Democratic messenger., 1889-05-25

rcHgiOn DAVID, unable 10 describe 10 In
words, played Il on a harp. Mrs. Hemans,
not finding enough power IN prose, sings
that praise In canto. Christopher Wren,
unable to describe II In language, sprung
II into the arches ofSt. Paurs. John Bun.
yam, unable 10 present Il In ordinary
phraseology, takes all the fascination Of
allegory. Handel, with ordinary music
unable TO reach the height Of the theme,
rouses Il up In an oIatorio. Oh! there Is
no life on earth so happy as really
Christian life. Where there Is a thorn
there Is whole garland ofroses. Where
there Is one groan there are three doxolo.
gies. Where there Is one day of cloud
there Is whole season Of sunshine. Take
the humblest Christian man that you
know-angels Of God canopy: him with
their white wings; the lightnings of
Heaven are his armed allies; the Lord Is
his shepherd, picking out for him green
pastures by still waters; IL he walk forth,
Heaven Is his body.guard; IL he lie down
to sleep, ladders Of light. angel blossom.
ing, are let into his dreams; 1.-The be thirsty
the potcntates Of Heaven are his cup.bear.
ers; II he sit down TO food, his plain table
blooms into the Kings banquet. Men
say: Look at that old fellow with the
worn.out coat" The angels of God cry
"Lift up your heads, ye everlasting gates,
and let him conc inr Fastidious people
cry: "Get off my front stcpsw The door.
keepers of Heaven cry: "Comc. you
blessed Of my Father, ,inhetit the kingdom" I"
When lie comes TO die, though lie may be
carried out in q pine box to the potter's
field the chariots of Christ viii. come down,
and the cavalcade will crowd all the
boulc wards Of Heaven.
bless Christ for the present satisfaction
Of religion. II makes man all right with
reference to the past; 1t makes man all
right with reference to the future. oh !!
these neither springs Of comfort They
are perennial. The foundation of God
standcth sure, having this seal: "Thc
Lord knoweth them that are his" "The
mountains shall depart aud the hills he
removed. but my kindness shall not de.
part from thee, neither shall the covenant
Of my peace be removed, saith the Lord,
who hath mercy upon them" Oh cluster
Of diamonds set in FURNISHED gold! oh ,
neither springs Of comfort bursting through
all the valleys Of trial and tribilation ,
When you see, you OF the world. what
satisfaction there is ON earth in religion,
do you not thirst after IL as the daughter
Of Caleb ihirsicd after the water springs |!
II is no stagnant pond. scummed over
with malaria, but springs Of water leaping
from the Rock of Ages Take up one cup
0f that spring water. and across the top Of
the chalce will float the delicate shadows
of the heavenly wall, the yellow of jasper,
the green Of emerald, the blue of sardonyx,
the fire Of jacinth.
wish could make you understand the
joy religion Is TO some of u.s. II makes n
man happy while he lives and glad when
he dies. With two feet upon chair and
bursting with dropsics, heard an old man
in the poor house cry out: "Bless the Lord
o my soul" looked around and said /:
what has this man got To thank God for
Il makes the lame man leap like the hart.
and the dumb sing. They say that the
old Puritan religion is juicelcss and
joylcs" religion; but remember reading
Of DIR. Goodwin, the celebrated Puritan,
who. In his last moments, said as this
dying! Why, my bow ab,des in strength I!
| am swallowed up In God" Her ways
are ways Of plcasantness. and all her
paths are peace" oh you who have been
trying to satisfy yoursevelves with the
"south land" Of this world, do you not feel
that you would like to have access To the
neither springs of spiritual comfort ,
Would you not like To have Jesus Christ
bend over your cradle and bless your
table and heal your wounds. and strew
flowers Of consolation all up ami down
the graves Of your dead!
IT'S religion that can give
Sweetest pleasures while we live,
'Tis religion can supply
| sweetest comfort when we die.
But have something better To tell you.
suggested by this text. II seems that old
father Caleb on the wedding day oi his
daughter wanted 10 make her Us happy
MS possible. Though Oihniel was taking
her away. and his heart was almost broken
because she was going, yet he gives her
"south land :" not only that hut the neither,
springs; not only that. but the upper
springs OGod my Father, | thank Thee
that Thou hast given me south land
IN this world. and the neither springs of
spiritual comfort in this world but, more
than all, l thank Thee for tho upper
springs In Heaven!
II Is very fortunate we cannot see
Heaven until we get into II, Oh. Chris
iian man. if you could see what place II
is we would never get you back again to
the Office or store or shop, and the duties
you ought to perform would go neglected
! am glad shall not see that world until
enter il. Suppose We were allowed to so
on an excursion into that good land with
the idea Of returning. When We go, there,
and heard III. song. and locked nj their
rapturcd faces aud mingled In the super
nal society, we would cry out Let Us
stay! We are coming here anyhow. Why
take the trouble of going back again 10
that old world! We are here now lei us
sta. :" Aud il would take angelic violence
To pu, us out Of that world il once We got
there. But as people who cannot afford
to pay for an entertainment sometimes
come around II and look through the door
ajar. or through the openings in the fence,
81 we come and look through the crcvices
in Tint good land which God has provided
for us. We can jus, catch glimpse Of IL.