Connecticut western news., 1891-07-16

came to the farmhouse where the be- reavement had come, and we saw the crowd of wagons and carriages, but there was one carriage that especially attracted my boyish attention, and it had black plumes I said: Whats that9 what's that2 Why those black tassels at the top2' And after it was explained to me l was lifted up to look upon the bright face of an aged Christian woman, who three days be- fore had departed in triumph. The whole scene made an impression I never forgot.
 TESTIMONY OF DYING CHRISTIANS. In our sermons and in our lay exhor- tations we are very apt, when we want i to bring illustrations H dying triumph. | to go back to some distinguished per sonage to John Knox or Harriett Newell But want you for witnesses want to know if you have ever seen i anything to make you believe that the religion of Christ can give composure in the final hour. Now, in the courts at torney. jury and judge will never ad init mere hearsay. They demand that the witness must have seen with his own eyes or heard with his own ears, and so am critical in my examination of you now; and I want to know whether you have seen or heard any thing that makes you believe that the religion of Christ gives composure in the final hour
 "Oh, yes," you say, Il saw my father and mother depart. There was great ing by the one we felt more veneration By the other there- was more tender ness" Before the one you bowed per haps in awe. In the other case you felt as if you would like to go along with her. How did they feel in that last hour9 How did they seem to act7 Were they very much frightened2 Did they take hold of this world with both hands as though they did not want to give it up? "Oh, no," you say, mo; remember as though it were yesterday 1; she had kind word for us all, and there were few mementoes distributed among the children, and then she told us how kind we must be to our father in his loneliness, and then she kissed us goodby and went asleep as child in a cradle" What made her so composed ? Natural courage?
 NO, you say, mother was very nervous when the carriage inclined to the side of the road she would cry out i; 1 she was always rather weakly" What gave her composure2 Was it because she did not care much for you, and the pang of parting was not great? "Oh," !" you say, 'she showered upon us a wealth of affection; no mother ever loved us; she showed it by the way she nursed us when we were sick, and she toiled for us until her strength gave out" What. then, was it that gave her composure in the last hour2 Do not hide it. Be frank and let me know "Oh," you say, 'it was because she was so good; she made the Lord her portion, and she had faith that she would go straight to glory, and that we would all meet her at last at the foot of the throne"
 UNBELIEVERS HAVE NEVER TASTED IT.
 Here are people who say, ''I saw a Christian brother die, and he tri umphed." And some one else, II saw Christian sister die, and she tri- I umphed." Some one else will say, 'I saw Christian daughter die, and she triumphed." Come, all ye who have seen the last moments of a Christian, and give testimony in this cause on trial. Uncover your heads, put your hand on the old family Bible, from which they used to read the promises. and promise in the presence of high heaven that you will tell the truth. the whole truth and nothing but the truth. With what you have seen with your with your own ears, is there power in this Gospel to give calnness and tri. umph in the last exigency9 The re- sponse comes from all sides, from young and old and middle aged, We are wit Eesses!"
 You see, my friends, 1 have not put before you an abstraction or a chinera, 
 you atiidavits of the best men and women, living and dead. Two wit nesses in court will establish a fact. Here are not two witnesses, but mil lions of witnesses on earth and in heaven testifying that there is power in this religion to convert the soul, to give comfort in trouble. and to afford com posture in the last hour.
 If ten men should come to you when you are sick with appalling sickness and say they had the same sickness and took a certain medicine and it cured them, you would probably take it. Now, suppose ten other men should come up ard say. We don't be lieve that there is anything in that med icine" "Well," say, ''have you tried it2" No, l never tried it. but don't believe there is anything in it." Of course you discredit their testimony. The skeptic may come and say, There is no power in your religion" Have you ever tried it?" No no" Then avauntl' Let me take -he testimony of the millions of souls that have been converted to God, and comforted in trial and solaced in the last hour. We will take their testimony as they cry. We are witnessesl''
 Professor Henry. of Washington, dis covered new star. and the tidings sped by submarine telegraph, and all the ob- servatories of Europe were watching for that new star Oh, hearer looking out through the darkness of thy soul canst thou see a bright light beaming on thee9 'Where?' you say, where 2 How can 1 find itY' Look along by