The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-21

iSNu, 'lc slckness almost unto death, where
inc next dose OF morphine decided be-
tween CHASTITY bereavement and an UNI
broken home circle? Oh, yes. il was trou-
bic that whitened their hair. It was
trouble that shook the cup in their hands.
IL was trouble that washed the luster from
their eyes with the rain of tears until they
needed spectaclcs. 1t was trouble that
made the cane a necessity for their Jour
ney. DO you never remember seeing your
Old mother sitting, on some rainy day,
looking out of the window, her elbow on
the window'sisl her hand TO her brow
looking out, not seeing the falling shower
AZ all you well knew she was looking into
the distant past), until the apron came up
70 her eyes because the memory was too
much for her?
''Oft the big. unbiddcn tear,
Stealing down the fuTroWed cheek,
Told IN eloqucnce sincere,
Tales OF woe they could not speak.
"But this scene Of weeping DER,
Past this scene Of toll aud pain,
They shall feel distress no more,
Never, never weep again"
"Who are these under the altar" the
question was asked, and the response
came: These are they which came out of
great tribulation, and have washed their
robes, and made them white in the blood
OF tine Lamb" Our friends went by
path OF tears into glory. BE not surprised
II we have to travel the same pathway.
remark, again, II we want to win the
society OF our friends in heaven, we will
not only have 10 travel path OF faith and
path OF tribuation, but we will also have
10 positively battle for their companion
ship. David and his men never wanted
MI taK 10, i. A. 4
thick breastplatcs so much as they wanted
them on the day when they came down
upon the Amalekites II they had lost that
battle, they never would have got their fam
lilies back. | suppose that one glance at
their loved ones in captivity hurlel them
into the battle with ten-fold cour-
age and energy. They said: 1--WE must
win it. Everything depends upon II. Let
each one take man ON point Of spear or
sword. We must win IT," And | have
10 tell you that between us and coming
into the companionship OF our loved ones
who are departed there is an Austerlitz,
there is a Gettysburg, there is Waterloo.
War with the world, war with the flesh,
war with the devil. We have either To
conquer our troubles, or our troubles will
conquer us. David will either STAY the
Amalekites, or the Amalckitcs will slay
David. And yet is not the fort 10 be-
taken worth all the pain, all the peril, all
the besiegemcn2 Look who are they on
the bright hills OF heaven yonder2 There
they are, those who sat nj your own table,
the chair now vacant. There they are,
those whom you rocked in infancy in the
cradle, or hushed TO sleep in your arms
There they are, their brow more radiant
than ever before YOU saw II, their lips wait.
ing for the kiss OF heavenly greeting. their
check roscaie with the health Of eternal
summer, their hands Reckoning YOU NJ
the steep their feet bounding with abe
mirth Of heaven. Tho pallor OF their lns
siclsness ppn" nui Of their face, never more
10 be sick, never more to cough, never
more 10 limp, never more 10 be- old, never
more 10 weep. They are watching from
those nights to see II through Christ YOU
can take that fort. and whether YOU will
rush In upon lhom-.yictors. They know
that upon this battle depends whelhcryou
will ever join their society Up! strike
harder Charge more bravclyl Remember
that every inch YOU gain puts YOU M much
farther on toward that heavenly reunion.
II this morning, while speak, you could
hear the cannonide Of foreign navy. com
ing through the "Narrows." which WIS 10
dc-poil our city, and II they really should
succeed in carrying our families away
from u.s. how long would we take bcion'
we resolved 10 go after them2 Every
weapon, whether fresh from Springfield
or old and rusty In the garrett, would be
brought out; aud we would urge on, aud,
coming In front OF the foe, we would look
at them. and then look at our families,
and the cry would be. "Nictory or DEATH"
and when the ammunition was gone, We
would take the captions ON the point
Of the bayonct or under the
brccch Of the gun. II you would
make such struggle for the
getting back Of your earthly friends, will
you not make m much struggle for the
gaining of the eternal compnnionship Of
your heavenly fricnds7 oh, ycsl We must
Join them. We must sit in their holy So
ciety. We must sing with them the song
We must celebrate with them the triumph.
let Il mover be told on earth or In heaven
that David or his men pushed out with
Drawer hearts ior the getting back Of their
earthly friends for few years on earth
than We 30 get our departed
You say that all this implies that our de-
parted Christians are alive. WHY. had
you any idea that they we're dcad2 They
have only moved. II YOU should 20 on
the "a OF MAY TO n house where one Of
your friends lived, and found him gone,
you would not think that he was dead.
You would inquire next door where be
had moved 10. Our departed Christian
friends have only taken another house.
The secret ls that they are richer now than
they once were, aud can afford a better
residence. They once drank out ol earth.
ouNafc, they now drink from the Kings
chalicc. Joseph u set alive, and Jacob
will 20 up aud see him. Living, are they?
Why, II n man can live In this damp.
dark dungeon oi earthly captivity, can ho
not live where be brsathCs The bacing at
mosphcrc OF the mountains OF hoaycn7
Oh, yes, they are living.
10 YOU think that Paul IA ~ near dead
now rs be was when ho was living in the
/ Roman dungeon? DO YOU think that
/ Frederick Robertson, OF Brighton, II ~
/ near dead nov nf lac was when, year after
year. lac slept seated on the lloOr, his head
ON the bottom Of a chair, because lee could
| think that Robert Hall Il M near dead
/ nov ~ when. on his couch, be tossed In
physical tOriups' No Death gave them
the few black drops that cured them.
! That IL nll death does 10 Christian-cufcs
him. know that what ! have said in.
plies that they are living. There h no
question about that The only question
this morning Is whether you will ever Join
them.
But must no, forget those 600 men
who tainted by the brook Bcrpr. They
\ eould not t1ko another step iartblf Their