Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1892-03-12

wis tilt lsiCt vi TsIliIR vi, " ISL
that now my Lord Jesus would &c
through this audience and take all
these flowers of youth and garland
them on his brow. The cedar is fit
refuge for birds of brightest plumage
and swiftest wing See, they fly
they fly. "All fowl of every wing. :
THE OLD MAY COME
Again. remark that the old may
come. You say, Suppose Il man
has TO go ON crutches: suppose he
is blind; suppose he is deaf; sup
pose that nine tenths of his life has
been wasted Then | answer: Come
with crutcheS; come. old men, blind
and deaf. come to Jesus. II you
would sweep your hand around be
fore your blind eyes the first thing
you would touch would be the cross
1t is hard for IN aged man or woman
to have grown old without religion
Their taste is gone. The peach and
the grape have lost their flavor
They say that somehow fruit does
not taste as it used to. Their hearing
gets defective. and they miss Il great
deal that is said in their presence.
Their friends have all gone and ev
erybody seems so strange. The world
seems to go away from them and
they are left all alone. They begin
to feel in the way when you come
into the room where they are, and
they move their chair neryously and
say, Il hope am not in the way
Alas that father and mother should
ever be i'll the way When you were
sick. and they sat up all night rock
ing you, singing to you, administer.
ing 10 you, did they think that you
We're in the wayl Are You tired OF
the old peoplel Do you snap them
up quick and sharp! You will be
cursed to the bone for your ingrati.
tude and unkindneSs
Oh. it is hard to be oil without re
ligion to feel this world going away
and nothing better coming. Ii there
be any here who have gone far on
without Christ. address you def
erentially. You have found tliis a
tough world for old people Alas
to have aches and pains, and no
Christ to soothe them. | want tc
give you cane better than that You
lean on. 1t is the cane that the Bible
speaks of when it says, Thy rod and
thy staff they comfort me- | want
to give you better spectacleS than
those you now look through 1t is
the spiritual eyesight of divine grace
Christ will not think that you are in
the way.
Does your head tremble with the
palsy of old age. Lay it on Christ :
bosom Do you feel lonely now that
your companions and children are
gomez | think Christ has them.
They are safe in his keeping. Very
soon he will take you where they
are. take hold of Your arm and trS
to lead you to IA place where you ear
put down all your burden. Go with
me. Only Il little while longer, and
your sight will come again, and vom
hearing will come again, and with
the strength of an immortal athlete
you will step on the pavement OF
heaven. No crutcheS in heaven; nc
sleepless nights III heaven; no cross
looks for old people Dwelling
there for ages. no one will say
Father you know nothing about
this Step hack You are III the
way oh. how many dear old
folks Jesus has put To sleep. How
sweetly he has closed their eyes
How gently folded their arms, How
he has put his hand on their silent
hearts and said: Rest now. tired
pilgrim. 1t is all over The tears
will never start again. Hush hush =
So he gives his beloved sleep. think
the most beautiful object on earth is
an old Christian the hair white, not
with the frosts of winter, but the
blossoms of the tree of life. never
feel sorry for a Christian old man.
Why feel sorry for those upon whom
the glories of the eternal world are
about to burst. They are going To
the goodly cedar. Though their
wings are heavy with age, God shall
renew their strength like the eagle,
and they shall make their nest III the
cedar "All fowl of every wing"
THE VERY BAD MAY COME
Again, the very bad, the outra-
geously sinful, may come. Men talk
of the grace of God as though il
We're so many yards long and so many
yards deep People point to the
dying thief as an encouragement to
the sinner How much better ii
would be to point to our own case
and say. IF God saved us he can
save anybody" There may he those
/ here who never had one earnest word
said To them about their souls. Con
slider me as putting my hand on
your shoulder and looking in your
eye. God has been good to you
You ask How do you know
that' He has been very hard on
me" Where did you come FROM
Home" Then you have a home.
Have You ever thanked God for your
home. Have YOU cnildren!" Yes "
Have YOU ever thanked God for
your children: Who keeps them
safel Were you ever sick!' Yes. :
Who made you well? Have you been
fed every day. Who feeds you: Put
your hand on your pulse. Who
makes it throb: Listen to the res
piration of Your lungs Who helps
you to breathe! Have you a Bible in
the house. spreading before you the
future life. Who gave you that
Bible!"
Oh, it has been story of goodness
and mercy all the way through, You
have been one of Gods pet children.
Who fondled You and careSsed you
and loved you! And when you weni
astray and wanted 10 come back did
he ever refusel know of father
Il. L. Il L..