Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1893-09-02
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distressed. It would not take q very
.rong blow to SILVER tho golden bowl
uf life OF break the pitcher at the foun-
lain. Many of you have kept on in life
through sheer force Of will. You think
10 one can understand your distresses.
Perhaps You look strong, and 1t is sup
POSED that you are o hypoohondriao.
They say you are nervous-as if that
were nothingl God have mercy upon
hny man or woman that is nervousl
at times you sit alone In your room.
Friends do not come. You feel an indie
scribable loneliness ip your suRerings,
but God knows; God feels; God COM
passionates. He counts the sleeplcss
nights. He regards the acuteness Of the
pain. He estimates the hardness Of the
breathing. While, you pour out the
medicine from the bottle and count the
drops, God counts all your falling tears.
As you look ut the Walls filed with nau-
seous drafts and OF the bottles Of dis
tasteful tonic that stand on the shelf, re-
member that there is larger bottle than
these, which is filed with no mixture'by
earthly apothecaries, but 1t Is Gods bot
tie, in which he hath gathered oil our
tears
THE SORROWS OF POVERTY.
Again, God remembers all the sorrows
of poverty. There is much want that
mover comes to inspection. The deacons
Of the church never sec it. The comp
trollers Of almshouses never report it. 1t
comes not to church, for it has no apprp-
pirate apparel It makes no appeal for
help, but chooses rather to suffer than
expose its bitterness. Fathers who fail
to gain livelihood. SO that they and
their children submit to constant priva-
tion; sewing women, who cannot ply
the needle quick enough to earn them
shelter and bread
But whether reported or uncomplain-
ing, whether In seemingly comfortable
parlor, or in damp cellar, OF in hot gar
ret, Gods angels Of mercy are ON tho
watch. This moment those griefs are
being collected. Down on the back
streets, in all the alleys, amid shanties
and log cabins. the work goes ON. Tears
Of want-seethins In summers heat or
freezing in winters cold-they fall not
UNDECIDED. They are jewels for heavens
casket. They are pledges of divine sym
pathy; They are tears for Gods bottle.
Again, the Lord preserves the remem-
brance Of all paternal anxietiea. You
geo man from the most infamous sur
roundings step out into the kingdom of
God. He has heard no sermon. He hos
received no startling, providential warn
ing. Whit brought him to this new
mind9 This is tho secret-God looked
over the bottle in which he gathers the
tears Of his people. and he saw paren-
tai tear In that bottle which he's been
for 40 years unanswered. He said, "Go
to, now, and let me answer that tearl'
and forthwith the wanderey Is brought
home to God.
Oh, this work Of training children for
Godl It Is q tremendous work. Some
people think it easy. They have never
tried 1t. A child is placed=in the arms
of the young parent. 1t is q beautiful
plaything. You look into the laughing
eyes. Yon examine the dimples in the
feet. You wonder Mt its exquisite or
ganism. Beautiful playthingl But on
some nightfall as you sit rocking that
little one a voice seems to fall straight
from the throne of God. saying: THAT
child Is immortal The stars shall die,
but that. is an immortal Suns shall
grow old with age and perish. but that
is On immortal"
GOD UNDERSTANDS YOUR HEART.
Now, I know with many of you this Is
the chief anxiety. You earnestly wish
your children to grow up rightly, but
you find it hard work to make them do
ms you wish. You check their temper.
You correct their waywardnessi In the
midnight your pillow Is wet with weep
Ing. You have wrestled with God IN
hgony for the salvation Of your children.
You ask me if all that anxiety has beer
Intellectual. answer, No. God no
derstands your heart. He understands
how hard you have tried to make thai
daughter do right, though she is so very
petulant and reckless, and what pains
you have bestowed in teaching that soi,
10 walk in the path Of uprightness,
though he has such strong proclivities
for dissipation
speak cheering word God heard
every counsel you ever offered him. God
has known oil the sleepless nights you
have passed. God has seen every sink
Ing of your depressed spirit. God re-
members your prayers. He keeps eter-
hal record of your anxieties, and in his
lachrymatory-not such as stood In an
Gent tomb, but In one that glows and
glitters beside the throne of God-he
holds all those exhausting tears.
Tho grass may be rank upon your
graves and the letters upon your tomb
rtones defaced with the elements before
the divine response will come, but be
who hath declared. II will be God to
thee and to thy seed after thee" will not
forget, and some day in heaven while
you arc ranging tho fields Of light the
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