Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-02-18


stroying angel comes upon Egypt for the
shifting of the first born. hut left nnmo-
Tested every mouse whose door was
sprinkled with the blood of sacrifice.
Fiery tempests bear down upon Sodom,
but not until two angels have warned Lot
and his family to flee from the destruction
Jerusalem was utterly destroyed. but not
until jeremiah had sounded an alarm bid
ding them turn from their denominations.
On the darkest cloud of wrath there is a
rainbow of mercy. Zechariah in his pro-
phetic vision beheld four chariots. symbol
zeal of Gods government.
The first chariot was drawn by red
horses They indicated the wars that were
roming. The second chariot was drawn
by black horses. They indicated the com
ing of famine and pestilence The third
chariot was drawn by white horses They
indicated the spotless purity of his con-
quests. But mark well that the fourth
chariot was drawn by horses 'grisled and
bay" denoting that mercy was mixed with
all the desolating judgments of God.
Sinai cannot thunder so loud rs TO drown
the invitations of Calvary The Lord ut
tiers the admonition, THE wages Of sin is
DEATH" but exhaustless mercy responds,
Deliver him from going down to the pit
for have found ransom"
Hide thee quick in the rock, Christ
Jesus Let not this insignificant now
absorb thee more than the great here
after. The path leading to this side Of the
grave is only few furlongs. but the path
which commences at the other side Of it is
without end The powers of darkness
gather about your soul and the tempta-
tions OF AN evil heart and the allurements
of the world know are trying 10 drown
the voice of the preacher; but, taking hold
of the silver trumpet of the Gospel which
made Felix tremble. and at the Pentecost
brought three thousand souls out of their
sepulcher, | would blow one long loud
blast, crying whatsoever will. let him
come"
FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT
Take this goodly religion which has done
so much for me that can commend it to
all. Without il should have gone the
whole downward career. Stolid and phleg'
matte natures going astray do not go so
far, but natures like mine. sanguine in
tense, emotional, optimistic social TO the
last degree, and echoing TO all the heights
and depths Of mirth, If they get off track.
they 90 with one wild leap TO hell. As to
the restraining power of this religion upon
"A mercurial temperament, testify. This
IL not abstraction or something gotten
from books. speak Of what | know. Go
out and ask all who have tried this re.
ligion and ask them how il works
Three young men in factory came out
on the Lords side, but two Of them. over
come by the jeers Of their comrades. went
back and joined the scolfers. The one held
on TO his Christian hope. and one day when
they pressed him hard. and were telling
how much infidelity had done for the
world. aud that Christianity had done
nothing. the prosecuted Christian turned
upon them. and pointing to Henry and
George, who had for a little while followed
Christ and then turned back, he said:
You have tried your principles on them,
and know what they have done for them.
When they tried to- serve Christ they were
civil. good tempered, kind husbands and
fathers. They were cheerful. industrious
and ready TO oblige- What have you made
themi Look and see They are cast
down and cross their mouths are full Of
eursing and filthiness, they are drunk
every week. their children half clothed,
their wives broken hearted, their homes
wretched. That is what your principles
have done Now | have tried Christ and
his religion, and what has il done for meg
You know well what ! used to be, There
was none Of yon that could drink 80 much.
swear so desperately and tight SO masterly
| had no money and nobody would trust
me My wife was i'll used. | was i'll
humored. hateful aud hating. What has
religion done for mel Thank God ! am
not afraid To put il to you Am ! not a
happier man than | wasy Am not bet
ter workman and kinder companiony
Would once have put up with what |
new bear from your could beat any Of
you as easily now as ever Why don't II
DO you ever hear foul word from my
month"; DO you catch me at public
house? Has anybody score against mei
Go and ask my neighbors If am not al
tered for the better Go and ask my wife
let my house bear witness. God bepraised,
here Is what Christianity has done for me:
there is what iniidelity has done for Henry
and George"
Out of this audience ! could gather
men aud women who could tell
you as thrilling story ~ that as TO what
religion has done for them. Yea. ii times
Of persecution should come as Of old, and
who would for Christ's sake as cheerfully |
walk into the furnace Of lire as though il
were an arbor Of thyme and honeysuckle. |
and face the lions rs though they were
lambs frisking on the hillside. and wade |
down into the deep waters which are TO
submerge them as happily AS ever at Mar
beach they took the surf at a
bathing
Come up and join those on the way to a |
palace. What an absurd thing for king |
TO be eating grass. Instead Of living on |
the poor fodder that the world affords, |
come up and sit among the princes Of God |
at the royal banquet and hear the bands |
play Eat. o friendsl Drink, o beloved" |
Here is u crown. wear il. Here is scepter. /
sway IT, Here is a throne. mount it, This /
IS your hour. improve it.
no fha nxfun Eaar naafho