The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-21

in some things like ourselves j
know, now that they are gone,
there is a halo around their names;
but they had their faults They
said and did things they ought never
to have said or done They were
sometimes rebellious, sometimes cast
down They were far from being per
feet So suppose that when we have
gone. some things in us that are now
only tolerable may be almost res plend-
emit But as they were like us in de-
6ciencies, we ought to be like them in
taking a superna1 Christ to make up
for the deficits Had it not been for
Jesus, they would have all perishedi
but Christ confronted them, and said,
Il am the way" and they took it.
have also to say to you that the
path that these captives trod was a
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, ''Ohl we are so
tired; we are so sick; we are so hum
gry!" But the men who had charge OF
them said, stop this crying. Go onl'
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 tribulation that we are
to enter into the kingdom. How our
loved ones used to have to strug-
gle! how their old hearts achedl how
sometimes they had tussle for breadl
In our childhood we wondered why
there were so many wrinkles 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 hun
CRY ones to feed, the sickness almost
unto death, where the next dose OF
morphine decided between CHASTITY be
reavement and an unbroken home
circle? Oh, yes! it 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 specta-
cles. 1t was trouble that made the
cane a necessity 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
out, not seeing the fall
ing shower at all you well knew she
was looking into the distant past), un-
til the apron came up to her eyes, be-
cause the memory was too much for
her?
Oft the big unbidden tear
Stealing down the furroughed 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 altarP'
the question was asked, and the re-
sponse came, "These are they which
came out of great tribulation, and have
washed their robes, and made them
white in the blood of the Lamb" Our
friends went by a path of tears into
glory. Be not surprised if we have to
travel the same pathway.
1 remark, again, if we want to win
The society of our friends in heaven,
we will not only have to travel path
IF faith and path of tribulation, but
we will also have to positively battle
Tor their companionship. David and
MS men never wanted sharp swords
and invulnerable shields and thick
so much as they wanted
hem on the day when they came
Town upon the Amalekites. If they
lad lost that battle, they never would
nave got their families back. / sup
pose that one glance of their loved
'nes in captivity hurled them into
oattle with tenfold courage and
Energy. They said, 1--WE must win it.
Let each one take a man on point Of
pear or sword. We must win
t." And 1 have to tell you
hat between us and coming into
he companionship of our loved
mes who are departed, there is an
Austerlitz, there is Gettysburg, there
s Waterloo. War with the world,
var with the flesh, war with the devil
We have either to conquer our troubles,
n our troubles will conquer us David
will either slay the Amalekites, or the
Amalekites will slay David. And yet
; not the fort to be taken worth all
he pain, all the peril, all the besiege-
nent? Looki Who are they on the
right hills of heaven yonder? There
hey are, those who sat at your own
able. the chair now vacant. There
hey are, those whom you rocked in
infancy in the cradle, or hushed to
leep in your arms. There they are,
hose in whose life your life was
ound up. There they are. their
row more radiant than ever before
on saw it, their lips waiting for the
ISIS of heavenly greeting, their
heck roseate with the health Of eter-
al summer, their hands reckoning
GU up the steep, the feet bounding
With the mirth of heaven. The pa1lor
f their last sickness gone out of their.
ace, never more to be sick, never more
o cough, never more to limp, never
aore to be old, never more to weep.