Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-11-07

bolts OF doom, the feet that will mount the
sleeps toward God or descend the blasted
way, the lips that will pray or blaspheme.
Oh, the cradlel 1t is more tremendous than
the grave. Where are most Of the
leaders Of the twentieth century soon
TO dawn upon us; Are they on
tbroness No. In chariots. No. In pull
hallsy No. In counting houses? No. They
are in the cradle. The most tremendous
thing in the universe and next 10 God is TO
be mother. Lord Shaftesbury said, "Giye
me generation OF Christian mothers, and |
will change the who.c phase Of society in
twelve months" Oh. the cradlel Forget
not the one in which you were rocked.
Though old aud worn out that cradle may be
standing in attic or barn, forget not the foot
that swayed il, the lips that sang over it,
the tears that dropped upon it, the faith in
God that made way for it, The boy Walter
Scott did well when he spent the first five
guinea piece he ever earned as n present to
his mother
Dishonor not the cradle though IL may,
like the one my sermon celebrates, have
been a cradle in a barn, for think it was
a Christian cradle. That was a great cradle
in which Martin Luther lay for from it
came forth the reformation of the Six
teenth century That was a great cradle in
which Daniel O'Connel lay, for from it
came forth an eloquence that will be in
spring while men have eyes to read or ears
to hear. That was great cradle in which
Washington lay, for from it came forth
the happy deliverance of nation. That
was great cradle in which John
Howard lay, for from it came forth a
mercy that will not cease until the last
dungeon gets the Bible and light and fresh
air. Great cradles in which the John Yves
leys and the John Kroxes and the john
Masons Law for from them came forth an
all conquering evangelizatlon. But the
greatest cradle in which child ever slept, or
woke. laughed or cried was the cradle over
which Mary bent and to which the wise men
brought frdnkincense and upon which the
heavens dropped song. Had there been no
manger. there had been no cross. Had there
been no Bethlehem, there had been no Col
qotha. Had there been no incarnation, there
had been no ascension. Had there been no
start there had been no Close
Standing in the chill khan Of a Saviour's
humiliation, and seeing what He did for us,
/ ask. What have we done for Him. There
is nothing l can do" says one. As Christmas
was approaching in the village church a
good woman said to a group OF girls IN lowly
and straiteued circumstances, Let all now
DO something for Christ" After the day
was over she asked the group to tell her what
they had done One said: ~ could not do
much. for we are very poor, but | had a
beautiful flower | had carefully trained in
our home aud thought much OF 1t, and
put that flower on the church altar" And
another said Il could not do much, for we
are very poor, but | eau sing little, and so
/ went do to a poor sick woman in the lane,
and sang as well as could, TO cheer her up.
Christmas song "Well Helen. what did
YOU dog' She replied Il could not DO much,
but wantel to do something for Christ and
could think Of nothing else to do, and so
went into the church after the people who
had been aiorning the altar had left, and L
scrubbed down the altar back stairs" Beau
tifuli | warrant that the Christ OF that
Christmas Day gave her as much credit for
that earnest act as He may have given to the
robed official who on that day read for the
peop,e the prayers Of "A resOunding service.
Son thing for Christ. Something for
Christi
A plain man passing a fortress saw Rus
sian soldier on guard in a terribly cold night,
and took Off his coat and gave it to the sol.
der. saving, Il viii soon be home and warm,
and you will be- out here al night" So the
soldier wrapped himself in the borrowed
coat The plain man who loaned the coat to
the soldier soon after was dying, and IN his
dream saw Christ and said to Him, You
have got nv coat ON Yes" said Christ;
'ihis is the one YOU lent Ne on that cold
night bv the fortress. | was naked, and ya
clothed Ne" Something for Christ! By the
memories Of Bethlehem | adjure you'll
IN The Ugh; OF that star
ie the ages empeared.
That song from hfAr
Has swept over the world