The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-17

best rellgious encyclopedia the world has
ever had provided, and, with his other
writings as well, throwinga light upon the
word OF God such as has come from no
other man in this century. o, mother
mother, that little hand that wanders over
your face may yet be lifted to hurl thun-
derbolls OF war or drop benedictions
That little voice may baspheme God in
the grog shop. or cry: Forward" TO the
Lords hosts us thoy 20 out for their last
victory. My mind today leaps thirty
years ahead, and see merchant prince
OF New York. One stroke OF his pen
brings n ship out OF Canton. Another
stroke OF his pen brings ship into Madras.
He is mighty in Nil the money markets Of
the world. Who is he2 He sits today
beside you in tho Tabernacle. My mind
leaps thirty years forward from this time,
and find myself in relief association.
A great multitude Of Christian women
have met together for generous purpose.
There is one woman in that crowd who
seems 10 have the confidence OF all the
others, and they all look up to her for her
counsel AMI for her prayers. Who Is she?
Today you will find her in the Sabbath
school, while the teacher tells her
OF that Christ who clothed the naked
and fed the hungry and healed
the sick. My mind leaps forward thirty
years from now, and | find myself in an
African jungle; and there is missionary
OF the cross addressing the natives, and
their dusky countenanccs arc irradiated
with the glad tidngs OF great Joy and
salvation. Who is he? Did you not hear
his voice today in the first song OF the
service? My mind leaps forward thirty
years from now, and find myself looking
through the wickets OF Il prison. see a
face Scared with every crime. His chin
on his open palm, his elbow on his knee
picture OF despair. As open the wicket
no starts, and ] hear his chain clank.
Tho jail keeper tells me that he has been
in there now three times. First for theft,
then for arson, now for murder lie steps
upon tho trap door, the ropo ia fastened TO
his neck, tho plank falls, his body swings
into the air, his soul swings of into
eternity. Who is he and where is he?
Today playing kite on the city commons.
Mother, you are today hosting throne or
forging chain-you are kindling star or
digging dungeon.
A good many years ago u Christian
mother sat teaching lessons OF religion TO
her. child; and he drank in those lessons
She never know that Lamphier would
come forth and establish the Fulton street
prayer meeting, and by one meeting revo-
luiionize the dovotions OF the whole earth,
and thrill the oternites with his Christian
influence. Lamphier said II was his mother
who brought him TO Jesus Christ. She
never had an idea that she was leading
forth such destinies. But o, when soc a
mother reckless Of her influence, rafting
on toward destruction, garlanded for the
sacrifice with unscemly mirth and god
lcssness, gayly tripping on down 10 ruin,
taking her children In the same direction,
cannot help but say: There they 90,
there they go-llngar and lshmaelp |
tell you there arc wilder deserts than
Beersheba In many Of the domestic circles
OF this day. Dissipatcd parents leading
dissipaiod children. Avaricious parents
leading avaricious children. Prayerlcss
parents leading pmycrlcss children. They
20 through every street, up every dark
alley, into every cellar, along every high
way. llagar and lshmao and while |
pronounce their names, IL seems like the
moaning Of the death wind lagar and
lshnael
learn ono moro lesson from this
Oriental scene, and that is, that every
wilderness has a well In IT, llagar and
lshmaol gave up 10 die. llagar's heart
sank within her as she heard her child
crying water waterl water" "Ah,"
she says, "my darling, there Is no water.
This N n desert" And then Gods angel
said from the cloud: "Whnt aile,h thee,
llagar7" A1d she looked up and saw
him pointing 10 n well OF water. whore she
filled the bottle for the lad. blessed be
God that there Is In every Wilderness a
well, II YOU only know how 10 find it
fountains Tor oil these Thirsty souls today.
ION that last day, on that great day Of
the feast, Jesus stood and cried: II any
man thirst, lcthim come 10 me aud drink"
All these other fountains YOU find are
more mirngcs Of the desert Paracclsus,
you know, spent his time In trying TO iind
out the elixir OF lifc--a liquid which. N
taken, would keep ono pcrpctually young
In this world, and would change the aged
back again to youth. OF course he
was disappointed he found not the
elixir. but hero | toll YOU today Of
the elixir Of everlasting life bursting from
tho "Rock OF Age" and that drinking
that water YOU shall never get old, and
you will mover be sick, and YOU will never
die. "llo, every one that thirsleth, come
70 10 the waters" All, there Is a man
who says III have been looking for that
fountain a great while, but can't find It. I"
And here Is some ono clso who says 81
believe all YOU say, but have been trudg.
the fountain" DO you know the reason2
right direction. co." YOU say, 81 have
| l.a.N..I
south, east aud west, and haven't found
tho fountain" Why, you are not looking
In the right direction al all. Look up,
where llagar looked. She mover would
have found the fountain NJ all, but when
she heard the voice Of the angel she looked
up, aud she saw tho finger pointing 60 the
supply. And o. soul, u today, with one
earnest, intense prayer You would only
look NJ ~ Christ, no would point you
down 10 the supply In the wilderness
Look unto mo all yc ends Of the earth
AMI be 20 saved Tor am God, and thcrc
is none else" Lookl looklas llagar looked
Yes, there Is a vol for oycry desert o.
bereavement. Looking over the audicnc,
today, ! notice signs OF mourning. llav,
you found consolation . man boreit Z
woman bcroii, have you found consola
toni llearrc after hoarsc. We stop from
one graVo hillock 10 another grave hillock
We follow corpscs, ourselves soon DO liz,
them. The world Is In mourning for IL
dead. Every heart has become tile scpul
cher Of some buried Joy. But sing 20 L
God, every wilderness has well In Il; an,
| come TO that well today aud begin :,
draw water from that wen. II you hav,
lived IN the country you have sometimes
taken hold Of the rope Of the old wei
sweep, and YOU know how the buckle