The Bossier banner., 1894-07-05
NUMBER 19.

Jesus, they would have all perished;
but Christ confronted them, and said,
II am the way" and they took it.
have also to say toyou that the path
that these captives trod was troubled
path, and that David and his men had
to go over the same difficult way.
While these captives were being taken
off, they said: "Oh! we are so tired; we
are so sick; we are so hungryr' But
the men who had charge of them said
stop this crying. Go on!' David
and his men also found it hard way.
They had to travel it. Our friends have
gone into glory, and it is through
much tribulation that we are to
enter into the Kingdom. How our
loved ones used to have to struggle!
how their old hearts ached! how, some
times, they had tussle for bread In
our childhood we wondered why there
were SO many wrinkles on their faces.
We did not know that what were called
''crow's-feet" on their faces were the
marks of the black raven of trouble.
Did you ever hear the old people,
seated by the evening stand, talk
over their early trials, their hard
ships, the accidents, the burials, the
appointments, the empty flour
barrel when there were so many hum
CRY ones to feed the sickness almost
unto death, where the next dose of
morphine decided between CHASTITY be-
reavement and an unbrolen home cir
Gle? Oh, yes! it was trouble that whit
ened their hair. 1t was trouble that
shook the cup in their hands. 1t was
trouble that washed the luster from their
eyes with the rain of tears until they
need Spectacles. 1t was trouble
that made the cane a necessity for
their journey. Do you ever remember
seeing your old mother sitting on some
rainy day, looking out of the window,
her elbow on the window sill, her hand
to her brow-looking out, not seeing
the falling shower at all (you well
knew she was looking into the distant
past) until the apron came up to her
eyes, because the memory was too much
for her?
l remark, again, if we want to win
the society of our friends in Heaven we
will not only have to travel path of
faith and path of tribulation, but we
will also have to positively battle for
their companionship David and his
men never wanted sharp swords ard
| invulnerable shields and thick breast
plates SO much as they wanted them on
the day when they came down upon the
Amalekites. If they had lost that
battle they never would have got their
| families back. / suppose that one
glance at their loved ones III
captivity hurled them into the battle
with teufold courage and energy.
! They said: ''We must win it. Every
thing depends. upon it. Let each one
take a man onFpoint of spear or sword.
| We must Avinsit." And l have to tell
| you that between us and coming into
| the companionship of our loved ones
who are departed there is an Austerlitz,
there is Gettysburg, there is a Water
loo. War with the world, war with the
flesh, war with the devil. We have
either to conquer our troubles or our
troubles will conquer us. David will
either slay the Amalekites or the
Amalekites will slay David. And
yet is not the fort to be taken WORTH
all the pain, all the peril all the be-
| siegement? Look! Who are they OH
the bright hills of Heaven yonderf
| There they are, those who sat at your
own table, the chair now vacant.
| There they are, those whom you
rocked in infancy in the cradle or
| hushed to sleep in your arms. There
they are, their brow more radiant than
ever before you saw it, their lips wait
ing for the kiss of heavenly greeting,
their cheek roseate with the
health of eternal summer, their
hands beckoning you up the steep,
the feet bounding with the Dirth
of Heaven. The pallor of their last
sickness gone out of their face, never
more to be sick, never more to cough,
/ never more to limp, never more to be
old, never more to weep. They are
Watching from those heights to see il
through Christ you can take the fort,
and whether you will rush in upon
them-victors. They know that upon
this battle depends whether you will
ever join their society. Up! strike
harder! Charge more bravely! Re-
member that every inch you gain puts
you so much farther on toward that
heavenly reunion.
You say that all this implies that our
departed Christian friends are alive.
Why, had you any idea they were dead?
They have only moved, If you should
go on the second of May to house
where one of your friends lived, and
find him gone, you would not think that
he was dead You would inquire next
door where he had moved to. Our de-
parted Christian friends have only taken
another house. The secret is that
they are richer now than they once
were. and can afford better residence.
They once drank out of earthenware;
they now drink from the Kings chalice.
''Joseph is yet alive" and Jacob will go
up and see him. Living? are they?
Why, if man can live in this damp,
dark dungeon of earthly captivity, can
he not live where he breathes the brac-
ing atmosphere of the mountains OF
Heaven? Oh, yes, they are living!
May God Almighty, through tie
blood of the everlasting covenant, bring