The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-16

Would God that we could understand that
our trials arc the very best thing for us. II
we had an appreciation OF that truth, then
We should know why il was that John
Noyra, the martyr, in the very midst OF
the flame reached down and picked up one
OF the faggots that was consuming him,
and kissed it, and said blessed be God
for the time when was born to this pre-
ferment." They who suffer with him on
this earth shall be glorifed with him in
heaven. BE content, then, with such
things as you have.
Another consideration leading us to the
spirit OF the text is the assurance that the
Lord will provide somehow. viii he who
holds the water in the hollow OF his hand,
allow his children to die OF thirst2 Will
he who owns the cattle on thousand
hills, and all the earths luxuriance of
grain and fruit allow his children TO
starve2 Go out tomorrow morning at 8
o'clock into the woods and hear the birds
know not where they will dine, they have
no idea where they will sup; but hear the
birds chant at o'clock in the morning.
"Behold the fowls Of the air; for they ,,w
not, neither do they reap, nor gather into
barns, yet your heavenly Father feedeth
them. Are you not much better than
they?" Seven thousand people, in Christ's
time, went into the desert. They were the
most improvident people ever heard OF.
They deserved TO starve, They might have
taken food enough TO last them until they
got back. Nothing did they take. A lad
who had more wit than oil OF them put
together asked his mother that morning
for some loavcs of bread and some fishes.
They were put into his satchel. He went
out into the desert. From this provision
the 1000 were fed, and the more they ate
the larger the loavcs grew. until the pro-
vision that the boy brought In one satchel
was multiplied 80 he could not have car
ried the fragments home in six satchcls.
30" you say, "times have changed, and
the day Of miracles has gone" reply
that what God did then by miracle he
does now in some other way and by nat
ural laws 81 have been young" said
David, but now am ! old; yet have /
never seen the righteous forsaken, nor his
seed begging bread" II is high time that
you people who are fretting about worldly
circumstances, and who are fearing YOU
are coming 90 want, understood that the
oath OF the eternal God is involved in the
fact that you are TO have enough TO eat
and 10 wear.
Again: remark that the religion Of
Jesus Christ is the grandest influence 10
make a man contented. Indemnity against
all financial and spiritual harrnl II calms
the spirit. .dwindles the earth into insig-
nificance, and swallows up the soul with
the thought OF heaven, o, ye who have
been going about from place TO
place expecting TO find in change oi
circumstances something 10 give solace
to the spirit, commend you, this morn.
ing, 10 tho warm-hearted, earnest, prac.
tical, common-sense religion OF the Lord
Jesus Christ. There il no peace, saith
my God, for the wicked" and as long as
YOU continue In your sin You will DC mis-
crable. Come 10 Christ Make him your
portion. and start for heaven, and you
will be happy man-you will be hap
py woman.
Yet, my friends. notwithstanding al
! these Inducements 10 a spirit OF content
ment, have 90 tell You this morning th'
human mco ~ divide'i into two classes
1 those who scold and those who get scolded
The carpenter wants 10 be anything but |
carpenter, and the mason anything but q
mason, and the banker anything but
banker, and the lawyer anything but
lawyer, and the minister anything but
minister, and everybody would be happy
II he were only somebody else. The ane
none wants 10 be q sunilower, and ih'
apple orchards throw down their blossom
because they are not tall ccdars, and th'
scow wants to bc schooner, and the slooI
would like 10 be q scyonty-iour FOUNDER
and parents have the worst children tina
ever were, and everybody has the creates
misfortune, and everything is upside down
or going 10 bc. All! my friends, yot
never make any advance through such {
spirit as that. You cannot fret yourscl
up, YOU may fret yourself down. Ami'
all this grating oftones strike this strinl
oi the Gospel harp: "Godliness with con
tentmcnt is great gain. We brought
nothing into the world, and u Is very Ger
tain we can carry nothing out; having
food aud raimcnt let Us Herewith bo con
tent"
Let MS all remember II We are Chris
tians, that We are going after awhile, what
ever be our circumttanccs now, 10 have
glorious vacation. As in summer We pu
of our garments and 60 down into th,
cool sea 20 bathe 10 We will put of thcs
garments Of flesh, and step into the COO
Jordan. We will look around for som
place 20 lay down our wearincss, and th
trees will say: Come and rest under on
shadow" aud the earth will say: "Com
and sleep in my bosom" and the wind
will say. "lIushl while sing thee a cH,dl
hymn" aud whilo six strong men carr
us out 10 our last resting place, and ashc
come 10 ashes and dust 10 dust, We will w.
two Scared feet standing amid the brokoI
soil, and lacoraicd brow bow bondin
over the open grave, whilo n voice, ter
der with all affection. and mighty wit
all omnipotcnce, will declare: III al
the resurrection and the life, he that b,
lieyeth in me, though hc were dead, "
shall he live" Comfort one another wit