The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1893-11-23
RELIGIOUS READING.
THE HEAVENLY auEsr.

In many German homes u IL the custom foi
the youngest chi 4 nt table to ask the bless
ing on the food. And the words which the
little child Is taught 60 say are such IA the
youngest child can understand, aud yet such
as the most experienced Christian may gladly
make his own "Come. Lord Jesus. aud he
our guest, and bless the food thou hast pro-
vi'lcd for u.s."
II thus Is "a beautiful prayer Of blessing for
every day, II IL especially appropriate Tor
thanksgiving Day. Ii IL by no means a low
view OF the Festival Of rhanksthat makes the
dinner-table It's central feature and crowning
Interest. The bountifully spread table Is
type OF Gods boun'iful provision for all his
creatures the gathering Of all members of
the family, from near and far, around the
ooard u a beautiful prophecy OF the reunion
OF loved ones In the heavenly mansions the
father OF the family M ;as head of the table
dispensing the food to his children l. "a re-
minder that all we have of pleasure aud com
Tort comes from the Heavenly Father hands {;
and the stranger at the board -aurcly II II for
this that lonely ones ara permitted TO be
among US, that every household festival may
enlarge the circle Of love to embrace ono such
lis Representative OF Hin who identified
hin5eli with strangers. Him who hat no
nome OF Hts own on earth; Him whom W.
/ would gladly welcome ~ our Quest were lie
In the flesh On earth to-day.
IhW Thanksgiving feast il blessed indeed
at which the presence Of the Heavenly Guest
u earnestly desired and realized. II causes
/ no diminution Of innocent mith to realize
tho benign presence of Him who blessed little
children, aud hallowed a marriage Feast bv n
helpiulness Of his own. aud found rongcnial
| rest In the home Of two sisters ana their
/ brother The thought Of Him ~ close at
hand kpits closer the bond that binds long
separated sisters and brothers 20 Ous another
and to tho home aud parents from whom they
I nave gone out only to tptutu At time, like
/ this Family fellowship becomes the more
dear aud close n It l. realized that all are
l one In him
And II the presence ot the Lord J,4us IA
/ Guest, no less realized though un,ecn. is u
blessing Ia happy united hou.shOd- ut
thanksgiving tide. what l. IL To those for
whom no such gathering il ever To be- until
tne nnal gathering IN the Father, house.
What Is II Tor berenved parents. ami lonely
| women, and m,SStOun'ics far away on the
frontier, and those whom poverty or the de-
mandsot duty have cut of from family tips
/ An, they who In their luneiue-s eau >ly.
| Come. Lord Jesus. and be- our gur.t. have
solace In the midst ~ tear-. a blessed com-
panionship In most rigid isolation, u JOS that
| no bereavement can take away from them.
| There ara times when IN tns mid-, oi
| friends. with thr signs of ipy aud glliu"~-
oil about one. the heart + unuitrraby lonely
| there are sad memOric, that Will inttudr.
there are lDngings for those who az" gone,
| thete are hetrtarhC@ Tor those not gone bui
wayward and estfangrd. All. Tor such there
"a no Thanksgiving joy except ~ ths Savir'
comes into the empty room and she'd, hi-
peace upon the aching heart. Then hi
| prectousness becomes hundrrd-lud mo',
real the JOY of his presence atonrS for the
bitter sadness felt even In the midst of JOY.
80 let all, the happy. the light -hrartei, the
thankful. the anxioi ., tn" mourning. the
distressed. make tins their Thanksgiving
prayer, "Come Lord Jesus aud 10 oui
guest y American Message.