Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-09-01

The grass may be rank upon your graves
and the letters upon your tombstones de-
faced with the elements before the divine
response will come, but He who hath de-
clared, ~ will be a God TO thee and to thy
seed after thee" will not forget, and some
day In heaven while you are ranging the
fields OF light the gates Of pearl will swing
back, and garlanded with glory that loly
hayward ono will rush into your out
stretched arms OF welcome and triumph. The
hills may depart, and the earth may burn
and the stars fall, and time perish, but God
will break His oath and trample upon His
promises-neyer never
Again, God keeps perpetual remembrance
OF all bereayements. These are the trials
that ceave the soul and throw the red hearts
OF men to be crushed in tho wine press.
Troubles at the store you may leave at tho
store. Misrepresentation and abuse OF tho
world you may leave on the street where you
found them. The lawsuit that would swallow
your honest accumulations may be left In the
courtroom. But bereayements are home
troubles, and there is no escape from them.
You will sec that vacant chair. Your eye
will catch at the suggestive picture.
You cannot fly in the presence OF such ills.
You go to Switzerland TO get clear OF them
but, more sure footed than the mule that
takes you up the Alps, your troubles climb
to the tiptop and sit shivering on the ela-
cers. You may cross the seas. but they can
outslil the swiftest steamer. You may tako
caravan and nut out across the Arabian des-
ert but they follow you like a simeon.
armed with sufTocation. You plunge into
the Mammoth cave, but they hang like sta
lactites from the roof Of the great cavern.
They stand behind with skeleton fingers 10
push you ahead. They stand before y0u 70
throw you back. They run upon you Ike
reckless horsemen. They charge upon you
with cleaning spear. They seem to come
haphazlrd, scattering shots from the gun OIL
a careless sportsman. But not 50. 1t Is 6oo1
aim that sends them just right, for God IS
the archer.
This summer many Of you will especially
feel your grief rs you 20 to places where once
you were accompanied 10y those who ars
gone now. Your troubles will follow you to
the seashore and will keep up with the light
ming express in which you speed away. Or,
tarrying at home, they will sit beside you by
day and whisper over your pillow night aiter
night l want TO assure YOU that you are
not left alone and that your weeping is heard
in heaven.
You will wander among the hills and say,
Cup this hill last year our boy climbed with
great glee and waved his cap from the top,
or "This IS the place where our little grlput
flowers IN her hair and looked up in her
mothers face" until every drop Of blood in
your heart tingle1 with gladness. and you
thanked God with a thrill OF rapture and You
look around rs much as to say: VINO
dashed out that light? Who filled this cup
with gall? What blast froze up these ioun-
tains Of the hearth
Some Of YOU have lost your parents within
the last twelve months. Their prayers for
you are ended. You take up their picture
and try to call back the Kindness that once
looked out from those old, wrinkled faces
and spoke in such a tremulOus voice, AMI
YOU say it is a good picture, but all the while
YOU feel that after all, it does not do justice.
and YOU would give almost anything-you
would cross the sea you would walk the
earth over-to hear just one word from those
lips that few months ago used to call you
by your first name, though 80 long you your
self have been a parent.
Now, you have done your best to hide your
grief. You smile when you do not feel like
II. But though you may deceive the word,
God knows. 10 looks down upon the
empty cradle upon the desolated nursery,
upon the stricken home and upon the
broken heart. and says; This is the way
I thrash the wheat this Is the way scouf
Nv Jewels Cast thy burden on My arm,
and / Will sustain you. All tuvSo tpdAS
have gathered into My bottle
But what is the use Of having so many
tears In Gods lachrymatory? In that great
casket or vase. why does God preserve all
YOUR troubles2 Through all the ages oil
eternity, what use OF great collection Of
tearsi | do not know but that in some dis |
tant age OF heaven An angel OF God may lOOk |
into the bottle and ln1 it "a empty OF tears
as the lashrymals Of earthenware dug uE
from the ancient city. Where nave the tears
gone? What sprite Of hell hath been inyad' !
ing Coils palace and hath robbed the lachry, /
matoriesY None. These were sanctinef /
sorrows, and those tears were changed into |
pearls that are now set in tho crowns anc
robes OF the REASONED.
walk 10 TO examine this heavenly cor |
onet. cleaning brighter than the sum- anc
cry. "From what river depths OF heaven wer' |
those gems gatheredY and thousand voice. |
reply. These are transmitted tears IRON !
Gods bottle" ! see scepters OF ligh |
stretched down from the throne OF those wh(
on earth were trod on OF men, and in ever
scepter point and inlaid in every ivory stal
OF golden throne | behold an indescrlbabli
richness and luster AMI cry. From whence
this streaming light-these flashing pearlsF |
md the voices Of the elders before the throne. |
and OF the martyrs under the altar. and OF
the hundred aud forty and four thousand |
radiant on the CLASSY sea eXclaim, Trans
muted tears from Gods bottle.
Let tho ages OF heaven roll On-the story !
OF carths pomp and pride long ago ended /
the kohinoor diamonds that make kings /
proud. the precious stones that adorned Per- /
sian tiara and famed in the robes OF Baby |
lonian professions forgotten the GOlcOnda ]
mines charred in the last connagration, but |
firm az the everlasting hills and pare rs the !
light that streams from the throne. and !
bright as the river that flows from the eternal
rock. shall CLEAN. shall sparkle. shall flame
forever these Transmitted tears OF Gods !
bottle.
Meanwhile let the empty lachrymatory OF |
heaven stand for ever. Let no hand touch 1t. !
Let no wing strike It. Let no collision crack |
It. Purer than bcryl or chrysopTasus. Let |
it stand on the step of Jehovah throne and !
under the arch OF the unfGdinS rainbow.
Passing down the corridors Of the palace.
the redeemed OF earth shall glance at IT ana |
think OF all the earthly troubles from when |
they were delivered and say. each TO each /
THAT is what we heard OF on earth. "Ihat |
Is what the psalmist spoke OF. There once |
we're put our tears THAT is Gods bot |
tie" And while standing there inspecting !
this richest inaid vase OF heaven the towers |
Of the palace dome strike up this sllyery /
chime God hath wiped away all tears /
from all faces. Wherefore comfort ono an
other with these words.