The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-01-21
kingdom OF God. But I cannot. Power
from on hiph. Law hold of theml

kingdom OF God. But cannot. foWer
from on high, lay hold Of thsml
At the first communion after the dedica,
ton Of our former church three hundred and
twenty.eight souls stood up in the aisles and
publicly espoused the cause of Christ. At
another time four hundred souls; at another
time five hundred; and our four thousand
five hundred membership were but small
part Of those who within those sacred walls
took upon themselves the VOWS Of the
Christian. What turned themS What
saved themi Power from the levels No.
Power from on high.
But greater things are to be seen II ever
these cities and ever this world Is to be taken
for God. There is one class Of men and
women in all these assemblages in whom !
have especial interest, and that Is those who
had good fathers an5 mothers once but they
are dead. What multitudes Of us are or
phansl Wemay be 4O, 5O, W years old, but
we never get used to having father and
mother gone. Oh, how often we have had
troubles that we would like to have told them,
and we always felt as long as father and
mother were alive we had some one to whom
we could go! Now would like to ask If you
think that all their prayers in your behalf
have been answered. "No," you say, "but
it is too late; the old folks are gone now"
I must courteously contradict you. 1t Is
not too late. Ihave friend in tbs ministry
who was attending the last hours of an eyed
Christian, aud my friend said to the old
Christian, "Is thers no trouble on your
mind~ The old man turned his face to the
wall for few moments, and then said:
"Only one thing. hope for the salvation OF
my ten children, but not one OF them Is YET
saved. Yet am sure they will be. God
means to wait until am gons." SO he died
When my friend told Of the circu umsta noes
- "a Al 49,, 1oI fha ord md II
have no doubt the other two bsfors this have
found Him. Oh, that the long postponed
answers to prayer for you, my brother, for
YOU, nv sister, might this hour descend In
power from on high. =.
Oh, unanswered prayers Of father and
mother, where are your In what room OF
the old homestead have they hidden9 Oh,
unanswered prayers, rise in mist OF many
tears into cloud, and then break In shower
which shall soften the heart Of that man
who is so hard he cannot cry, or that won woman N
the aged, now empty and In the garret among
the rubbish, speak outl Oh, staff OF the pill
grim who has ended his weary journey, tell
OF the parental anxieties that bent over theel
Oh, family Bible, with story Of births and
deaths, rustic some Of thy time worn leaves,
and let Us know of the wrinkled hands that
once turned thy pages, and explain that spot
where a tear fell upon the passage: 'Oh,
Absalom, my son, my son, would God Ihad
died for thee" -
Good and gracious Godl what will. become
Of us, If after having had such devout and
praying parentage, we never pray for our
selvesl We will pray. We will begin now.
On, for the power from on high, power to
move this assemblage, power to save Brook
lyn and New York, power Of evangelism that
shall sweep across this continent like an ocean
surge power to girdle the round earth with
red g1rdle dipped in the blood Of the cross!
II this forward movement Is to begin at all
there must be some place for it to begin, and
why nos this rlaceP And there must be some
time for 1t to begin, and why not this time?
And so I sound for your ears rhythmic In
yitation, which, until few days ago, never
came under my eye, but it is so sweet, so sob
bing with pathos, so triumphant with Joy,
thet whoever chimed 1t, instead Of being
anonymous, ought to be immortal:
Thy sins bore on Calvarys tree;
The stripes, thy due, were lad on ms,
That peace and pardon might be freq
Owretched sinner, comel
Burdsned with guilt, wouldst thou be besti
Trnss not the world; 1t gives no rest;
I bring relief to. hearts opprest-
Oweary sinner, coms
Come, leave thy burden at the Cross;
Count all thy gains but empty dross,
My grace rspays all earthly loss
o needy sinner, come
Come hither bring thy boding fears.
THY aching heart, thy bursting tears,
TITS mercys voice salutes thine ears
Otremblin2 sinner. coma