Democratic messenger., 1888-11-03

parable Of the sower, who went forth 10
SOW, picture; parable Of the unmerciful
servant, a picture; parable OF the ten vir-
gins, picture parable Of the talents, II
picture. The world wants pictures, and
the appetite begins with the child, who
consents to go early to bed II the mother
will sit beside him and rehearse q story,
which Is only picture. When We see
how much has been accomplished in secu.
lar directions by pictures-Shakespearc's
tragedies picture, Victor Hugo's writings
all pictures, John Ruskin's and Tenny.
sons and Longicllow's works all pictures
why not enlist, as far rs possible, for
our churches and schools and rcf0rmato.
~ work and cvangelistic cndeavor, the
power Of thought that can he put into
word pictures, if not pictures In color!
Yea, why not all young men draw for
themselves on paper, with pen or pencil,
their coming career, of virtue, II they pre-.
fer that; of vice il they prefer that. After
making the picture put in on the wall. or
paste il on the flylcaf of some favorite
book. that you may have II before you. !
read the other day ofa man who had been
executed for murder, and the jailor found
afierwarl picture made on the wall OF
the cell by the assassin's own hand, pic
,ure of flight Of stairs. On the lowest
step he had written "Disobcdicnce TO pa.
rents !" on the second, "Sabbath-brcak.
ing :" on the third, drunkenness and
gambling;" on the fourth, Murder" and
on the top step gallows." II that man
had made that picture before he took the
frs, step he never would have taken any
OF them. o, man, make another picture.
bright picture, an evangelical picture.
and will help you make IL! suggest six
steps for this flight Of stairs. On the first
step write the words, a nature changed
by the Holy Ghost and washed In the
blood of the Lamb" on the second step,
Industry and good companionship;" on
the third step. ~ Christian home with
family altar" on the fourth step. Ever.
widening usefulness; on the fifth step,
~ glorious departure from the world"
on the sixth step, "IIeaven Heaven!
Heayen." Write Il three times, and Let
the letters Of the one word be made up OF
banners, the second OF coronets, and the
third Of thrones! Promise me that you
will do that, and will promise to meet
you on the sixth step, IL the Lord will
through his pardo ming grace bring me
there too.
\ WORD or CHEER.
And here am going To say word of
cheer to people who have never had
word of consolation on that subject. There
are men and women in this world by
hunlrends of thousands. and some OF
them are here to-day, who have fine nat
ural taste, aud yet all their lives that taste
has been suppressed, and although they
could not appreciate the galleries OF Drcs.
den and Vienna and Naples far more than
900 out Of 1000 who visit them, they
never may go, for they must support their
households, Ynd bread and schooling for
their children are of more importance
than pictures. Though fond Of music
they are compelled to live amid discori,
and though fond of architecture, they
dwell in clumsy abodcs, and though ap.
prcciativc of all that engravings and
paintings can do, they are In perpetual
deprivation. You are going after you get
on the sixth step Ofihat stairs just spoken
Of. Ia find yourselves In the royal gallery
Of the universe, the concentrated splen-
dor Of all worlds before your transport
ed vision. In same way all the thrilling
scenes through which We and the Church
Of God have passed in our earthly state
will be the pictured end brought TO mind.
At the cyclomma Of Gettysburg, which
we had in Brooklyn, one day blind man.
who los, his sight in that battle. was with
his child heard talking while standing
before that picture. The blind man said
10 his daughter; Are there at the right OF
the picture some regiments marching up
Il hill;" Yes" she said. "Wcll,' said
the blind man, "is there general On horse.
back leading thcm on" "Yes," she said.
"Wcll, is there rushing down on these
men a cavalry CHARGE" YES" was the
reply. "And do there seem to be many
dying and dead:" "Yes." was the ans.
wer "Well, now, do you see u shell from
the woods bursting near the wheel ofa
cannon!" Yes" she said. "Stop right
there" said the blind man. "That Is the
last thing ever saw on earth! What u
time |, was, Jenny, when l lost my eye
sigh, = But when you who have found
life hard battle, very Gettysburg, shall
stand In the royal gallery of Heaven, and
with your new vision begin TO see and
understand that which in your earthly
blindness you could not see at all, you
will point out to your celestial comrades.
perhaps TO your own dear children who
have gone before. the scenes OF the earth.
Is conflicts in which you participated,
saying: "Thcrc from that hill Of prospcri.
~ was driven back in that valley Of
humiliation was wounded. There lost
my cyesight. That was the way the world
looked when last saw II. But what a
grand thing to get celestial vision, and
stand here before the cyclorama OF oil
worlds while the Rider on tho white
horse goes on conquering and to conquor.'
the moon under His feet and the stars OF
heaven Tor his ALTAR
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