Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-03-28

! the store, or the shop, and you say: swell
now my weeks work is done, and to-mor
row is Sunday" 1t is pleasant thought
There is refreshment and reconstruction IL
the very idea. Oh, how pleasant it will be
If, when we get through the day of ou
life, and we go and lie down in our bed o
dust, We can realise: swell, now the worl
is all done, and tomorrow is Sunday-aI
everlasting Sunday"
20. 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 o-day
who are very near the eternal world. II
you are Christians, bid you be of good
cheer. Bear with you our congratulations
to the bright city. Aged man, who will
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 few more heart
aches. Only few more tolls. Only few
more tears. And, then, what an entrano-
ing spectacle will open before US!
| Beautiful heaven, where all is light,
Beautiful angels clothed in white,
Beautifui strains that never tire,
| B. autiful harps through all the choir;
| There shall join the chorus sweet.
| Worsh1pping at the Saviour's feet."
| approach you now with general iuvi-
tation, not picking out here and there
man, or here and there a woman, or here
and there child; but giving you an un-
limited invitation, saying: "Come, for all
things are now ready" We invite you to
the warm heart of Christ, and the inclosure
Of the Christian Church. | know great
many think that the Church does not
amount to much, that it is obsolete; that it
did its work and is gone now, 30 far as all
usefulness is concerned. 1t ia the happiest
place I have ever been in, except my own
home.
know there are some people who say
they are Christians who seem to get along
without any hslp from others, and who cul.
ture solitary piety. They do not want any
ordinances. | do not belong to that class.
1 cannot get along without them. There
are so many thing in this world that take
my attention from God, and Christ, and
heaven, that want all the helps of all the
symbols and of all the Christian associa-
tions; and want around about me solid
phalanx of men who love God and keep
His commandments. Are there any here
who would like to enter into that associa-
ton? Then by simple, child like faith
apply for admission into the visible Church,
and you will be received. No questions
asked about your past history or present
surroundings. Only one test-do you love
Jesus?
Baptism does not amount to anything,
say great many people, but the Lord
Jesus declared, 'Hs that believeth and is
bap ptized shall be saved" putting baptism
and faith side by side. And an apostle de-
clares. "Repent and be baptized, every one
of you" l do not stickle for any particu-
lar mode of baptism, but I put great en-
phasis on the fact that you ought to be
baptized. Yet no more emphasis than the
Lord Jesus Christ, the Great Head of the
Church puts upon it.
The world is going to, after awhile, lose
great many of its votaries. There are to
be revivals of religion that will shake the
EARTH We give you warning. There is
great host coming in to stand under the
banner of the Lord Jesus Christ. Will you
be among them9 Will you be among the
gathered sheaves?
Some of you have bsen thinking on this
subject year after year. You have found
out that this world is poor portion. You
want to be Christians. You have come al
most into the kingdom of God; but there
you stop, forgetful of the fact that to be al
most saved is not to be saved at all. Oh,
my brother. after having come so near to
the door of mercy, if you turn back you
will never come at all. After you have
heard of the goodness of God, if you turn
away and die, it will not be because you
did not have good offer.
Goods spirit will not always strive
With hardened, sef-destroying man;
Ye who persist His love to grieve,
May never hear his voice again."
May God Almighty this hour move upon
your soul and bring you back from the
husks of the Wilderness to the Fathers
house, and set you at the banquet, and
fput a ring on YOUR hand"