Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1894-05-18
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tarlnR SuulpluOuSly every udg anu luO
man who could not get his breakfast.
God speed such a church!
Oh, my friends, we need to break away
from slavery to ecclesiastical custom.
We dare not sing if anybody hears Us.
We dare not preach unless we have
rounded of our sentences to suit the
criticism of the world. We dare not
dress for church until we have examined
the fashion plates and would rather stay
at home than appear with q coat or a hat
not sanctioned by custom. When will
theday Of deliverance come to the church
of God, when, instead of dead religion
laid out in state on a catafalque of pomp
and insincerity, we shall have a living,
bounding, sympathetic, glowing Chris
tianity?
A Happy Church.
remark, further, that we have tried
here to build and to conduct a cheerful
church. While, as You know, we have
not held back the terrors Of the law and
the sterner doctrines Of the gospel, we
have tried in this house to present to this
people the idea that the gladdest, bright
est. happiest thing in all the universe is
the Christian religion. There is so much
troublein the world. Business men have
so many anxieties Toiling men have so
many fatigues. Orphans have so many
desolations. For Gods sake, if there be
any bright place on earth, show it TO
them! Let the church Of Jesus Christ be
the most cheerful spot on earth.
Let me say that do not want anybody
to come whining around me about the
Christian religion. have no faith in q
religion made upof equal parts Of worm-
wood, vinegar and red pepper. If the re-
ligion that is presented to us be depres-
sion. we will get along better withoutit.
If it be a JOY, let it shine ont from your
face and from your conversation. If a
man comes to my house to talk of re-
ligion with lugubrious countenance and
manner full of sniffle and dolorousness, l
feel like saying to my wife, lyon had
better lock up the silver before he steals
something" | have found it an invari-
able rule that men who profess faith in
the Lord Jesus Christ, priding them
selves at the same time on their sancti-
moniousness, always turn out badly
never knew an exception--while those
who are the most consistent, the most
useful and the most cOnsecrated have
perfume in their conversation and heav-
en- in their face.
The happiest Christians that l have
ever known have been persons from 60
to 50 years Of age. BY that time people
get over the shams and the pretenses Of
society and have no longer any patience
with anything like imposture inreligion.
O Christian, how dare you be gloomy?
Is not God your father? Is not Jesus
Christ your Saviour: Has not your path
all through life been strewn with mer-
cies? Are you insensible 10 tho fact that
there are glories awaiting you in the bet
ter land-doxologies Of celestial wor-
ship, eternal chorals, fearless eyes, songs
that resound under arches Of strength
and hosannas that clap their hands at
the foot of the throne;
Is it nothing to you that allthe hills Of
heaven are radiant with the faces Of
those who have gone up from you and
who are waiting for your coming, ready
to keep with you eternal holiday: IS
there nothing in songs that never cease,
in hearts that never ache, in splendor5
that never die, TO make you glad: Then
take no more mercy at the hand of thy
God! Give back the marriage ring Of
love that Jesus put on your finger in the
day of your espousal! Plant no more Of
the flowers Of heaven where there ought
to be nothing but nettles and night
shade!
The Gospel Of Courage.
We try to make this church a cheerful
church. A man on Saturday afternoon
stands in his store and says: How shall
meet these obligations: How can en-
dure this new disaster that is coming
upon me:' He goes home. Sabbath
morning finds him in the house Of God
Through the song, through the sermon,
through the prayer, the Lord Jesus
Christ says to that man: 30 man, have
watched thee. l have seen allthy strug-
giles. It is enough. will see thee
through. will stand between thee and
thy creditors. Twill make up in heaven
ly treasures what You have lost in earth
" treasures. Courage, man, courage!
Angels Of God, command You to clear
the track for that man; put your wings
over his head; withyour golden sceptcrs
strike for his defense; throw around HIM
all the defenses Of eternity What IS
the consequence? That business man is
strengthened. lie goes to the store next
day feeling that God is with him and
ready to deliver.
That same Sunday there is poor old
woman in the church hearing the gospel.
Oh, how shrunken she is! She wears the
same dress she wore % years ago. How
faded it is and now out Of date! She sits
and listens as well as she can. Her eyes
are so dim she cannot see half way across
the church. Her ear Is so imperfect that
she can only catch occasionally q note of
the psalm or a word of the preacher
Some one sitting next to her gives her a
book and finds the place for her. She
says, "Thank you, miss; thank YOU"
She holds the book close mp to her eyes
and with voice all full Of tromors
sings;
Jesus. lover OF my soul.
Let me to thy bosom fly
While the pillows near me roll,
While the tempest still is high.
hide me, my Saviour hide,
Till the storm Of life is past.
Safe into the haven guide
Oh, receive my soul at last.
And Jesus says to her, Mother, are
Won wearv;n And she saws. "Yes. Jesus,