Connecticut western news., 1891-02-04
great future.
THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE.

It you pay money you take re- ceipt. If you buy land you record the deed. Why9 Because everything is so uncertain you want it down in black and white, you say. For house and lot twenty-five feet front by one hundred feet deep. all security; but for a soul, vast as eternity, nothing, nothingl If some man or woman, standing in some of these aisles, should drop down, where would you go toG Which is your destiny7 Suppose a man is prepared for the future world, what difference does it make to him whether he goes to his home today or goes into glory2 Only this difference, if he dies he is better of. Where he had one joy on earth he will have a million in heaven. When he has small sphere here he will have grand sphere there. Perhaps it would cost you sixty, or one hundred, or one hun dred and fifty dollars to have your physical life insured, and yet free of charge offer you insurance on your immortal life, payable not at your de- cease, but now and tomorrow and every day and always.
 My hope in Christ is not so bright as many Christians 1 know, but would not give it up for the whole universe in one cash payment if it were offered me. It has been so much comfort to me in time of trouble, it has been so much strength to me when have been assailed, it has been so much rest to me when have been perplexed, and it is around my heart such an encasement of satisfaction and blessedness that can stand here before God and say Take away my health, take away my life, take everything rather than rob
 the of this hope, this plain, simple hope which l have in Jesus Christ my Lord. l must have this robe when the last chill strikes through me. I must have this light when all other lights go out in the blast that comes up from the cold Jordan. l must have this sword with which to fight my way through all those foes on my way heavenward.
 When was in London l saw there
 
 and Edward III. And yet I have to tell you that there is nothing in chain mail or brass plate or gauntlet or hal berd that makes man so safe as the armor in which the Lord God clothes his dear children. Oh, there is safety in religion. You will ride down all your foes. Look out for that man who has the strength of the Lord God with him.
 In olden times the horsemen used to ride into battle with lifted lances, and the enemy fled the field. The Lord on the white horse of victory, and with lifted lances of Divine strength, rides into the battle and down goes the spiritual foe, while the victor shouts the triumph through the Lord Jesus Christ As a matter of personal safety, my dear friends, you must have this religion.
 THE YOUNG HAVE THEIR TRIALS apply my subject to several classes of people before me. First, to that great multitude of young people in this house. Some of these young men are in boarding houses. They have but few social advantages They think that no one cares for their souls. Many of them are on small salaries, and they are cramped and bothered perpetually, and sometimes their heart fails them. Young man, tonight, at your bedroom door on the third floor, you will hear a knocking. It will be the hand of Jesus Christ, the young mans friend. saying
 "Oh, young man, let me come in; will help thee, l will comfort thee, I will deliver thee"
 Take the Bible out of the trunk if it has been hidden away. If you have not the courage to lay it on the shelf or table, take, that Bible that was given to you by some loved one, take it out of the trunk and lay it down on the bottom of the chair, then kreel down beside it, and read and pray, and pray and read, until all your dis turbance is gone, and you feel that peace which neither earth nor hell can rob you of Thy fathers God, thy mothers God, waits for thee, oh, young man. Escape for thy lifel". Escape now One thing thou lackest!''
 But apply this subject to the aged
 not many here-not many in any assemblage. People do not live to get old. That is the general rule. Here and there an aged man in the house. l tell you the truth. You have lived long enough in this world to know that it cannot satisfy an immortal nature. l must talk to you more reverentially than do to these other people, while at the same time l speak with great plainness
 o fatller of the weary step, o moth CT bent down under the ailments ot life, has thy God ever forsaken theei Through all these years who has been your best friend? Seventy years ot merciesl Seventy years of food and clothingl Oh, how many bright morn ings! How many glorious evening hours you have seenl o father moth CT, God has been very good to you.
 Do you feel it? Some of you have children and grandchildren the former cheered your young life. the latter twine your gray locks in their tiny fingers. Has all the goodness that God has been making pass before you pro- duced no change in your feeling, and must it be said of you, notwithstanding all this, ''One thing thou lackest"
 Oh, if you could only feel the hand of Christ smoothing the cares out of wrinkled faces! Oh, if you could only feel the warm arm of Christ steadying your tottering steps! lift my voice loud enough to break through the deaf ness of the ear while cry out, "One thing thou lackest." It was an impor- tunate appeal young man made in a