The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-04-07

the sword of decapitation. To make
David what he was it took all that
Ahithophel and Saul and Absalom ana
Goliath and all the Philistlne hosts
could do against him. 1t took Robert
Chambers malformatfon of feet to
make him the literary conqueror. 1t
was bereavement that brought VIII
liam Haworth OF Weslcy's time from
wickedness to an evangelism that won
MANY thousands for Heaven. The
world would never have known what
heroic stuff Ridley was made OF had
not the fires been kindled around his
feet, and, not liking their slow work,
he cried: II can not burn; let the fre
come to me; can not burn" Thank
God that there are gems that unfold
their best glories under the lamp
light. Thank God for the ruby!
Moreover, am sure that Solomon
was right in saying that religion, or
wisdom, is better than rubies, from the
fact that thing is worth what it will
fetch Religion will fetch solid hap
piness, and the ruby will not. In all
your observation did you ever find a
person thoroughly felicitated by an
encrustment of jewels? AS you know
more of yourself than anyone else. are
you happier now with worldly adorn-
ments and successes than before you
won them? Does the picture that cost
YOU hundreds or thousands of dollars
on your wall bring you us much salts
faction as the engraving that at the
expense of five dollars was hung
upon the wall when you first be-
gan to keep house? Do all the cut
lery and rare plate that glitter on your
extension d;ning-table surrounded by
flattering guests contain more real
bliss than the plain ware OF the first
table. at which only two sat? Does
wardrobe crowded with costly attire
give YOU more satisfaction than your
first clothes-closet with its four or five
pegs? Did not the plain ring set on
the third finger of your left hand on
the day of your betrothal give more
pladness than the ruby that is now en-
throned on the third finger of your
right hand? If 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
comes as many witnesses as |
wish to call to the stand to testify that
before high Heaven and the world. in
companionship with Jesus Christ and a
good hope of Heaven, they feel a JOY
that all the resources of their vocabu-
| larly fail to express. Sometimes 1t
evidences itself in CALCULATIONS of ho-
| sauna: sometimes in doxology; some.
times in tears. A converted native OF
India in a letter said: "How | long
for my bed, not that ! may sleep; lie
| awake often and long, but to hold
sweet communion with my God" 1t SO
mighty is worldly joy that Julius
H., hearing his armies were triumph
ant, expired; and if Taiva hearing
that the Roman senate has decreed
him an honor, expired; and if Diony'
| sius and Sophocles overcome OF joy,
expired, and If shipwrecked purser
| waiting on the coast Guinea in want
and starvation at the sight of vessel
bringing relief. fell dead from shock
of delight; is it any surprise to you
that the joys of pardon and Heaven
rolling over the soul should sometimes
be almost too much for the Christian
to endure and live? An aged aunt said
| to me: ssDe Witt, three times | have
tainted dead away under too great
Christian joy. 1t was in all three
cases at the Holy Communion An
eminent Christian man while in prayer
said: "Stop. Lord, can not beai
any more of this gladness; it is
too much for mortal. Withhold! With.
| hold., We have heard of poor work
men or workwomen getting letter
suddenly telling them that fortune
had been left them, and how they were
almost beside themselves with glec,
taking the first ship to claim the es.
tate. But, oh, what it is to wake W
out of the stupor of sinful life and
pardoning grace find that all our earth
| ly existence will be diyincly managed
| for our best welfare. and that then al
| Heaven will roll in upon the soul
Compared with that spring morn
! ing is stupid, and an August
sunset is insane, and an aurora has nc
| pillared splendor, and diamond has
no fash, and pearl no light. and 9
beryl no aquamarine. and a ruby nj
ruddiness. My gracious Lord. Ny
/ glorious God. My precious Christ
! Roll over on us a few pillows of tina
rapture. And now / 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 jeweled casket? Wa
not Solomon right when he said
ssWisdom is better than rubies?'
In olden time. Scotland was disturbed
by freebooters and pirates. To rio
the seas and ports of these desperadoe
the hero, William Wallace, fitted out ;
merchant vessel. but filed it with armet
men and put out to sea. The pirate
with their flag inscribed of death
head, thinking they would get an cas-.
prize, bore down upon the Scottish
merchantmen, when the arme,
men of Wallace boarded tn
craft of the pirates and pu
them in chains, and then sailed TO
port under the Scotch flag flying. An
so our souls assailed of sin and dealt
and held through Christ are rescued
and the black flag of sin is torn dow
and the striped flag of the cross
hoisted. Blessed be God for any sign
for any signal. for any precious ston
that brings 70 mind the price paid TO