The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-02-04

but the sound OF that one flute Us COM
pared with all the orchestra was greater
than all the combined Joy OF the universe
when compared with the resembling heart
OF Almighty God.
For ten years u father went three times
a day TO the depot. His son went oil in
aggrayaiing circumstances, but the father
said: Gle will come back" The strain
was too much, aud his mind parted. and
three times a day the father went. In the
early morning he watched the train, It's
arrival, the stepping out Of the passengers,
and then the departure Of the train, At
noon he was there again watching the adj
vance of the train, watching the departure.
At night, there again; watching the COM
ing, watching the going tor ten years. lie
was sure his son would come back. God
has been watching and waiting for some
OF YOU, my brothers, ten years, twenty
years, thirty years, forty years, perhaps
fifty years waiting, waiting, watching,
Watching; and II this morning the prodiyal
should como home, what scene ol glad.
ness aud lcstivty, aud how the great
Fathers heart would rejoice ut your COM
ing home. You will come, some OF you,
will you not2 You will, you will
3. | notice also that when prodiml
comes home there is the JOY OF the minis
tcrs OF religion. Oh, II Is grand thing tn
preach this gospel. know there has been
u great deal said about the trials aud the
hardships OF the Christian ministry.
wish somebody would write good rous.
ing book about the JOYS Of the Christian
ministry. Since entered the profession
! have seen more Of the goodness NJ .i,od
than | will he able to celebrate in all
eternity. know some boast about their
equilibrium, aud they do not rise into en-.
thusinsm, aud they do not break down
with emotion; but confess To YOU plainly
that when ! see man coming ~ God,
aud giving up his sin feel in body, mind,
and soul transport. When ! see man
who is bound hand and foot In evil habit
cmancipated, | rejoice over II ~ though il
were my own emancipation. When today
IN our communion service such thrOngs Of
Old and young stand NJ these alllrs, and
IN the presence oi heaven aud earth and
he'll attest their allegiance Ia Jesus Christ,
| feel u joy something akin tu that which
the apostle describes when lac SAYS:
Whether IN the body | cannot tell, ur
ont OF the body cannot tell, God know
eth"
Oh, have not ministers fight To re-
joicc when prodlgul comes homer They
blew the trumpet, aud ought they not 10
bo glad Of the gathering Ut the host Ihry
pointed 10 the full supply, and ought they
not TO rejoice when souls pant ~ the hart
for the water. brooks? They came forth
saying "All things are now ready
ought they not Ia rejoice whcn the proil.
gal sits down ut the banquet
Life insurance men will all tell YOU that
ministers of religion rs u class live longer
than any other IL Is confirmed hy the
statistics Of all those who calculate upon
human longevity. Why is ~ There h
more draft upon the nervous system than
IN any other profession. aud their toll is
most oNhausling. have seen ministers
kept ON miserable stipcnds by parsimoni-
Gus congregations who wondered nj the
duilnrSs Ut the sermons, when the men IT
tod were pcrplgNNl almost 10 death by
questions of LIVELIHOOD aud had not enough
nutritious food TO keep any fir Ia their
temperament No fuel, no iir. ! have
sometimes seen the inside ul the lilr ol
many ul the American Clvrgymcn never
accepting their hospitality, because they
cannot afford II, but ! have seen them
struggle on with salaries oi 500 aud $500
q wear the average less than that their
struggle we'll depicted by the Western mis.
siunnry who SAYS iu letter Thank you
for your last remittance, until II came W.
had not ANY meat M uur HOUSE iuf one year,
and all last winter, although " VIZ a
severe winter, our children wore their
summer clothes" Aud these men ui
God find In different parts ui the land,
struggling against nnnoyanccs and cXis-
pcmlions innumcmblc, some oi them,
week after week, entertaining agent. Who
have maps Ia sell. AMI submitting them
selves 10 all styles of annoyance, aud yet
without complaint, AMI cheerful Ut soul.
How do YOU account iur the met that thee
life insurance men tell ~ that ministers
~ class live longer than any uthrr' II
is because of the Joy oi their work. the joy
ri the harvest field. the Joy oi greeting
pfUdigals home 10 their Fathers house.
Oh, We are Ia sympathy with oil innp-
cent hilaritics We ran enjoy a hearty
song. and We can be- merry With the mcr.
REST. but thusr Of ~ Who have tDilcd In
the service nic ready TO testify That all
these Joys are tame compared With the
satisfaction ui seeing mon enter the King
dom OF God. Tie gfrat urig Of every min.
i-tcr are the uuippuungs NJ ihr Holy
Ghost. and ! thank God | have seen
,ifhlccn VI them. Thank Col, thank
Cod
4. notice also when the prOligal comes
back, al earnest Christians piuiyr. II you
stood On Muntluk Point aud thcu WHs u
hurricane nj tca, aud II WIS blowing To-.
ward iho shore, and vessel crashed into
the rocks aud YOU Jaw people gut ashore
| in the lilr.bOaA aud thu very last man Eui
on the rocks in safety sou could not con-
troll your joy Aud h isa Glad Time when
the church oi God Sees men Who Ip
tossed on the ocean Of their sins plant
their feet on the rDck Christ Jesus
ola. when prOdiga,s come homu ius,
hear those Christians sing. just heat
those Christians pray II j. not u stcIu1'
typed supplic,tiUn We have heard over
und over again iuf twenty yram. hut d
putting ol the c.so in the hands ~ God
with uu impUHunnie pleading No long
prayers. Men never pray NJ great lyug.h
/ uuirss thuy have nothing a. say Hni lhcii
hearts are hard and cold. Al ihr
prayers IN the Bible that NuIJ
/ answered were short prayers "Gol %.
mrrriiul to me n sinner. lord. that !
NAV receive ms sight "lorl, save mr
or | perish" The longest prayer, Solo
mons prayer at the dedication ui thy
| temple, less than eight minutes in length,
according ~ the ordinary rate Ol cnuuyu
/ lion.
Aud Just hear them pray now ihat ih.
prodigts are coming home. Jus. sru thrI
| shake hands No putting forth Ui the i1u.
| tins Of the iingrr IN formal way, but d
/ hearty grasp, where the muscles NJ th.
| heart seem 10 ClinCh the hngcm ui uU,
baud around the other hand. Aud thgl
SEQ thoso Christian faces, how illuminate.