The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-04-27

part moved over q road SoIt Win green
leaves. They were torn of two palm trees
prayers, the Christian example, the good
advice, the hard work Of my father and
mother. How they toiled! Their fingers
were knotted with hard work. Their fore
heads were wrinkled with many cares.
Their backs stopped from carrying our
burdens.
They long ago went into slumber among
their kindred and friends on the banks Of
the Raritan, but the influences they threw in
the way OF their children are yet green as
leaves the moment they are plucked from
palm tree, and we feel them on our brow
and under our feet, and they will strew all
the way until we lie down in the same slum.
ber. Self sacrifice! What thrilling word.
Glad am I that our world has so many
specimens Of it. The sailor boy on ship
board was derIded because he would not
fight or gamble, and they called him COW.
ard. But when q child fell overheard and
no one else was ready to help, the derided
sailor leaped into the sea, and, though the
waves were rough, the sailor, swimming
with one arm, carried the child on the other
arm till rescued and rescuer were lifted into
safety, and the cry Of coward ceased and all
huzzaed at the scene OF daring and self
sacrifice.
When recently Captain Burton, the great
author, died, be left scientific book In
manuscript which he expected would be his
said, This will make you independent and
afHuent after ! am gone" He suddenly
died, and it was expected that the wife would
publish the book. One publisher told her
he could himself make ont of 1t $l00. 900.
But 1t was a book which, though written
wlrn pure scientific design, she felt would
do immeasurable damage to public morals.
ha frpp
cost her husband the work Of years, she sat
down on the floor before the fire and said to
herself. There Is a fortune for me In this
book, and although my husband wrote it
with the right motive and scientific people
might be helped by it, to the vast majority
Of people it would be harmful, and know
it would damage the world" Then she
took apart the manuscript sheet after sheet
and put It into the fire, until the last line
was consumed. Bravo! She flung her
livelihood, her home, her chief worldly
resources under the best moral and religious
interests Of the world.
How much are we willing to sacrifice for
others' Christ is again on the march, not
from Bethpage to Jerusalem, but for the
conquest Of the world. he will surely take
it, but who will furnish the palm branches
for the triumphant way? Self sacrifice Is
the word. There ismore money paid to de-
stroy the world than to save It, There are
more buildings put up to ruin the race than
churches to evangelize 1t. There is more de.
praved literature to blast men than gooo
literature to elevate them.
Oh, for power to descend upon us all like
that which whelmed Charles @. Finney with
mercy, when, kneellng in his law office, and
before he entered upon his apostolic career
of eyangelization, he said: "The holy Ghost
descended on me in q manner that seemed
to 20 through me, body and soul. could
feel the impression like wave OF electricity
going through and through me. Indeed it
seemed to come in waves and waves OF liquid
love. 1t seemed like the breath OF God. l
can recollect distinctly that 1t seemed to fan
me like immense wings. wept aloud with
Joy and love. These waves came over me
and over me one after another, and until
recollect, I cried out, 4 shall die If these
waves continue to pass over me- said,
Lord, I cannot bear any more" And
when a gentleman came into the office and
said, 'Mr. Finney, you are in pain!' be re-
piled, mo, but 80 happy that l cannot live"
My hearers, the time will come when upon
the whole church Of God will descend such
bringing of the world to God will be mat
ter Of a few years, perhaps q few days or
few hours. Ride on, o Christ! for the
evargelization Of all nations. Thou Christ
who didst ride on the unbroken colt down
the sides of Olivet, ON the white horse OF
eternal victory ride through all nations, and
may we, by our prayers and our SELF sac
rifices, and our contributions, and our con-
secrations, throw palm branches in the
way. l clap my hands at the coming VIC
tory.
Ifeel this morning as did the Israelites
when on their march to Canaan, they came
not under the shadow Of one palm tree, but
Of seventy palm trees standing in an oasis
among dozen gushing fountains, or as the
Book puts it, "Twelve wells Of water and
three score and ten palm trees" Surely
there are more than seventy such great and
glorious souls present to-day. Indeed, 1t is
q mighty grove Of palm trees and feel
something of the raptures which shall feel
when our last battle fought and our last
burden carried, and our last tear wept. we
shall become one of the multitudes st. John
describes clothed in white robes and palms
in their hands"
Hail thou bright, thou swift advancing,
thou everlasting Palm Sunday OF the skiesl
Victors over sin and sorrow and death and
woe, from the hills and valleys OF the heav-
enly Palestine they have plucked the long,
broad, green leaves and all the ransomed-
some in gates OF pearl. and some on oatEe.
ments of amethyst, and some on streets OF
gold, and some on seas Of sapphire, they
shall stand in numbers like the stars, In
splendor like the morn, waving their palmsI