Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-02-12

cannot burn; let the ufe COHe 70 me- 4
cannos burn" Thank God that there
are GEMS that unfold their best glories
nader the lanpllght! Thank God for
the Ruby.
Moreover. I am sure that Solomon
was right 10 saying that religion, or
wisdom. is better than rubies, from the
fact that thing is worth what 1t Will
fetch. Religion will fetch solid happi-
ness. and the ruby will not Ia all your
observatlon did you ever find person
thoroughly felicitated by an encrust-
ment of jewels? As yOn know more OF
Yourself than anyone else, are you hap
MGR now with worldly adornments and
successes than before you won them?
Does the picture that cost you hundreds
or thousands OF dollars on your wall
brjnr YOU as much satisfaction as the
engraving that ut the expense OF five
dollars was hung upon the wall when
YOU first began to keep house? Do all
the cutlery and rare plate that glitter
on your extension dining-tabie sur
rounded
By FLATTERING GUESTS
contain more Of real bliss than the
Dlain ware OF your first table, at which
sat only two? Does a wardrobe crowd
ed with costly attire give you more sat
isfaction than your first clotheS'closet
with It's four or five pegs? Did not the
plain ring set on the third finger Of
your left hand on the day OF your be-
trothal give more gladneSs than the
ruby that is now enthroned on the
third finger Of your right hand? II in
this Journey OF life we have learned
anything, we have learned that this
world neither with its emoluments nor
gains can satisfy the soul. Why. here
come as many witnesses as l wish TO
call so the stand 10 testify that before
high heaven and the world, In cOmpan-
ionship with Jesus Chritt and good
hope OF heaven, they feel JOY that all
the resources Of their vocabulary fail 10
express. Sometimes il evidences in
calculations OF hosanna. Sometimes
in d0xOiogy; sometimes in tears.
A converted native of India in letter
said. How ! long for my bed, not that
may sleep; lie awake often and long,
but 90 hold sweet communion with my
God. III so mighty is worldly joy that
Julius the Second hearing his armies
were triumphant, expired; aud II Talva
hearing that the Roman Senate had de-
creed him an honor, expired; and II Di-
onysius and Sophoclss overcome Of JOY,
expired, and il 4 shiDwrecked purSer
waiting on the coast of Guinea in want
and starvation at the sight OF vessel
bringing relief fell dead from shock OF
delight; is It any surprise 10 you that
the joys of pardon and heaven rolling
over the soul should sometimes be too
much for the Christian 20 endure and
live? An aged aunt said to me, "De-
Witt, three times 1 have tainted dead
away under too great Christian JOY. 1t
was an three cases at the Holy Com
munion," An eminent Christian man
while In prayer, said, "SsOp, Lord,
IcANNor BEAR ANY MORE
OF this gladness; it is too much for NOR
tai. Withhold! Withholdm we have
heard of poor Workmen or wOrkwomen
getting a letter suddenly telling them
that a fortune had been left them, and
how they were almost beside them
selves with glee, taking the first ship to
claim the estate. But, oh. what il is to
wake up out Of the stupor OF a sinful
life and through pardOning grace find
that all our earthly existence will be di-
vinely managed for our best welfare,
and that then all heaven will roll in
upon the soul. Compared with that
spring morning is stupid, and an Au-
gust sunshine IS lame, and an aurora
has no pillarsd splendOr, and diamond
has no flash, and pearl no light, and
beryl no aQuamarine, and ruby no
ruddlness. My gracious Lord! My
glorious God. Ny precious Christ!
Roll over on US few pillows of that
rapture. and now 1 ask you, as fair
minded men and women, accustomed TO
make comparisons. is not such a joy as
that worth more than anything one can
have in a jOweled casket? Was not Sol
onion right when be said, Wisdom Is
better than rubies?"
There is also something in the deep
carmine OF the ruby that suggests the
sacrifice on which our whole syste m of
religion depends.
In oldeu times Scotland was disturbed
by freebOOters and pirates. The rid the
seas and ports of these desperadoes, the
hero. William Wallace fitted out mer-
chant vessel, but filled it with armed
men, and put out 10 sea. The pirates
with their dag inscribed Of deaths
head, thinking they would get al easy
prize, bore down upon the Scottish
merchantmen, when the armed men of
Wallace boarded the craft OF the pirates
and put them 10 chains, and then sailed
for port under the Scotch flag flying.
And so our souls assailed OF sin and
death and hell through Christ are res
cued, and the black flag Of sin is torn
down and the striped dag Of the cross is
hoisted. Blessed be God for any sign,
for any signal, for any precious stone
that brings TO mind the price paid for
such a rescue!
To bring out o contrast that will IL
luStrate my text, put before you two
last earthly scenes. The one is a room
with rubieS, but no religion; and the
other in room with religion but no
rubies. You enter the first room,
where an atiluent aud worldly man is
about 70 quit this life. There is a ruby
on the mantel, possibly among the vases.
There is a ruby in the head-dresS OF the
oueenly wife. On the finger of the dy-
Ing man there is a ruby. The presence
Of these rubieS implies opuleence Of all
kinds. The pictures on the walls are
heir-loomS, or the trophies Of European
travel. The curtains are from foreign
looms. The rugs are from Damascus
or Cairo The sofas are stuffed with
ease and Quletude. The rockjng-chairs
roll backward aud forward on lullab Us.
IL q. ill., - ,-nln.iunlu ON hrnina r