Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-02-10

almost always been followed by the story
of rescue.
For many years after Shakspeare's
death his work was so little appreciated
that in 1866 there was only one edition
of his works, and that of only 300 copies,
in existence, and that edition was nearly
all burned in the great LONDON fire. But
forty eight copies had been sold out of
the city, and those forty-eight copies
saved Shakespeare for ali nations and all
time. Your suppression on a smaller
scale may last a good while, but for all
you are worth you will yet shine out on
earth or in Heaven.
Again, learn from my subject that
connected with the most distressing judg-
ments CT God there are displays of divine
mercy. God might justly have left
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS in the field but infinite
compassion brought him back to the
palace. No sooner was Eden blasted
than 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
the people into the ark, The destroying
angel comes upon Egypt for the smitlng
of the first born, but left unmolested
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 de-
struction. Jerusalem was utterly de-
stroyed, but not until jeremiah had
sounded an alarm, bidding them turn
from their nominations On the dark
est cloud of wrath there is a rainbow of
mercy. Zechariah in his prophetic vision
beheld four chariots, sYmbolical 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 famine and pestilence.
The third chariot was drawn by white
horses. They indicated the spotless
purity of his cOnquests. But, mark we'll
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 as to drown the invitations of
Calvary. The Lord utters the admoni-
ton, 1.-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 moro than the great here
after The path leading to this side of
the grave is only a 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 temptations of an evil heart and
the alurementS Of the world know are
trying to 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 5000 souls
out OF their sepulcher | would blow one
long, loud blast, crying, whatsoever
will, let him come"
Take this gOodly religion which has
done so much for me that / can COM
mend it all. Without it / should have
gone the whole downward career. Stoid
and phlegmatic natures going aStray do
not go so far, but natures like mine, san
guine, intense, emotional, optimistic,
social to the last degree and echoing to
all the heights and depths of mrth, if
they get off the track they go with one
wild leap to hell. AS to the restraining
power of this religion upon mercural
temperament, l testify. This is not ab-
straction or something gotten from
books. 1 speak of what / know. Go
out and ask all who have tried this re-
ligion and ask them how it works.
Three young men in a factory came
out on the Lords side, but two Of them,
overcome by the jeers of their comrades,
went back and joined the scoffers. 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, and that Christianity
had done nothing, the prosecuted Chris
tlan turned upon them, and pointing to
Henry and George, who had for 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 cheer
full, industrious and ready to Oblige.
What have You made them? Look and
see. They are cast down and cross;
their mouths are full of cursing 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 re-
ligion and what has it done for me?
You know well what used to lie. There
was none Of you that could drink so
much, swear SO desperately and fight so
mastery. I had no money and nobody
would trust me. My wife was i'll used,
was i'll numored, hateful, and hating.
What has religion done for me? Thank
God, I am not afraid to put it to you.
Am l not a happier man than 1 was?
Am [ not better workman and a
kinder companion? Would [ once have
put up with what / now bear from
you? [ could beat any Of you as easily
now as ever. Why don't [? Do you
ever hear foul word from my mouth9
Do you catch me at public house? sHas
anybody a score against me? Go and
ask my neighbor if am not altered for
the better. Go and ask my wife. Let
my house bear witness. God be praised,
here is what Christianity has done for
me; there is what intidelity has done for
Henry and George"
Out of this audience I could gather a
thousand men and women who could tell
you as thrilling a story as that AS to
what religion has done for them YEA