The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-10-14

ment on Sunday and devour widows
houses all the week. We have got TO
stop our indignation against the Hittites
and the Jebusites and the Gergishites,
and let those poor wretches go, ana
apply our indignation to the modern
transgressions which need TO be dragged
out and slain. Ahabs here. Herods
here. Jezebels here. The massacre Of
the infants here. Strike for God 50
hard that while you slay the sin the
sword will adhere TO your own hand
tell you, my friends, we want few
John Knoxes and John Wesleys In the
Christian church to-day. The whole
tendency is to refine on Christian work.
We keep on refining on 1t, until we send
apologetic word to iniquity we arc
about to capture IT. And we must ga
with sword silver chased and presented
by the ladies', and we must ride on
white palfrey under embroidered hous-
ing, putting the spurs in just enough TO
make the charger dance gracefully, and
then we must send a missive, delicate
as a wedding card, to ask the old black
giant Of sin II he will not surrender
Women saved by the grace OF God
and on glorious mission sent, detained
from Sabbath classes because their new
hat is not done. Churches that shook
our cities with great revivals sending
around TO ask some demonstrative wor-
shipper, II he will not please TO say
'amen" or "hallelujah" little softer
II seems as II in our churches we
wanted baptism Of cologne and balm
of thousand flowers, when we actually
need baptism Of fire from the Lord
God of Pentecost. But we are so afraid
somebody will criticise or sermons. or
criticise our prayers, our criticise orreli-
gious work, that our anxiety for the
worlds redemption is lost in the fear
we will get our hand hurt, while Eleazar
went into the conflict, "and his hand
clave unto the sword"
But see in the next place what a
hard thing Il was for Eleazar to get his
hand and his sword parted. The mus
cles and the sinews had been so long
grasped around the sword he could not
drop it when he proposed TO drop it. and
his three comrades, suppose, came up
and tried to help him, and they bathed the
back part OF the haad, hoping the sinews
and muscles would relax. But no.
"His hand clnve to the sword" Then
they tried TO pull open the fingers and
to pull back the thumb; but no sooner
were they pulled back than they closed
again, "and his hand clave unto the
sword" But after awhile they were
successful, and then they noticed that
the curve in the palm OF the hand cor
responded exactly with the curve OF the
hilt. "His hand clave unto the sword.
You and have seen it many time,
There are in the United States to-day
many aged ministers Of the gospel
They are too feeble now TO preach. In
the church records the word opposite
their name is emeritus" or the words
are, "a minister without charge" They
were a heroic race. They had small
salaries and but few books, and they
swan spring freshets to meet their ap
pointments. But they did in their dal
a mighty work for God. They took Of
more Of the heads OF Philistine ini luit,
than you could count from noon to sun
down. You put that old minister Of th'
gospel now into prayer-meeting, o
occasional pulpit, or q sick-room wher
there Is some one 10 be comforted, AM
It is the same old ring TO his voice ant
the same old story of pardon and peac
and Christ and Heaven. His hand ha
SO long clutched the sword in Christian
conflict that he can not drop It hi
, hand clave unto the sword"
had in my parish in Philadelphia
very aged man who in his early life hai
been the companion and advisor Of th
, early presidents, Madison and Monroe
He had welded vast infuance, but
only knew him as a very aged man
The most remarkable thing about hin
was his ardor for Christ When b
could not stand up in the meeting
without propping, he would throw hi
arm around pillar OF the church, an
though his mind was partially gone, hi
: love for Christ was SO great, that al
, were in deep respect and profound ad
miration, and were moved when b
spoke. was called TO see him die.
entered the room, and he said: 'Mf
Talmage, can not speak TO you now.
He was in very pleasant delirium, a
: he imagined he had an audience befor
him. He said: ~ must tell these pee
Pile TO come TO Christ and prepare 70
: heaven" And then in this pleasan
: delirium, both arms lifted, this octc
= genarian preached Christ and told Of tn
!, glories Of the world TO come. There
lying on his dying pillow, his dyin
!. hand clave 10 his sword
: o, II there ever was anyone who ha
a right te retire from the conflict II wa
old Joshua Soldiers come back fror
battle have the names Of the battle o
/. their flags, showing where they distir
r guished themselves, and 1t is very az
r propriate inscription. Look at the fla
a Of old General Joshua On Il Jerichs
L Gibeon. Hszar. City Of Al, and instea
n of the stars sprinlsled on the flag, tn
4 sun and the moon which stood still
l. There he is a hundred and ten year
e old. Heis lying fat on his back, bt
n he is preaching. His dying words ar
L q battle charge against idolatry, an
S a rallying cry Tor the Lord OF Hosts Q
s he says; ''Behold this day 60 the wa
of all the earth, and God hath nc
failed TO fulHl lis promise concernin
Q Tsracl.r Iiisdying hand clave unto tn
a sword.
It There is tho headless body Of Paul o
r the road "a Ostea His grant brain M,