The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-09-06
THE ETERNAL REST.
There 10 no Peace Here, but n Glorious
Existence in Eternity.

globe girdlipg tour, has selected as the
subject of his sermon for today through
the press the words, "Eyerlastlng Lite,"
the text being from Micah il, 10, "Arse
Ye and depart, for this is not your rest"
This was tho drumbeat Of q prophet
who wanted to arouse his people from
their oppressed and sinlul condition, but
it may Just as properly be uttered now
as then. Bells, by long exposure and
much ringing, lose their clearness Of tono
hut this rousing bell Of the gospel strikes
in as clear tone as when it first rang
on tho air.
AS far as / can SEQ, your great want
and mine is rest. From the time we
enter life great many vexetions and
annoyances take after I'd. We may
have our holidays and our seasons OF
recreation and quiet. but whore is the
man come to midllie who has found Ell.
tire rest? Tho fact is that God did MT
make this world TO rest IN. A ship
might as we'll 60 down of Cape Halter.
as to find smooth water as man in this
world to find quiet. From the way that
God has strewn the thorns and hung the
clouds and sharpened the tusks, from
tho colds that distress us, and the heats
that smlte us, and the pleurisies that
stab us, and the fevers that consume us,
l know that he did not make this world
as n place 10 loiter in. God does every
thing successfully, and this world would
be very different world if it were in.
tended for us to lounge in. It does
right we'll for few hours. Indeed 1t is
magnificent! Nothing but infinite wis.
dom and goodness could have mixed this
beverage of water, or hung up these
brackets OF stars, or trained these voices
OF rlll and bird and OCEAN, 80 that God
has butto lift his hand, and tho whole
world breaks forth into orchestra. But,
alter all, it is only tho srlendors of n
kings highway, over which we are to
march On to eternal conquests.
You and have seen mon who tried TO
rest here. They builded themselves great
stores. They gathered around them the
patronage of merchant princes. Tho
voice of their bid shook tho money
markets. They had stock in tho most
successful railroads, and in 'safety dc
poslts' great ro!ls Of govern ment sc cur
tiles.
They had emblez oned carri ages, hlgl
mettled steeds, tootmen, plate that con
founded lords and senators who sat al
thor table, tapestry on which loated the
richest designs Of foreign looms, splen
dor of canvass on the wall, exquisite.
ness OF music rising among podestals Of
bronco and dropping, soft as light, on
snow of sculpture. Here let them rest.
Put back the embroidered curtain, and
shake up the pillow of down. Turn
out the lights! 1t is IL O'Clock at night.
Lot slumber drop upon the eyelids, aud
the air float through the half opened
lattice drowsy with midsummer per.
fume. Stand back, all care, anxiety
and trouble! But no, they will not
stand back. They rattle the lattice.
They look under the canopy. With
rough touch they startle his pulses.
They cry out at IL O'Clock at night:
"Awake man! How can YOU sleep when
things are 80 uncertain? What about
those stocks? Hark 10 the tap Of that
fire bell, 1t is your district: How If you
should die soon? Awake, man! Think
OIL! Who will get your property when
you are gone? What will they do with
hf Wake up! Riches sometimes take
wings. How if you should get poor?
Wake up!" Rising on one elbow the
man of fortune looks out into the dark
ness OF the room and wipas the da mp.
ness from mis- forehead and says: "Alas!
VI all tulb bCOllC VI "OulLI anu IluSlllI-
cence--nO rest!"
l passed down street of city with
merchant. lie know all the nest
houses on the street. lie said: "There
is something the matter in all these
houses. In that one it ls conjugal info
lclty. In that one, q dissipated son.
IN that, dissolute father. In that, an
idiot child. In that, the prospect OF
honlyrut,Inxr ~ T6;o
give no permanent satisfaction. This IS
not your rest.
You and I have seen men try In an
other direction. A man says, "If |
could only rise TO such and such q place
OF renown; it l could gain that office; if
lcould only get the stand and have nv
sentiments mot with Que good round ol'
hand clapping applause; if could only
write book that would live, or mako q
speech that would thrill, or do an action
that would resound!" The tide turns in
his favor. His name is on 10000 lips.
no Is bowed to and sought after and
advanced. Men drink his health at great
Dinners. at his fiery words the multi
tudes huZza! From galleries of beauty
they throw garlands. From housetops,
as ne passes in long procession, they
WV ViAo hhViOlhl SlhuuHrUSs Here
lot him rest. It is II O'Clock at niobt,
Oa pillow stuffed with a nations praise
let him lie down. Hush, all diaturbant
VOICES! In his dream let there be a
aaas noistea throne, and across it march q
coronation. Hush, hushl "Wake upl';
says. q rough voice. 'Political sen,i-
mont is chanslng. How it you should
lose this place Of honol? Wake IN,
The morning papars are to be full of de-
nunciation.. Hearken to the execrations
Of those who once caressed von' 's Rs
tomorrow night thero will be multitudsss
sneerlng at the words which last n,oh
you expected would be universally nd. T.
mired. How can you sleep when ever,
thing depends upon the next turn of III,
great tragedy? Up man! on of thI,
pillow!" The man, with head yet he
from his last Grafton, starts up suddenl
, looks out upon the night, but secs moth
ing except tho flowers that lie on hi
II stand, or the scroll from which he rea
hIg eOaech Or fha hooka from u1h;ob l.