Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-14

upall its peculiarities and idiosyncrasies
aud hurting them all toward some good
and grand object. In other words, no
two churches ought ever to be just alike.
/ Here is a church, for instance, whose
object is to pre- pare philosophers, and
artists, and critics for heaven. God
/ speed them ia the difficult work! Here
! Is church, on the other hand, that pro-
poses to bring only the poor into the
kingdom OF Jesus Christ, looking not
after the rich. God speed such q church
in lis undertaking! But there is a larger
/ idea that church may take-bringing
In the rich aud the poor, the wise and
/ the ignorant, the high aud the low; so
that kneeliug beside each other shall be
the man faring sumptuously every day,
! and the maa who
COULD NOT GET his BREAKFAST.
God speed such a church!
! Oh! my friends, we need TO break
away from slavery 10 ecclesiastical Gus
tom. We dare not sing il anybody hears
! US. We dare not preach unless We have
rounded of our sentences TO suit the
/ criticism OF the world. We dare no;
dress for church until we have examined
I the fashion plates, and would rather
stay at home than appear with a coat or
hat not sanctioned by custom. When
will the DAY OF deliverance come TO the
church OF God, when, instead OF dead
religion, laid out In state on a catatalque
Of pOmp and insncerity. we shall have
living, bounding, sympathetic, glowing
Christianity?
remark, further, that we have tried
here 30 build and 10 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 10 this house to present
TO this people the idea that the gaddest,
brightest, happiest thing in all the uni
verse Is the Christian religion. There
is so much trouble 10 tho world; bust
ness men have so many anxieties; toll
Ing men have 90 many fatigues; orphans
have so many desolatons-for Gods
sake, II there be any bright place on
earth, show 10 20 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
mo about the Christian religion. Ihave
no faith 10 a religion made up Of equal
parts Of wormwood, vinegar, and red
pepper. If the religion that is present
ed 10 US be a depression, we will get
along better without it. II 10 DO JOY,
let lit shine out from your face, and from
your conversation. II man comes 10
my house 10 talk OF religion with lugub-
rious cOuntenance, and manner full Of
Snltlle ana GoiOrousneSs, feel like say
log 10 my wife, "YOu had better lock
up the silver before be steals some
thing" / have found ii an invaria6le
rule that men who profess faith In
THE LORD JESUS CHRIST,
priding themselves at the same time on
their Sanctimoniousness, always turn
out badly. I never knew an exception.
While those who are the most consist
ent, the most useful, and the most con-
Secrated, have perfume in their CONVEX
satior, and heaven IN their face.
The happiest Christians that l have
ever known have been persons from
sixty 20 eighty years OF age. BY that
time people get over the shams and pre-
lenses of society, and have no longer
anything like impoSture in religion. 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
mercies? Are you iusensible to the fact
that there are glOrles awaiting you in
the better laUd2-doxologie OF celss-
tial worship eternal choralS, fearless
eyes, songs that resOund under arches
OF strength, aud hosannas that clap
their hands az the foot Of the throne?
Is II nothing to you that all the hills OF
heaven are radiant with the faces OF
those who have gone up from you, and
who are waiting for your coming, ready
10 keep with you eternal holiday? Is
there nothing in songs that never cease,
TO hearts that never ache, In spiendors
that never die, to make you glad?
Then take 10 more mercy at the hand
of thy God, Give back the marriage
ring of love that Jesus put on your fin
ger In the day OF your espousal! Plant
no more OF the flowers OF heaven where
there ought TO be nothing but nettles
and nightShade.
We try TO make this church cheer
full church. A man, on Saturday after
noon, stand in bis door, and says: "How
shall / meet these obligations? How
can | endure this new disaster that is
coming upon me?' He goes home.
Sabbath morning finds him II the house
OF God. Through the song, through
the sermon, through the prayer, the
Lord Jesus Christ says to that man,
20 man! have watched thee; have
SEEN ALL THY STRUGGLES.
It Is enough; will see thee through; l
will stand between thee and thy credit
ors. will make up in heavenly treas
ures what you heve lost in earthly
treasures. Courage, man! courage.
Angels OF God, l command you TO clear
the track for that man; put your wings
over his head; with your golden scep-
tres strike for his defense; throw
around him sll the defense Of eternity"
What is the consequence? That bust
ness man is strengthened. He 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 Cos
pei. Oh how shrunken she is. She
wears the same dress she wore twenty
years ago. How faded 1t is, and now
out OF date, She sits and listens as well
as she can. Her eyes are so din she
con not see half way across the church.
Her ear is so imperfect that she can only
catch occasionally note OF the psalm
or s word Of the preacher. Some one
sitting next 10 her gives her book and
finds the place for her. She says,
Thank You, miss, thank you!" She
holds the book close up TO her eyes. nd
with a voice all full OF tremors sings:
Jesus, lover Of my soul