The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-05-25

sometimes cast down. They were far
from being perfect. So 1 suppose that
when we have gone some things in us
that Are now only tolerable may be al
most Respondent But as they were like
us in deficiencies we ought to be like
them in taking supernal Christ to make
up for the deficits. Had it not been for
Jesus they would have all persisted, but
Christ confronted them and said, II am
the way, y and they took it,
The Path of Trouble.
have also to say to you 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 hungryP' But the
men who had charge of them said:
''Stop this crying. Go on'' David and
his men also found it a hard way. They
had to travel it. Our friends have gone
into glory, and it is through much trib-
ulation that we are to enter into the
kingdom. How our loved ones used to
have to struggled How their old hearts
ached! How sometimes they had tus-
sic for bread! In our childhood we won
dered why there were so many wrin-
kles 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 never hear
the old people, seated by the evening
stand, talk over their early trials their
hardships, the accidents, the burials,
the disappointments, the empty flour
barrel when there were so many hungry
ones to feed, the sickness almost unto
death, where the next dose of morphine
decided between CHASTITY bereavement
and an unbroken home circle? Oh, yes!
1t was trouble that whitened 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 needed spectacles. 1t
was trouble that made the cane ne
cessity for their journey. Do you never
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 dis
tant past, until the apron came up to
her eyes because the memory was too
much for her?
Oft the big, unbidden tear,
Stealing down the furrowed cheek,
Told in eloquence sincere
Tales of woe they could not speak.
But, this scene of weeping DER,
Past this scene of toll and pain,
They shall feel distress no more,
Never, never weep again.
"Who are these under the altar" the
question was asked, and the response
came, '"These are they which came out
of great tribulation and have washed
their robes and made them white III the
blood of the Lamb" Our friends went
by path Of tears into glory, Be not
if we have to travel the same
pathway.
remark again, if we want to win
the society of our friends in heaven, we
Will not only have to travel. a path of .
faith and path of tribulation, b76 we
will also have to positively battle for
their companionship. David and his
men never wanted sharp swords, and
invulnerable shields, and thick breast
plates so much as they wanted them on
the day when they came down upon the
If they had lost that bat
tie, they never would have got their
families back. l suppose that one glance
at their loved ones in captivity hurled
them into the battle with tenfold
courage and energy They said: "We
must win it. Everything depends upon
it. Let each one take man on point
IF spear or sword. We must win it. "
And have to tell you that between us
md coming into the companionship of
our loved ones who are departed there
S an Austerlitz, there is a Gettysburg,
here is a Waterloo. War with the
world, war with the flesh, war with the
levil. We have either to conquer our
roubles, or our troubles will conquer
is. David will either Stay the Amale- {
,ites, or the Amalekites will slayDavid. {
And yet is not the fort to be taken
worth all the pain, all the peril, all the
Look! Who are they ON the bright /
ills of heaven yonder? There they are,
hose who sat at your own table, the s
hair now vacant. There they are those I
whom you rocked in infancy in the I
radle or hushed to sleep in your arms. /
here they are, those in whose life your {
Ife was bound up. There they are their ]
row more radiant than ever before you a
aw it, their lips waiting for the kiss of C
eavenly greeting, their cheek 'roseate l
nth the health of eternal summer, their L
ands reckoning you up the steep, the a
eet bounding with the mirth of heaven.
he pallor of their last sickness gone o
ut of their face, nevermore to be sick, Il
evermore to cough, nevernlore to o
mp, nevermore to be old, nevrmore e
} weep. They are watching from those {
Fights to see if through Christ you can a
Ike that fort, and whether you will b
lsh in upon them-victors. They know q
lat upon this battle depends whether &
ou will ever join their society. Upl
irike harderl Charge more bravely!
that every inch you gain puts Il
N, cn r,pch fortbo~ -, @ox.-arl 81.