of the four is now on
the other side the earth, q missionary of the
cross Two of us are in this land in the holy
ministry, aud thing all of us are willing to
acknowledge our obligation to the old folks at
home About twenty-five years ago the one,
and about twenty-four years ago the other, put
down the burdens Of this life, but they still
hold the rope
men and women here assembled, you
brag sometimes how you have fought your
way in the world, but l think there have been
helpful influences that you have never fully
al -loflrr lac haa
influence in your early or present
home that the world cannot see? Does there
not reach to you from among the Canadian
hills, or the western prairie, or from the south
ern plantation, or from England or Scottish
or Irish home cord of influence that has kept
you right, when you would have gone aStray,
and which, after you had made q crooked
track. recalled you? The rope may be as long
as thirty years or five hundred miles long or
three thousand miles long, but hands that went
out of mortal sight long ago still hold the rope.
You want very swift horse, and you need to
rowel him with sharpost spurs. and to let the
reins lie loose upon the neck, and to give
shout TO a racer, If you are going to ride out
of reach of your mothers prayers. Why, a
ship crossing the Atlantic in seven days can't
sail away from thati a sailor finds them
ON the lookout as he takes his place,
and finds them on the mast as
he climbs the ratines to disentanglo rope in
the tempest, and finds them swinging on the
hammock when he turns in. Why not be
frank and acknowledge 1.-THE most of us
would long ago have be, n dashed TO pieces had
not gracious and loving hands steadily and low
ingly and nightly held IL c rope.
But there must come Time when we shall
find out who these Damast enes were who low
cred Paul in the basket, o dd greet them and all
those who have renderc>. to God and the world
! unrecognized and unrecorded services. That
is going to be one OF the glad excitements Of
heaven-the hunting up aud picking out of
those who did good on earth and got no credit
for it, Here the church has been going on
nineteen centuries and this is probably the
first sermon ever recognizing the services of
| the people in that Damascus balcony. Charles
! G, Finney said to a dying Christian: "Give
/ my love to St. Paul when
You meet him." When you and I meet
| him, as we will, shall ask him to introduce
me to those people who got him out of the
/ Damascene peril.
! We go into long sermon to prove that we
| will be able to recognize people in heaven,
! when there is one reason we fail to present,
| and that is better than all-God will introduce
us. We shall have them all pointed out. You
would not be guilty OF the impoliteness of hav-
| ing friends in your parlor not introduced, and