The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-09-05
"Ye are The Light Of The World"


With heart full of love and kind
ness come to you, dear young peo'
pie, with message from our blessed
Lord and Master. He has laid it upon
me to speak to you, and so in His
name and for Christ's sake, I have
said, mot as I will, but as thou wilt
A short time ago, a beautiful picture
was presented to my notice, and has
so rested with me that I would like fol
you to see it as I saw it, and think con
cerning it as I have thought.
In a dark and gloomy desert place
two men are seen dressed as for race
One completely exhausted is stagger.
ing, falling; in his hand he bears q
lighted torch, and as he sinks by the
way, his companion coming up, ap.
parently in great haste, seizes the light
and speeds on. The work of the oneis
fiished. Well done, may truly be his
reward, while that of the other is just
begun.
How typical this is of the world and
our own lives.
Christ, the Light of the world, came
to this earth eighteen centuries ago,
and as He passed into the heavens.
His followers took up the light and
have brought it down to US. We, in
our turn, are to take up the torch and
carry it as far as may be.
Through trial, persecution and death,
the early followers of our Master held
the beacon light of truth aloft, run
ming their race, doing their work amid
the thick darkness.
AS the Egyptian night of error and
sin passed away, the children of God
still held on high their signal lights;
passing them down from generation to
generation.
Yes, some may say, truly there was
need of lamps by the way to guide dur.
ing the dark ages, but we are living
in this enlightened nineteenth century
in broad daylight, what need Of torch.
es now?
All! dear ones, especially our young
er members, there is lneed, aye, great
need Of light now, perhaps greater
need than ever before. Even in this
beautiful land of ours the darkness is
over us, and shall we do nothing to
dispel it?
We have the promise that Christ
shall give US light; and what shall
we do with it /: try to hide it under
bushel?
Our blessed Master tells US. in that
wonderful Sermon on the Mount that
we are the lights. of the world; and
then gives us the command to let our
lights so shine before men, that they
may see our good works and glorify
our Father which is in heaven.
Sabbath breakers, inebriates, idola-
tsrs, are all around; are our lights
held so high that they may see the or.
ror of their ways?
Then there are, in our very midst,
those who, by their negative lives, are
refusing Christ as their Savior, who,
perhaps by their morality, are doing
as much harm as those who are break
ing the laws of life. Are our torches
held aloft when we are with these, OF
for fear of criticism do we trail our
lights in the dust?
Let us think of these things, dear
ones, and remember that no one can
bear our torches for US.
Shall our path be that of the just,
as a shining light that shineth more
and more unto the perfect day, and
shall the promise be verified to us
that at evening time it shall be light ?
Remember this it only as we walk day
by day as the Master leads; letting, as
an old writer has said, "Obedience
keep pace with knowledge"
This is a trying, testing time in the
history of our church. Shall we who
are younger take up the torches fall
ing from the hands of those who are
finishing their races and going up
higher, or shall their lights be allowed
to fall by the way and become extin-
guished?
The dear Master has blessed US
abundantly as church, and He has
still greater blessings in store for us,
but we must be willing to do as He
bids.
In the love of Christ, one of your
number, E. a H.
From Friends Review.