Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-07-24

meant victory; usefulness for what it pro-
dnced, victory because it was brought into
celebrations of triumph. And OBJ, low
much we want the palm branches in the
churches of Jesus Christ at this time! A
great many Christians don't amount to any
thing. Yon have to shove them out of the
way when the Lords chariots come along.
We don't want any more of that Kind of
Christians in the church.
The old maxim says: "Do not put all
your eggs into one basket" but have to
tell you in this matter of religion you had
better give your all to God. and then get in
yourself. "Oh," says some one, s'my busi-
ness is to sell silks and cloths" Well,
then, my brother, sell silks and cloths to
the glory of God. And some one says: ''My
business is to raise corn and carrots. F"
Then, my brother, raise corn and carrots
to the glory of God. And some one says
"My business is to manufacture horseshoe
nails" Then manufacture horseshoe nails
to the glory of God. There is nothing for
you to do that you ought to do but for the
glory Of God.
All, we don't want in the church any more
people that are merely weeping willows,
signing into the water, standing and admir-.
ing their long lashes in the CLASSY spring.
No wild cherry, dropping bitter fruit. We
want palm trees, holding something for
God, something for angels, something for
man. am tired and sick of this fat, tame,
insipid, satin slippered, namby- pamby,
highly tightly religion! 1t is worth nothing
for this world, it is destruction for eternity.
Give mo five hundred men and women
fully consecrated to Christ, and we will
take any city for God in three years. Give
me ten thousand men and women fully up
to the Christian standard; in ten years ten
thousand of them would take the whole
earth for God. But when are we going to
begin?
Ledyard, the great traveller, was brought
before the Geographical Society of Great
Britain, and they wanted him to make
some explorations in Africa, and they
showed him all the perils, and all the hard
| work, and all the exposure, and after they
had told him what they wanted him to do
in Africa, they said to him: ''Now, Led
yard, when are you ready to start?" He
said: Ito morrow morning." The learned
men were astonished; they thought he
would take weeks or months to get ready.
Well, now, you tell me you want to be
earnest for Christ; you want to be useful in
Christian service. When are you going to
begin2 Oh, that you have the decision to
say, "To day, nowp' Go now into the
mount and gather the palm branches. But
| the palm branch also meant victory. In
all ages, in all lands, the palm branch
means victory, We are by nature the
servants of Satan. He stole US, he has his
eye on us, he wants to keep US. The word
comes from our Father that if we will try
to break loose from his doing of wrong our
| Eaf mil al nd do
rouse up, and we look the black tyrant ir
the face, and we fly at him, and we wrestle
him down, and we put our heel on his neck
and we grind him in the dust and we say,
Victory, victory, through our Lord Jesus
Christ. Oh, what grand thing it is &c
have sin under foot and q wasted life
behind our backs. 'Blessed is be whose
transgression is forgiven, and whose sin is
covered" "But," says the man, 81 fee
so sick and worn out with the ailments Of
life." You are going to be more than con
queror. "But," says the man, 81 am sc
tempted, am 80 pursued in life" Yor
are going to be more than conqueror. 81
who have SO many ailments and heart
aches, going to be more than conqueror?'
Yes, unless you are so self-conceited tha
you want to manage all the affairs of you
life yourself, instead of letting God man
age them. Do you want to drive and have
God take back seat? Oh, no, you say;
want God to be my leader. Well, ther
you will be more than conqueror. You
last sickness will come, and the physicians
in the next room will be talking abou
what they will do for you. What differ
ence will it make what they do for you
You are going to be we'll, everlastingly
well. And when tine spirit has fed th'
body your friends will be talking as tt
where they shall bury you. What differ
ence does it make to you where they bury
you? The angel Of the resurrection car
pick you out of the dust anywhere, and al
the cemeteries of the earth are in God
care. Oh you are going to be more thar
conqueror. Don't you think we had bette
gin now to celebrate the coming victory
In the old meeting house at Summerville
my father used to lead the singing, and h
had the old-fashioned tuning fork, and b.
would strike it upon his knee, and then pu
the tuning-fork to his ear to catch tn
right pitch and start the hymn. But
} friend, don't you think we had better b
catching the pitch of the everlasting song
the song Of victory when we shall be NOR
than conquerors? Had we not better begi
the rehearsal on earth? 'They shall hunge
no more, neither thirst any more; neithe
J shall the sun light on them, nor any heat
J For the lamb which is in the midst of til
: throne shall feed them, and shall lead ther
to living fountains of water; and God sha
wipe away all tears from their eyes"
, City of Eternity, to thy bridal halls
From this prison would flee;
All, glory! that's for you and me-
My text brings up one step further.
says, Go forth into the mount and fetc
olive branches, and pine branches, an
myrtle branches, aud palm branches, an
J branches of thick trees. Now, you knoV
very we'll that booth or arbor made G
slight branches would not stand. The frs
blast of the tempest would prostrate il. S
then the booth or arbor must have fou
stout poles to hold up the arbor or boott
and hence for the building of the arbor fc
this world we must have stout branches {
thick trees. And so it is in the Gospt
arbor. Blessed be God that we have
brawny Christianity, not one easily upse
The storms of life will come upon US, an
we want strong doctrine; not only love
but justice; not only invitation but warning
1t is a mighty gospel; it is an omnipoter
gospel. There are the stout branches {
thick trees. remember what Mr.. Finne
said in a schoOl-hOuse in this State. Th
village was go bad it was called Sodon
, and it was said to have only one good ma
in all The village, and he was called Lo
and Mr.. Finney, preaching, described th
, destruction of Sodom, and the preacher d.
clared that God would rain destructio
upon his hearers unless they, too, repentet
Aud the people in the school house sat an
ground their teeth in anger, and clinche
! their fists in Indignation; but before he wa
: through with his sermon they got down o
! their knees and DRIED for mercy Will
: : mercy could be found. Oh, it is might
gospel; not only an invitation, but war;
. ing; an omnipotent truth, stout branche
of thick trees. Well, my friends, l hay
. shown you here is the olive branch of peact
here is the pine branch of evergreen gosp,
! ! consolation, hers the palm tree branch {
usaf.,lnaSs and uictnru and hara ara IL