The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-09-05
TIE ETERNAL REST.
There is no Peace Here, but Glorious
Existence In Eternity.

globe grdlipg tour, has selected as th
subject of his sermon for today tbrougI
the press the words, Everlasting Life,
the text being from Micah Ii, 10, "Arls
ye and depart, for this is not your rest
This was the Grumbeat of q prophe
who wanted to arouse his people tron
their oppressed and sinful condition, bu
it may lust as properly be uttered nov
as then. Bells, by long exposure aa(
much ringing, lose their clearness OF tone
hut this rousing bell Of the gospel strike!
in as clear tone as when it first rang
on the air.
AS far as I can see, your great wan
and mine is rest. From the time W.
enter life great many Vexatlons ant
annoysnces take after Us. We may
have our holidays and ou1 seasons O
recreation and quiet. but where IS the
nan come to midlte who has found en-
tire rest? The fact is that God did nj
make this world 10 rest IL. A shlr
might as well 60 down Off Cape Halter
as to find smooth water as man N this
world to find quiet. From the way thai
God has strewn the thorns and huog the
clouds and sharpened the tusks, from
the colds that distress us, and the heats
that snlte US, and the pleurisies that
stab US, and the fevers that consume US,
I know that he did not make this world
as a place to 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. 1t does
right well 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, so that God
has but to lift his hand, and the whole
world breaks forth into orchestra. But,
after all, it is only the srlendors OF a
kings highway. over which we are to
march on to eternal conquests.
You and haveseen men who tried to
rest here. They builded themselves great
stores. They gathered around them the
patronage of merchant princes. The
voice of their bid shook the money
markets. They had stock in the most
successful railroads, and IN safety de-
posts great rolls Of government secur-
tiles.
They had emblsz oned carriages, high
mettled steeds, footmen, plate that con-
founded lords and senators who sat at
their table, tapestry on which 1loated the
richest designs of foreign looms, splen-
dor of canvass on the wall, exquisite.
ness Of music rising among pedestals OF
propzs and dropping, soft as light, on
7now of sculpture. Here let them rest.
Put back the embroidered curtain, and
shake up the pillow of down. Turn
out the lights! 1t is ii O'Clock al night.
Let 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 start'e his pulses.
They cry out at u O'Clock at night:
awake man! How can you sleep when
things are 80 uncertaiG? What about
those stocks? Hark 10 the tap OF that
fire bell, it is your district! How If you
should die soon? Awake, man! Thins
oft! Who will get your property when
you are gone? What will they do with
il? 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 aud wipes the da mp
ness from mis- forehead and says: ALAS!
For all this scene Of wealth and magnli-
cence-nO restp'
I passed down street of a city with
merchant. He knew all the nest
houses on the street. He said: ''There
is something the matter in all these
houses. In that one it Is conjugal infe-
Iicity. In that one, dissipated son.
In that, dissolute father. In that, an
idiot child. In that, the prospect OF
bankruptcy" This worlds wealth can
give no permanent satisfaction. This ls
not your rest.
You and have seen men try in an
other direction. a man says, 'lf l
could enly rise to such and such place
of renowr; III could gain that office; #
I could only get the stand and have my
sentiments met with one good round Of
hand clapping applause; if could only
write book that would live, or make 8
speech that would thrill, or do an action
that would resound!" The tide turns in
bis favor. His name is on 10000 lips.
He 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 he passes in long procession, they
shake out the national standards. Her e
let him rest. It is II O'Clock at night.
On pillow stuffed with a nations praise
let him lie down. Hush, all disturbant
voices! In his dream let there be a
hoisted throne, and across it march a
coronation. Hush, hush! wake up!'
says a rough voice. Political senti-
ment is changing. How ii you should
lose this place of honol? Wake up!
The morning papars are to be full of de-
nunciation. Hearken to the execrations
of those who once earessed you. BY
tomorrow night there will be multltudes
sneerlng st the words which last night
you expected would be universally ad-
mlred. How can you sleep when every
thing depends upon the next turn Of the
great tragedy? Up mau! OF of this
pilloWW The man, with head yet hot
from his last Grafton, starts up suddenly
looks out upon the night, but sees moth
ing except the flowers that lie On his
stand, or the scroll from which he read
his spsech, or the books from which he
quoted his authorities, and goes to bis
desk to finish his neglected correspon-
dence, or to pen an indignant line to
some reporter, or to sketch the plan for
q public defense against the assaults Of
the people. Happy when he got his
first lawyers brief; tXultant when he
triumphed over his first political rival,
yet, sitting on the very top of all that
this world offers of praise, he exclaims,
"Ne rest, no restW
The very world that now apDlauds
will soon hiss. That world said Of the