Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-10-06


had written on one Of the leaves OF the
Bible. Rejected and scofied at. but finally
believed III ard saved The Bible may be
Uses, 10 .sl'- he pipe Of wittieism by some,
but Cor rs il is a staff in life. pillow In
death AID oar JOY for eternity.
AZ INExHAUsTIBLE FOUNTAIN.
Walk up and dowa this Bible domain.
Try every path. Plunge in at the prophe-
cies ami coine out at the epistles. Go
with the patriarchs until you meet the
evangelists Rummage and ransack. as
children who are not satisfied when they
come to a new house until they know what
is in every room and into what every door
opens. Open every jewel casket. Examine
the skylights. Forever be asking ques-
tions. Put to higher use than was in
tended the oriental proverb, Hold all the
skirts OF thy mantle extended when heaven
is raining gold"
Passing from Bonn to Coblentz on the
Rhine the scenery is comparatively tame.
But from Coblentz TO Mayence il is en-
chanting. You sit on deck and feel as If
this last fash of beauty must exhaust the
scene; but in a moment there is a turn OF
the river which covers up the former view
with more luxuriant vineyards. and
more defiant castles. and holder bluffs,
vine wreathed, and grapes so ripe
that II the hills be touched they would
bleed their rich life away into the bowls
Of Bingen and Hockheimer. Here and
there there are streams of water melting
into the river, like smaller joys swallowed
in the bosom of great gladness.
And when night begins TO throw its
black mantle over the shoulder OF the
hills, and you are approaching disem-
barkation at Mayence, the lights along the
shore fairly bewitch the scene with their
beauty, giving one a thrill that he feels
but once, yet that lasts him forever. So
this river OF Gods Word is not a straight
stream but winding splendor-at every
turn new wonders TO attract, still ripper
vintage pressing tothe brink, and crowded
with castles OF strength (Stolzsnfels and
Johannisberger as nothing compared with
the strong tower into which the righteous
run and are gived), and our disembarka
tion at last. in the evening, amid the
lights that CLEAN from the shore Of
heaven The trouble is that the vast ma
jority Of Bible voyages stop at Cobentz.
where he chief glories begin.
The sea OF Gods Word is not like Gen
nesaret. twelve miles by six, but bound
less, aud in one direction you can sail on
forever Why then confine yourself TO a
short psalm or TO few verses of the
epistles The largest fish are not near the
shore. Hoist all sail TO the winds of
heaven. Take hold of both oars and pull
away. BE like some Of the whalers that
went out from New Bedford or Ports
mouth to he gone for two or three years.
Yea. calculate on lifetime voyage. You
do not want TO land until you land IL
heaven Sail away, 0 We mariners, for
eternity Launch out into the deep.
The text is appropriate TO all Christians
of shallow experience. Doubts and fears
have in our day been almost elected 10 the
parliamento OF Christian graees Some con
slider il bad sign not to have any doubts.
Doubts aud fears are not signs OF health,
but testers and carbuncles. You have a
valuable house or farm. IL is suggested
that the title is not good. You employ
counsel You have the deeds examined.
You search the record for mortgages, judg-
ments and liens. You are not satisfied un-
til you have a certificate, signed by the
great seal of the state, assuring you that
the title is good. Yet how many leave
their title to heaven an undecided matter
Why do you not go to the records and find
outf Give yourself no rest, day or night
until you can read your title clear to man
sions in the skies.
NEED OF CHRISTIAN DEVELOPMENT.
Christian character is to come up to
higher standards. We have now to hunt
through our library to find one Robert
M'Cheyne, or one Edward Payson, or one
- -1,af,
we will find half dozen Of them sitting In
the same seat with us. The grace of God
can make a great deal better men than
those have mentioned Christians seem
afraid they win get heterodox by going too
far They do not believe in Christian per
lection. There is no danger of your being
perfect for some time yet. | will keeT
watch, and give you notice in time If you
get too near perfection for the safety OF
your theology.
One-half Of you Christians are simply
stuck in the mud Why not cut loose from
everything but Gods Give not to him that
formal petition made up Of "O's''-"O
Lord" this and 30 Lord that. When
people are cold and have nothing TO say &c
God they strew their prayers with ''O's"
and Forever and ever, Amen" and things
to fill mp. Tell God what you want with
the feeling that he is ready to.give it, and
believe that you will receive, and you shall
have It, Shed that old prayer you have
been making these ten years. 1t is high
time that you outgrew it. Throw it aside
with your old ledgers, and your old hats,
and your old shoes. Take a review of
your present wants, of your present sins
and Of your present blessings. With a
sharp blade cut away your past half and
half Christian life. and with new determi-
nation, aud new plans, and new expecta
tions launch out into tho deep.
The text is appropriate to all who are
engaged in Christian work. The church
of God has been fishing along the shore.
We set our net in good, calm place and
in sight Of fine chapel, and we go down
every Sunday to see if the fish have been
wise enough to come into our net We
might learn something from that boy with
his hook and line He throws his line