The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-01-15

three-fourths OF Christendom, some John
Knox to make Queens turn pale, some
Joash to demolish idolatry and strike
for the kingdom Of heaven.
There are sleeping In your cradles by
night, there are playing In your nurser-
les by day, imperial souls waiting for
dominion, and whichever side the cradle
they get out will decide the destiny OF
empires. Foreach one Of those children
sin and holiness contend-Athaliah on
the one side and Jehosheba on the other.
But hear people say: whats the
use Of bothering children with religious
instruction? ? Let them grow up and
choose for themselves. Don't interfere
with their volition." Suppose some one
had said to Jehosbeba, Don't interfere
with the young Joash. Let him grow
up and decide whether he likes the
palace or not, whether he wants to be
king or not. Don't disturb his volition."
Jehosheba knew right we'll that unless
that day the young King was rescued he
would never be rescued at all.
/ tell you, my friends, the reason we
don't reclaim all our children from
worldliness is because we begin too late.
Parents wait until their children lie
before they teach them the value Of
truth. They wait until their children
swear before they teach them the, inn
portance OF righteous sconversation. They
wait until their children are all wrapped
up in this world before they tell them
of better world. Too late with your
prayers. Too late with your discipline.
Too late with your benediction. You
put all care on your children between
twelve and eighteen. Why do you not
put the chief care between four and nineP
1t is too late to repair q vessel when it
has got out OF the dry-docks. II is too
late to save Joash after the executioners
have broken in. May God arm us all for
this work Of snatchihg royal souls from
death to coronation. Can you imagine
any sublimer work than this soul saving?
That was what flushed Pauls cheek with
enthusiasm; that was what led Munson
to risk his life amid Burnesian cannibals;
that was what sent DIR. Abeel to preach
under the consuming skies OF China;
that was what gave courage to Phocus
In the third century. When the milf
tary officers came TO put him TO death
for Christ'a sake, he put them to bed
that they might rest while he himself
went QUO and In his own garden dug his
grave, and then came back and said: ~
am ready But they were shocked al
the idea OF taking the life,of their host
He said; ut is the willof God that ]
should die, p and he stood on ,themargir
of has own grave and they beheaded
him. You say II is manis, q foolhard
mess, afanaticism. Rather would I cal
, II a glorious self.abnegatio the thrill
of eternal satisfaction, the plucking o
, Joash from death, and raising him u
| coronation, t -r
Z The third thought i hand to you from
my text is that the church Of God is
| good hiding place. When Jehosheb
= rushes into the nursery OF the King an,
& picks up Joash, what shall she do witt
4 him? Shall she take him into som
B room in the palace? No; for the oiiicia
4 desperadoes will hunt through ever
a nook and corner OF that building. Shal
y she take him TO the residence Of som
d wealthy citizen? No; that citizen woul
! not dare to harbor the fugitive. Blu
{ she has TO take him somewhere. Sh
4 hears the cry OF the mob in the streets
: she hears the shrek OF the dying NJ
bility; so she rushes with Joash into th
/ room of the temple, into the house
o God and then she put him down. Sh
r knows that Athaliah and her wicked a.
q sassins will not bother the temple
n great deal; they are not apt to go yer
n much to church, and so she sets dow
Joash in the temple. There he will b
n hearing the songs OF the worshipei
+ year after year; there he will breath
}. the odor Of the golden censers; in this
o sacred spot he will tarry, secreted unit
d the six years have passed, and he com
It to enthronement. &fLSttli
a Would God that we were as wise {
% Jehosheba, and knew that the church I
d God is the best hiding place. Perhal
" our parents took US there In early day
d they snatched us away from the worl
s. and hid us behind the baptismal fon
~ and amid the Bioles and psalm book
ID o, glorious inclosure We have bee
n. breathing the breath OF the golde
10 censers all the time, and We have see
n. the lamb on the altar and we hay
IL handled the phials which are the praye
at Of all saints, and we have dwelt und'
" the wings OF the cherubim. Gloriol
~ inclosurel When my father and moth'
ID died, and the property was settled u
}? there was hardly any thing left; b
IN they endowed us with property wort
more than earthly possessions, becau
Q, they hid us in the temple And whit
n, days Of temptation have come upon n
h, soul | have gone there for shelter;l al
MS when assaulted Of sorrows, have gol
a. there for comfort, and there mean
Id live. want, like Joash, 70 stay the
m until coronation. ] mean TO be buri
at out OF the house Of God. ts
40 o men OF the world outside there,
+. trayed, caricatured, and cheated Of u
tn world, why do you not come in throuI
III the broad wide open door Of Christi
r. communion9, I wish could act &
u part Of Jehosheba to-day, and steal v
"a away from your perils and hide you
II. the temple. How few Of us apprecia
a. the fact that the church OF God Is a HI
ur ing place. There are many people W
er put the church at so low mark th
re they begrudge II every thing, even !
to few dollars they give toward IT. Tn
-. f0I4 a..