West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1888-03-29

rings ON very Happy occasions. There IL
nothing more appropriate for a birthday gift
than n ring. You delight 20 bestow ruch a
gift upon your children at such tinoe. It
means joy, hilarity, festivity. Well when
this old man OF the text wanted TO tell How
glad he was that his boy had got beck, he
ordered sandals 20 be put on his bare teet.
before he ordered the fatted calf TO be killed
to appsase the boys hunger, he commanded;
"Put "A ring on bis hand"
oh. Il il "A merry time when Christ and the
soul are untedi JOY OF forgiveness What
a splendid thing IL is 30 feel that all -
right between mo aud God What glorious
thing IL is 20 have God Just take up. all the
sins OF my life ond put thofa i'm ono bundle,
and then fling them into tho depths OF the
sea, never TO rso sRan, never 10 be talked
OF again. Pollution all gone. Darkness all
iiumiuvi. Col recoDciied. The prodigal
homo Put ring on fhs hand."
Every day find happy CHRISTIAN people. L
find some of them with no second coat, some
OF them i'm huts and tenensBt houses, not
ono earthly comfort afforded Shem; and yet
sing "Rock OF Ages as no other people in
the world sing IT, They never wore any
jewelry i'm their life but ono gold ring, and
that was the ring OF Gods undying affection.
oh, how happy religion makes us! Did IL
make you gloomy and sadl Did you go with
your head cast downi i do not think you
got religion, my brother. That Is not the Of
feet OF religion. True religion Is JOY. Her
ways are ways or pletiSontness, anu III heE
paths are peace"
Why, religion lightens all our burdens. It
smooths all our way. IL interrupts all our
sorrows. IL changes the jar OF earthly dis
cord for the peal of festal bells In front OF
the flaming furnace OF trial 1t sets the forge
on which sSepters are hammered out. Would
you not like to-day TO come up from the
swine feeding and try this religionl Al the
joys OF Heaven would come out and meet
you, and God w,1uld cry from the throne:
onf orsfffo hnpH
You are not happy. 1 see It. There is no
peace, and sometimes you laugh when You
feel great deal mor,' like crying. The
world is a cheat. It fir st wears you down
with its folIies. then IL kicks you out into
darkness. Itcomes back from the massacre
OF n million souls TO attemL t tho destruction
of your soul to day. No p, ace out OF God,
but here IS the fountain tina can Stake the
thirst. Here is the harbor where you can
drop safe anchorage.
Would you not like, / ask ?, 1u-not per-
functorily, but one brother mn Tht talk to
another-wouldy you not like to hav, pillow
OF rest TO put your head ONT And W. ould you
not like, when you retire at night, 10 1eel
that all Is well, whether you wake mp To-
morrow morning at o'clock, or SLEEP the
sleep that knows no wakingi Would on
not like to exchange this awful uncertain "
about the future for n glorious assurance o.
heavent Accept of the Lord Jesus to-day,
aud all is well. IL on your way home some
peril should cross the street and dash your
rise up Immediately You would stand in
the celestial streets. You would be amid the
great throng that forever worship and are
forever happy If this day some sudden dis
ease should come upon you it would not
brighten you. II you knew you were going
you could give calm farewell to your beau
tltul home on earth, and know that you are
going right into the companionship 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 the shop, and you say: "Well,
now my weeks work is done, and tomorrow
IS sunday" 1t is a pleasant thought. There
is refreshment and reconstruction in the very
idea Oh, how pleasant it will be, IL. when
we get through the day of our life and we
so and lie down in our bed of dust we can
realize: well, now the work is all done,
and tomorrow is Sunday-an everlasting
Sunday"
oh, when, thou city OF my God,
shall Thy courts ascend,
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. IL you are
Christians, bid you be of good cheer Bear
with you our congratulations to the bright
city. Aged men, who win soon be gone,
take with you our love for our kindred in the
better land, and when you see them tell
them that we are soon coming Only few
more sermons to preach and hear. Only q
few more heartaches. Only a few more tolls.
Only few more tears. And then. what an
enhancing spectacle will be open before usl
Beautiful heaven, where all is light,
Beautiful angels clothed in white,
Beautiful strains that never tire,
Beautiful harps through all the choir,
There shat l join the chorus sweet,
Worshiping at the Saviour's feet.
/ approach you now with general invita-
ton. not picking out here and there n man.
nor here and there woman, nor here and
there a child; but giving you an unlimited
invitation, saying: Come for all things are
now ready" We invite you to the warm
heart of Christ, and the Enclosure of the
Christian Church. / know n great many
think that the Church does not amount 20
mu h, that II is obsolete; that it did its work
and is gone now, so far as all usefulness is
concerned. 10 is the happiest place / have
ever been in, except my own home
l know there are some people who say they
are Christians who seem TO get along with
out any help from others, and who culture
solitary pety. They do not want any ordi-
nances do not belong TO that class. cannot
| get along without them There are so many
| things IN this world that take my attention
from God, and Christ, and Heaven that I
want all the helps Of all the symbols and Of
All the Christian associations; and / want
around about me a solid phalanx of men who
/ love God and keep his commandments. Are
there any here WHO would like to enter into
| that association Then by simple, child
| like faith, apply for admission into the visi-
/ BILE church, and you will be received. No
/ questions asked about your past history or
/ present surroundings. Only one test-do you
/ love Jesusl
/ Baptism does not amount 70 anything, say
| great many people; but the Lord Jesus de-
/ carcd He that bclieveth and is baptized
shall be saved" putting baptism and faith
/ side by side. And an apostle declares: Re
/ pent and he baptized, every one Of you"
/ do not sickle for any particular mode OF
! baptism but put great emphasis on the fact
! that you ought TO be baptized. Yet no more
l emphasis than the Lord Jesus Christ, the
/ gre 70 head Of the church, puts upon IT,
The world is going 20, after a while, lose n
/ great many Of its victories. There are 10 be
revivals Of religion that will shake the earth.
We give you warning. There is n great host
coming i'm 20 stand under tho banner Of the
/ Lord Jesus Christ. VIII you be among theml
/ Will you be among the gathered sheaves1
Some o. you have beeu thinking on this
l subject year after year. You have found
out that this world Is a poor portion You
I want TO be Christians. You have come al
most into the kingdom Of God: but there you
stop. forgetful Of the fact that 90 be almost
/ saved is not 70 be saved 10 all. Oh. my
brother, after having come 50 near % the
door Of mercy, u you turn back, you vii
/ never come at ALL After you have heard o
the goodness Of God, n you turn away and
die, u VIII not De because you did not have
good DIR.
Gods aririf will not always strive
with hardened, self destroying man;
70 who pcr-ist llis Owe 40 gficve
May never hoar llis voice agafn.
May God Almighty this hour move uror
your soul aud bring you back from the hnsk
f| lee. aHN