Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-07-25

pine tree is healthy; it is aromatic; it is
evergreen. How often the physician says
70 his invalid patients: Go and have a
breath of the pines. That will invigorate
you" Why do thousands of people
go south every year? II is not merely to
get a warmer climate. but to get to the in-
fuence of the pine. There is health in it,
and this pine branch of the text suggests
the healthiuinesS of eur holy religion; it
is full of health, health for all, health for
the mind. health for the soul
l knew an aged man who had no capital
of physical health. He had had all the
diseases you can imagine; he did not eat
enough to keep child alive; he lived on
beverage of hosannas. He lived high for
he dined every day with the King. He
was kept alive simply by the force of our
holy religion. 1t is a healthy religion;
healthy for the eve, healthy for the hand,
healthy for the feet healthy for the heart,
healthy for the liver, healthy for the
spleen, healthy for the whole man. 1t
gives man such peace. such quietness,
such independence of circumstances, such
holy cquipoise. o, that we all possessed
il, that we all possessed it now. l mean
that it is healthy if a man gets enough.
Now, there are some people who get just
enough religion to bother them, just
enough religion to make them sick; but if
man takes full, deep, round inhalation
of these pine branches of the Gospe arbor
he will find it buoyant exuberant indy
ing. immortal health.
But this pine branch of my text also
suggests the simple fact that it is an ever
green. What does this pine branch care
for the snow on its brow! 1t is only
crown of glory. The winter can not freeze
it out This evergreen tree branch is as
beautiful in winter as in SUNNI r. And
that is the characteristic of our holy re-
ligion; in the sharpest, coolest winter of
misfortune and disaster it is as good re-
ligion as it is in the bright, summer SUM-
shine. Well. now that is practical truth.
For if l should 60 up and down these
asles l would not find in this house fifty
people who had had no trouble. But there
are some of you who have especial trouble.
God only knows what you go through
with. o, how many bereavements, how
many poverties, how many prosecutions. !.
How many Misrepresentation And
now, my brother, you have tried
every thing else, why don'C you try
this evergreen religion? 1t IS just rs good
for you now q it was in the days of your
prosperity: it is better for you. Perhaps
some of you feel like MuckIe Backie. the
fisherman, who was chided one day be-
cau'e he kept on working although that
very day he buried his child. They came
to him and said: 1t is indecent for you
to be mending that boat when this after
noon you buried your child" And the
old fisherman looked up and said; Sir,
it is very easy for you gentlefolks to stay
in the house with your handkerchiefs to
your eyes in grief. but, sir, ought 10 let
the other five children starye because one
of them is drowned: No, sir, we maun
work, though our hearts beat like this
hammer"
You may have had accumulation of sor-
row and misfortune. They come in fiocks,
they come in herds upon your soul; and
yet l have to tell you that this religion
can console you, that it can help you, that
it can deliver you if nothing else will. Do
you tell me that the riches and the gain of
this world can console you? How was it
with the man who had such fondness
for money that when he was sick he or
dered basin of gold pieces to be brought
TO him. and he PUT his gOuty hands down
among the gold pieces, cooling his hands
off III them, and the rattle and rolling of
these gold pieces were his amusement and
entertainment. All, the gold and silver,
the honOrs the emOluments of this world
are poor solace for a perturbed spirit.
You want something better than this
can give. a young Prince, when the chill
dren came around to play with him. re-
fused to play. He said: 81 Will play only
with Kings" And it might be supposed
that you would throw away all solace be-
fore this regal satisfaction, this imperial
JOY. You who are sons and daughters OF the
Lord Almighty ought to play only with
Kings.
Thehill of Zion yields
y thousand sacred sweets.
Before we reach the heavenly fields
Or walk the golden streets.
But nv text takes q further step and it
says: go into the mountain and fetch
olive branches and pine branches and
palm branches" Now the palm tree was
very much honored by the ancients. 1t
had three hundred and sixty different
uses. The fruit was conserved, the sap
was beverage, the stems were ground up
for food for camels, The base of the leaves
was turned into hats and mats and
baskets, and the leaves were carried in
victorious professions. and from the root
to the top of the highest trees there was
usefulness. The tree grew S5 feet in height
sometimes, and it spread broad leaves four
aud five yards long; it meant usefulness,
and it meant victory; usefulness for
what it produced, victory because it was
brought into celebrations of triumph.
And, oh, how 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. You have
10 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 baskets" but have TO
tell you in this matter of religion you had
better give your all to God, and then get
in yourself. o." says some one, my
business is to sell silks and cloths" Well.
then. nv brother. sell silks and cloths to
the glory of God. And some one says:
''My business is to raise corn and carrots"
Then, my brother, raise corn and carrots
10 the glory of God. And some one saws:
MY business is to manufacture horse
shoe nails" Then manufacture horse
shoe nails TO the glory of God. There is
nothing for you to do that you ought to
do but for the glory of God.
Use. ulness is typified by the palm tree.
All, we don't want any more people that
are merely weeping willows, signing into
the water, standing and admiring their
long lashes in the CLASSY spring. No wild
cherry, dropping bitter fruit We want
palm trees, holding something for God,
som 4thing for angels, something for man.
1 am tired and sick of this fat tame, in
sipid. n-slippered, namby -pamby
highly tightly religion. 1t is worth moth
ing for this world, and it Is destruction
for