The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-19

yea, will betroth thee unto me in right
eousness, and in judgment, and in loving
kindness, and in mercies.n At the wed,
ding altar the bridegroom puts a ring upon
the hand OF the bride, signifying love and
faithfulness. Trouble may come upon the
household, and the carpets may CO. the
pictures may 20, the piano may 90, every
thing else may go-the last thing that goes
is that marriage ring, for il is considered
sacred. In the burial hour it is with
drawn from the hand and kept in caskct,
and sometimes the box Is opened on an
anniversary day, and as you look at that
ring yon see under its arch long process
sion <pf precious memories. Within the
golden circle Of that ring there is room for
thousand sweet recollections to reyolve,
and you think Of the great contrast be-
tween the hour when, at the close OF the
"Wedding March," under the flashing
lights and amid the aroma OF orange
blossoms, You set that ring on the round
finger OF the plump hand, aud that other
hour when, at the close OF the exhaustive
watching, when you knew that the soul
had fled, you took from the hand, which
gave back no responsive clasp, from that
emaciated finger, the ring that she had
worn so long and worn 80 well.
On some anniversary day you take up
that ring, and you repolish II until all the
old luster comes back, and You can see in
1t the fash OF eyes that long ago ceased 10
weep. oh, II is not an unmeaning thing
when tell you that when Christ receives
n soul into his keeping he puts on IL a
marriage ring. He endows you from that
moment with all his wealth. You are one
Christ and the soul---one in sympathy,
one in affection, one in hope.
There is no power ip earth or hell TO
effect enforcement after Christ and the
soul are united. Other kings have turned
out their companions when they got weary
OF them, and sent them adrift from the
palace gate. AhGsuerus banished Nashti;
Napoleon forsook Josephine; but Christ
is the husband that is true forever. Hav-
ing loved you once, he loves you 10 the
end. Did they not try 10 divorce Margaret,
the Scotch girl, from Jesus? They said:
lyon must give up your religion" She
said: 81 can't give up my religion" And
80 they took her down 10 the beach OF the
sea, and they drove in stake at low water
mark, and they fastened her TO il, expect.
ing that as the tide came up her faith
would fail. Tho tide began to rise, and
came up higher and higher, and TO the
girdle, and to the lip, and in the last mo-
ment, just az the wave was washing her
soul into glory, she shouted the praises Of
Jesus.
Oh, no, -ou cannot separate soul from
| Christ. II IL an everlasting marriage.
Battle and storm and darkness cannot do
IL. Is il too much exultation for man,
who is but dust and ashes like myself 10
..t 49,. Ill
neither hight, nor depth, nor prinipali-
ties, nor powers, nor things present, nor
things to come, nor any other creature
shall separate mo from the love OF God
which is in Christ Jesus, my Lordg' Glory
be TO God that when Christ and the soul
are married they are bound by chain, q
golden chain--if ] might say so-a chain
with one link, and that one link the golden
ring OF Gods everlasting love.
20 a step further and tell you that
when Christ receives a soul into his love
he puts on HIM the ring Of icstivity. You
know that IL has been the custom In all
ages TO bcstow rings ON very happy occa
sions. There is nothing more appropriate
for birthday gift than ring. You de
light TO bestow such gift upon your chill
dren at such a time. II means Joy hilar
ity, festivity. Wen, when this old man o.
the text wanted TO tell how glad he wa;
that his boy had got back, he expressed Il
In this way Actually, before he ordered
sandals 10 be put on his bare feet before
he ordered the fattcd calf 10 be killed "a
appeasc the boys hunger, he commanded.
"Put ring on his hand"
Oh, Il is a merry time when Christ and
| the soul are unitedl Joy Of forgiveness
What a splendid thing II is 20 feel that AL
II right between me and God. What .
glorious thing II is 20 have God Just take
up all the sins OF my life and put them In
ono bundle, and then ding them into th,
depths OF the sea, never 10 rise again
never 10 be talked OF again. Pollution all
gone. Darkness all Illuminated. God
reconciled. The prodigal home. "Put Q
ring ON his hand"
Every day find happy Christian people
| I find some OF them with no second coat
some OF them In huts and tenement-houses
not one earthly comfort afforded them
and yet they are as happy as happy car
be. They sing "Rock OF Ages" as nc
other people In the world sing II. The,
never wore any jewelry In their life bu
one gold ring, and that was the ring o.
Gods undying affection. Oh, how happy
religion makes nsl Did Il make yot
gloomy and sad7 Did you 20 with you
head cast down? do not think you go
religion, my brother. That IL not th,
effect OF religion. True religion Is Joy
"licr ways are ways OF pleasantness, anC
all her paths are peace"
Why, religion lightens all our burdens
II smooths all our way. II inierprcts al
our sorrows. II changes the jar OF earthl,
discord for the peal OF festal bells. IL
front OF the flaming furnace OF trial Il set
the forge on which scepters are hammered
out. Would you not like today 10 com,
up from the swine-feeding and try thii
religion2 All the joys Of heaven woult
come out and meet you, and God woult
cry from the throne: "Put q ring on hil
hand"
You are not happy. soc II. There Il
no peace, and sometimes you laugh whcr
YOU feel great deal more like crying
The world Is n cheat. II first wears yoI
down with iis iollies, then II kicks yoI
out into darkness. IL comes back from
the massacre Of million souls 30 attemp
the destruction OF your soul today. NJ
peace out OF God, but here Is the fountain
that can slake the Thirst Here is the har
bor where you can drop safe anchorage.
Would YOU not like, | ask you-no
perfunclorily, but as one brother nigh
talk 10 another-would You not like q
have pillow Of rest 10 put your head on
And would you not like, when you retir'
at night, 10 feel that all Is we'll, whcthe
you wake up tomorrow morning at
o'clock, or sleep the sleep that knows NJ
wakingl Would you not like TO exchang
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