Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1892-02-27

thunderstorm that first set Martin Luther
seriously thinking, AMI the thunder of this
worlds disaster has started q reformation.
James i. Simpson went from a surgeons
operating table 10 experiment and see il he
could not fini something that would alleviate
human pain. and he kept on until he had dis.
covered chloroform as an anRsthetic, and
the story OF distress has almost always been
followed by the story of rescue.
For many years after Shakespeara's death
his work was 50 little appreciated that In
Abraaaals faith il sufficiently tried the
lamb is provided. As SON as Pharaoh CON
sents to let the children Of Israel depart the
plague pauses. As soon as the Israeiites have
been sufficiently disciplined by their wander
lnss they find their way into Canaan. But
tosorne tie limit Is not SIT III this life. Their
whole pilgrimage Is through tha wilderness
and the world * 90 them IA valley OF tears
Dut perhaps tod has q special throne in
heaven that no ordinary saint can occupy,
and by extraordinary trials He has prepared
that Christian soul tor extraordinary glory.
God viii not keep vou III the furnace one
moment too long just as soon as Paul ha!
met with enough Imprisonment: aad scourg-
lngs he reached lip AMI pluckei his eternal
crown. Col VIII keep u no longer under
the hammer and on the stocks than is naceS-
sary to tit us for entrance INTO the haven o.
eternal rest. Glory he fathe divine grace
thar. as SON as our Affections have accom-
plisne<i their mission, they ara arrested.
The defeats and SORROWS Of life have some
times teen the greatest advantage. IT. was
1906 there was only one clifton of his works.
and that Of only three hundred copies, i'll
existence, and that edition was nearly all
burned III the great London fire. But forty
eight copies had been sold out of the city,
and those forty-eigat copies saved Shakes
peare for all nations and all time. Your
suppression on O smaller scale may last a
good While. but for all you are worth You
will Vet shine out on earth or in heaven.
AGAIN. learn from my subject that con-
nected with the most distressing judgments
OF God there are displays of divine mercy.
Cos might justly have left Nebuchadnezzir
IN the field, but infinite compassion brought
him back to the palace. No sooner was Eden
blasted than a blessing followed On the heels
Of the curse promising the coming Of One
who would destroy sin and make the whole
world a paradise. The deluge descends, but
not until Noah had invited tho people into
the ark. The DESTROYING angel comes upon
Egypt or tu- ~siil.li!l. ol lie lrst born. but
lett uunoleSted every house whose door was
sprinklei with the blood Of sacrifice.
Fierv tempests bear down upon SodOm,
iutn0t until two angels have warned Lot
Jerusalem was utterly destroyed, but not
until jeremiah had sounied an alarm,
Bidding them turn from their denominations.
On the darkest cloud bt wrath their is a
1dilitfoS Vi tItI1S. (-IiidI ian III AiS u
phetic vision-beheid four chariots, symbol
zeal of Gods government.
The first chariot was drawn by red horses.
They indicated the wars that were coming.
The second chariot was drawn by black
horses. They indicated the coming of a
famine and peStllence. Tho third chariot
was drawn by white horses. They indicate1
the spotless purity OF His conquests. But.
| mark well that the fourth chariot was
drawn by horses "srisled and bay" denotin5
Tat mercy was mixed with all the desc
lating iu ig,nents OF God. Sinai cannot
thunder SO ,oul as tOdrown the invitations of
Calvary. The Lord utters the admonition,
"The wages of sin is death" but exhaustless
mercy responds. "DeIiver him from going
down to the pit. for | hive found a ransom"
Hide Thee quick i'll the rock, Christ Jesus
Let not this insignificant Now absorb
| Thee more than the great hereafter. The
path leading To this side OF the grave is only
a few furlongs, but the path which com
mences at the other side CT it is without end.
The powers of darkness gather about your
soul, and the temptations Of an evil heart
and the al,urements Of the world | know are
irving to drown the voice OF the preacher,
but taking hold OF the silver trumpet OF the
Gospel which made Felix tremble. and at
the PentccCst brought three thousand souls
out CT their sepulcher, l would blow one
long, loud blast, crying, "Whosoever viii,
let lliln come"
fake this soolly religion which has done
50 much for me that | can commend it to all.
Without it l should have son the whole
downward career. Stolld and phlegmatlc
natures gong astray do not go SO far, but
natures like mine, sangGlne, intense, emo
tiOnal, optimistic, social to the last degree
and echoiny to all the heights and depths of
mirth, il they get of the track they go with
one wild leap to hell. AS to the restraining
power OF this religion upon a mercurlal tenn
1aramppt fosfIfy This Is not abstraction
OF something gotten from books. lspeak OF
what | know. Go out and ask All VINO have
tried this religion and ask them how it
works.
Three young men IN a factory came out
on the Lords side, but two of them, over.
come by the jeers OF their comrades, went
back and joined the ~scoffers. The one hello
on to his Christian hope, and one day when
they pressed him hard and were telling how
much intidelity had done for the world, and
that Christianity had done nothing. the per
secuted Christian turned upon them, and
pointing to Iienryand GeOrge, who had fol
a little while followed Christ and then turnet
back. he said:
You bave tried your principles Oh then
and know what they have done for them
When they trie1 to serve Christ they were
civil, good tempered, kind husbands and
iathers- They were cheerful, industrious
and ready to obIi1e. What have you made
them? Look and see. They are cast down
and eros. their mouths are full of cursine
and filthiness: they are drunk every week
their children half clothed, their wive
broken hearted. their homes wretched. That
is what your principles have done. Now
have tried Christ ana His religion and what
has it done Tor M You know we'll what
used to be. There was none of yot
that could drink SO. much, : swear 81
desperately and fight so mastery.
had no money and nobody would trust me
My wife was i'll used. | was i'll humored
hateful and hating. What has religion don
for me- Thank God, | am not afraid to pu
It TO you. Am l not a happier man than
was? Am / not a better workman and
kinder companion? Would / once have pu
up with what | now bear. from your
could beat any Of you as easily now as ever
Why don't |, Do You ever hear a foul wor
from my mouth. DO YOU catch me at
public house, Has anybody a score agains
ne: Go amt ASK my neighbors if l an no
ali rei for the better. 60 and ask my wlft
Let my house bear witness. Col b
lraisei. here IS What Christianity has don
for ne. there is what infielity hs don fol
Eelr, ami George.