The Indiana State sentinel., 1893-08-09


day came when you set UP your own
household The days passed along in
quiet blessedness. You twain sat at the
table morning and night and talked over
your plans for the future. The most
Insignificant affair in your life became
the subject of mutual consultation and
advisement. You were so happy you
felt you never could be any happier.
One day a dark cloud lowered over
your dwelling and it got darker and
darker. But out of that cloud the
shining messenger of God descended to
incarnate immortal spirit Two lit
tie feet started on an eternal journey,
and you were to lead them. A gem to
flash in heavens coronet, and you to
polish it, eternal ages of light and dark
ness watching the starting out Of
newly created being.
You rejoiced and you trembled at the
responsibility that in your possession an
immortal treasure was placed. You
prayed and rejoiced and wept and Won
dered; you were earnest in Supplica-
tion that you might lead it through
life into the kingdom of God. There
was tremor in your earneStness; there
was a double interest about that home;
there was an additional interest why
you should stay there and be faithful,
and when in a few months your house
was filled with the music of the child's
laughter you were struck through with
the fact that you had a stupendous
mission.
Have you kept that vow? Have you
neglected any of these duties? Is your
home as much to you as il used to be?
Have those anticipations been gratified?
God help you today in your solemn rem
iniscence and let His mercy fall upon
your soul if your kindness has been
i'll requited. God have mercy on the
parent on the wrinkles of whose face
is written the story of a child's sin.
God have mercy on the mother who, in
addition to her other pangs, has the
pang of a child'S iniquity. oh, there
are many many sad sounds in this
sad world, but the saddest sound that
is ever heard is the breaking of a
mothers heart. Are there any here who
remember that in that home they were
unfaithful? Are there those who wan
dered off from that early home and left
the mother to die with a broken heart?
Oh, stir that reminiscence today.
Repentance.
I find another point in your life his
tory. You found one day you were in
the wrong road; you could not sleep at
night. There was just one word that
seemed to sob through your banking
house, or through your office, or your
shop, or your bedroom, and that word
was eternity" You said: "I am not
ready for it, o God, have mercyp' The
Lord heard. Peace came to your heart.
You remember how your hand trembled
as you took the cup of the holy COM
munion. You remember the old minis
ter who consecrated it, and you remem-
Der the church officials who carried it
through the aisle. You remember the
old people who at the close of the
service took your hand in theirs in
cOngratulating sympathy, as much as
to say, welcome home, you lost prodi-
gal" and though those hands have all
withered away that communion Sab
bath is resurrected today; it is resur-
rected with all it's prayers and songs
and tears and sermons and transhgura-
tiOn. Have you kept those vows? Have
you been a backslider? God help you.
This day kneel at the foot Of mercy
and start again for heaven. Start to-
day as you started then. l rouse your
soul by that reminiscence.
But l must not spend any more Of my
time in going over the advantages of
your life. L just put them all in one
great sheaf, and l bind them up in
song, such as reapers sing. Praise the
Lord, We blOOd-bOught mortals on earth
Praise the Lord, ye crowned spirits Of
heavenl
But some of you have not always had
a smooth life. Some of you are now in
years ago-you are a mere wreck Of
what you once were. / must gather up
the sorrows Of your past life. But how
shall 1 do it? You say that is impos-
sible, as you have had many
troubles and adversities. Then l viii
take two, the first trouble and the last
trouble.
AS when you are walking along the
street and there has been music in the
distance you unconsciously find your
you started life your very life was a
musical timebeat. The air was full of
joy and hilarity. With the bright, clear
oar you made the boat skip. You went
on, and life grew brighter. until. after
awhile suddenly a voice from heaven
said, "HaltH' and you halted. You grew
pale. You confronted your first sorrow.
You had no idea that the flush on your
child'S cheek was an unhealthy flush.
You said il cannot be anything serious.
Death in slippered feet walked round
about the cradle. You did not hear the
tread, but after awhile the truth flashed
on you. You walked the floor. Oh, if
you could, with your strong, stout hand,
have wrenched the child from the de-
strOyer.
You went TO your room, and you said:
God. save my child God. save my
childr' The world seemed going out in
darkness. You said, Il cannot bear it. l
cannot bear it," You felt as if you
could not put the laSheS over the bright
eyes, never TO see them again sparkle
Oh, If you could have taken that little
one in your arms and with it leaped into
the grave, how gladly you would have
done it, Oh, if you could let your prop
erty go, your houses go, your land and
your storehouse go, how gladly you
would have allowed them to depart if
you could only have kept that one treas
ure!
Light In Darkness.
But one day there arose from the
heavens a chill blast that swept over the
bedroom, and instantly all the light went
out, and there was darkness-thick,
murky, impenetrable, shuddering dark
ness. But God did not leave you there
Mercy spoke. AS you were about TO put
that cup to your lips God said, Let it
pass" and forthwith, as by the hand Of
angels, another cup was put into your
hands. 1t was the cup of Gods conso-
Iation. And as you have sometimes lift
ed the head Of a wounded soldier and
poured wine into his lips, so God puts
His left arm under your head, and with
His right hand He pours into your lips
the wine Of His comfort and His consola-
ton, and you looked into the empty
n.