The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-19

that ring, and you repoiSh it until all the old
lustre comes back, and you can see in il the
flash OF eyes that long ago ceased to weep.
On, 1t is not an unmenning thing when
tell you that when Clrst receives a soul
into his keeping he puts on it a marriage
ring. lie endows you from that moment
with all his wealth. You are one-Christ
aud the soul-one in sympathy, one il aztec
tlon one in hope.
There is no power in 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 adrft from the
palace gate. Aha uerus banlshed Nasltl;
Napoleon forsook Josephine; but Christ is
the husband 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: II
can't give my religion" And so they took
her down to the beach of the sea, and they
drove in stake at the low water mark, and
they fastened her to it, expecting that rs
TIE tide came up her faith would fail. The
tide began to rise, and came up higher and
higher, and to the girdle, and to the lip, and
III the last moment, just as the wave was
washing her soul into glory, she shouted the
praises of Jesus.
On, no, you cannot separate a soul from
Christ. 1t is an everlasting marriage.
Battle and storm and darkness cannot do it,
Is it too much exultation for a man, who is
but dust and ashes like myself, TO cry out
to-day: Il am persuaded that neither
height, nor depth, nor principalities, nor
power. nor things present, nor things to
come, nor any other creature shall separate
me from the love of God which is in Christ
Jesus, my Lordw Glory be to God that
when Christ and the soul are married they
are bound by chain, golden chain--it /
might say so-a chain with one link, and
that one link the golden ring of Gods ever
lasting love.
go step further, and tell you that
when Christ receives a soul into his love he
puts on 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 a ring. You delight to
bestow such gift upon your children at
such a time. 1t means JOY, hilarity, festiv
ity. 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 the
fatted calf to be killed to anpease the boys
hunger, he commanded: Put ring on his
handn
"Oh, it is merry time when Christ and
the soul are united! JOY of forgi venessl
What splendid thing it is to feel that all
is right between me and God. What glo-
riOus thing it is to have God just take up
all the sins Of my life and put them into
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 illumined. God reconciled.
The prodigal home. PUT a ring on his
hand.
Every day find happy Christian people.
find some Of them with no second coat, some
of them in huts and tenement houses not cne
earthly comfort afforded thcm and yet
they are as happy as happy can be. Tney
sing Rock 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 affec-
tion. Oh, how happy religion makes usl
Did it make you gloomy and sads Did you
90 with your head cast downl / do not
think you got religion, my brother. That
is not the effect of religion. True religion
is JOY. Her WAYS are ways of pleasant
ness, and all her paths are peace"
Why, religion hghtens all our burdens.
1t smooths all our way. 1t interprets all
our sorrows. 1t changes the jar of earthly
discord for the peal of festal bells. In front
of the flaming furnace Of trial il sets the
forge on which sceptres are hammered out.
Would you not like to-day to come up from
the swne-feeding and try this religiOnl All
the joys of heaven would come out and meet
you, and God would cry from the throne:
Put ring on his hand"
You are not happy. / see it. There Is no
peace and sometimes you laugh when you
feel great deal more like crying. The
world is cheat. 1t first weans you down
with its folies, then ii kicks you out into
darkness. 1t comes back from the mas
sacre of million souls to attempt the de
struction of your soul to-day. No peace out
of God, but here is the fountain that can
slake the thirst Here is the harbor where
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 not like, when you retire at night,
to feel that all is well, whether you wake up
tomorrow morning at six O'Clock, or sleep
the sleep that knows no waldngf Would
YOU not like to exchange this awful uncer-
tainty about the future for a glorious as
surance of heavenf Accept of the Lord
Jesus to-day, and all is well If on your
way home some peril should cross the street
and dash your life out il would not hurt
you. You would rise up Immediately You
would stand in tie celestial streets You
would be amid the great throng that forever
worship and are forever happy. II this day
some Sudden disease should come upon you,
it would not frighten you. If you knew
you were going YOU could give n calm fare
well to your beautiful home on earth ard
know that you are going right into the com.
panonship of those who have already got
beyond the toiling and the weeping,
You feel on Saturday night different
from the way you feel any other night of
the week You come home from the bank,
or the store. or shop, and you say:
"Well, now my weeks work is done, and
tomorrow is Sunday" IL is pleasant
thought There is re reshment a1d recon
struction in the very idea. Oh, how
pleasant it will be, if, when we get through
The day of our life, and we 90 and lie down
in our bed Of dust, we can realize: "Well,
now tue work is all done, a d tomorrow is
Sunday-an everlasting Sunday"
"oh, when, thou city Of my God,
Shall thy courts ascendY
Where congregations ne'er break up,
And Sabbaths have no end
There are people in this house to-day who
are very near the eternal world II you
are Christians, | bid you be Of good cheer.
Bear with you our c ngratulatious TO the
bright city Aged men, who will soon be
gone, take with you our love for our kin
dred in the better land and when you see
them, tell them that We are soon coming
Only few more sermons 10 preach and
hear. Only a few more heartaches. Only
a few more tolls. Only a few more tears
nA thav, rvtat IN aufrauriuur eparfo rla