Wichita eagle., 1888-04-08
HOPE



whose soft south wind waited the perfume
OF early blossoms and budding trees
Drought throngs OF people upon the streets,
some visiting the stores In quest Of what
suited fancy or necessity, some walked
aimlessiy along, glancing into the tempt
ing plate glass fronts, where ineandescent
lights made the attractions more charm
ing than even the light of midday, some
went to the play house, the Crawford
Grand sr the Garfield. and some others
whose souls have been touched by the life
and spirit Of the lowly NAzarene. assem-
bled in the house of player 10 spend the
hours Of the closing week in communion
with their God There was not soul In
the whole city last night whoss heart did
not respond in thoughtful praise 20 the
giver of ali good for the week of sunny
skies and balmy breexes OF returning
springtiule. Who this morning, As tho
Christian Sabbath, with all its sacred
institutions and haliowed associations
spreads its bcnedictions over the land, can
fail to utter thanksgiving and
praise' How as time for
reflection upon this life's mission,
as well as rest Divine wisdom he's insti-
tutea the Sabbath 20 bless humanity The
Sabbath belongs 10 no sect or creed. II is
a day for mankind. The Sabbath was
made for man and not man for the Sab
bath" No one can prescribe for his neigh
bor how he should spend Gods holy day,
bat He that remembers not to keep the
Christian Sabbath at the beginning of the
week, will be in danger 20 forget before the
end of the week thar Ae i a Christian"
The services of the er,n ming last night nc
the Baptist church, began with song ser.
vice of several hymns. We were glad to
see new faces in the choir, and hope this
feature may continue.
The scripture reading was from Hebrews
chapter VI. containing the doctrine OF
eternal salvation once for ALL Prayer was
then offered for strength, conservation and
fervent devotion; for relief from worldli-
ness and self-indulgence on the part OF pro-
fessors: for gracious outpouring of bless
ing on the comparatively few Christians
who have been fruitful in good works
during the present effort, and for true
manhood and moral courage on the part OF
convicted souls
\ song by the audience succeeded. The
following announcements were next made:
Sunrise prayer meeting, 20 which all but
especially young converts are invited TO he
present. Regular preaching services at II;
subject, 'The Bible on Baptism" Let all
bring their Bibles or Testaments, a. all
points will be made from them Sunday
school at $50 p. M, followed by baptism;
also inquiry meeting at $50 D. m. and
preaching at 7:45 p. m, the latter succeeded
by baptism.
The evangelist announced his text from
Isaiah 51:lo-"There is no hopc'-and his
theme "a funeral sermon Of a condemned
soul" Ii his treatment Of the subject he
pictured the Christians hope its excellence
and its contrast with the sinners condi-
ton. The Christians hope is good CD DO.
cause IL gives peace. Man cries out after
peace, his desires point 20 il, be Graves re-
luctantly for IL. He seeks IL ia wealth,
pleasure, ambition. fame and finds it not.
He exhausts all philosophy. all isIns, and
thee satisfy him not. He returns To tho
faith of his childhood and the instructions
received at q mothers knee Co find then,
the power OF God unto salvstion-th,
haven of rest 10 his storm tossed life This
was illustrated in the experience OF a man
who, having tried all forms of atheisa@,
skepticism and infidelity and finding all
but aggrayation and yexation Of spirit,
came crying TO the church, Il want the re
ligion OF Jesus aud you don't know how
bad want it. Sly soul is starving; will
no one help"
The Christians hope Is good co because
IL relieves pain. sin and the fear OF death.
Who Is so brave 10 encounter and so pa
tent to endure hardship az be whose hope
il anchored on Christ, Whose sky 40 Sc
rene. whose future 50 bright rs his who
can call the judge Of ali the earth his
Savior and his friend Who can 30 calmly
close his eyes and bid adieu TO all
things loved below az he who knows
that TO depart is but to meet ono
loved yet more deariys VITA. otherstbeory
Of life or other hope than this makes death
q welcome visitorf The experience of an
aged saint in an eastern city finds thous.
and counterparts all over our land. Az
the age Of 81. with dimmed eyes and en-
feebied frame, his cry was, why does py
Lord not call me hence' live bat a. a
burden To my friends, and would gladly
be with Jesus"
This hope is good 90 because IL holds ont
the promise and assurance Of glorious
resurrection. II will raise him up at the
last day" Youth, unregenerate, fears the
dark river and shoulders on the brink: age,
redeemed, knowing what is on the other
side gladly welcomes IL. Then, too. with
TRANSPORTED bodies, we shall see Him az
He is.
This hope is good ~ because 4. ia hops
Of eternal existence at Gods. right haud.
"For we know that--we have building Of
God, a house not made with hands, eternal
in the heavens" we seek acity Of God. -
Why, then, should anyone consider IL a
trial 10 give up the feetiDg pleasures ans
vanities Of tickle world for tbs sake Of
God' Does anything ephsmeral ever
weigh against the eternsl' Even should
we have fewer laughing seasons. fewer
jollitics, fewer tsmperings with sin. does
there not come q day OF reward,
and can we not wait loving
Fathers own good time, Years ago, ia
the midst Of an address, a brother wLis-
pered In the ear OF the evangelist. Your
younges. daughter IL dad. make haste II
you would see her buried" For moment
the blow was stunning The t@dium Of
the journey mitlgatsd bis grief until &C the
grave. as the gentle wife and bsrsayed
mother WA sinking 70 the sarth undsr the
weight OF woe. be found heart - whisper
That Il not your child: up yondsr she
waits for Us" How like a soyerra gn balm
was such consolation Thus r.ligsou comes
down 10 the darkest hour Of human expert
ence and lights the torch q hops. Ba.
disbelief Is IN. load dragging 20 de-
st-uction- AS the soul sinks 20 It's final
doom, aud els i,s fnas totnb, there come,
up the sad wall. There 4, no hope"
An experience meeting. in which over