National Baptist world., 1894-10-05
his soul break forth. He wants 20

his soul break forth. He wants 20
pray, but does not know how. He
hides his face, lest some of his worldly
friends see him; but Gods spirit
arouse him, melts him, overwhelms
him. And they go home-husband
and wife-in silence, until they get to
their room, when he cries out: ''Oh,
pray for me!' And they kneel down.
They cannot speak. The words will
not come. But God does not want any
words. He looks down and answers
sob, and groan, and outgu shing tender
ness. That night they do not sleep
any for talking of all the years wasted,
and of that Saviour who ceased not to
call. Before morning they have laid
their plans for a new life. Morning
comes Father and mother descend
from the bed room. Their children
do not know what is the matter.
They never saw father with Bible
in his hand before. He says:
''Come, children, l want you all to
sit down while we read and pray"
The children look at each other, and
are almost disposed to laugh; but they
see their parents are in deep earnest.
1t is short chapter that the father
reads. He is a good reader at other
times, but now he does not get on
much. He sees SO much to linger on.
His voice trembles. Everything is so
strangely new to him. They kneel-
that is, the father and mother do; but
the children come down one by one.
They do not know that they must. 1t
is some time before they all get down.
The sentences are broken. The
phrases are a little ungammat-
ical. The prayer begins abruptly
and ends abruptly; but as far as | can
understand what they mean, it is about
this: 20, Saviour! help usi We do not
know how to pray. Teach us. We can
not live any longer in the way we have
been living. We start to-day for Heaven.
Help us to take these children along
with us. Forgive us for all the past.
Strengthen us for all the future And
when the journey is over, take US where
Jesus is, and where the little babe is
that we lost. Amenn 1t ended very
abruptly; but the angels came out and
leaned so far over to listen they would
have fallen off the battlement but for
a stroke of their wings. and cried:
''Hark! hark! Behold! he prays?'
That night there is a rap at the bed
room door. "Who is there?" cries the
father. 1t is the oldest child. "What
is the matter? Are you sick?" mo;
want to be saved" Only little while
all the children are brought into the
Kingdom of God. And there is great
| joy in the house. Years pass on. The
telegraph goes click, click! What is
the news flying over the country?
| 'Come home; father is dying! The
children all gather. Some come in the
last train. Some, too late for the train,
take a carriage across the country.
They stand around the dying bed of the
father. The oldest son uphOlds the
mother, and says: Don't cry, mother;
l will take care of you" The parting
blessing is given. Nolong admonition,
for he has, through years, been saying
to his children all he had to say to
them. 1t is plain ''good-by," and the
remark: Il know you will be kind to
your mother" and all is over
| Life's duty done. as sinks the clay,
| Light from it's load, the spirit flies;
| While Heaven and earth combine to say,
How bless'd the righteous when he dies.
A whole family saved forever! If
the deluge come, they are all In the
ark-father, mother, sons, daughters.
| Together on earth, together in Heaven.
What makes it SO? Explain it. Zac-
cheus one day took Jesus home with
him. That is all. Salvation came to
that house.
What sound is it hear tonight? 1t
is Jesus knocking at the door Of your
house.
| Behold! stranger at the door;
| He gently knockS-haS knocked before.
If you looked out of your window
and saw me going up your front steps,
you would not wait, but go yourself to
open the door. VIII you keep Jesus
standing on the outside, His locks wet
with the dews of the night? This day
is salvation come to thy house. The
great want of your house is not new
carpet, or costlier pictures, or richer
furniture-it is Jesus!
Up to 40 years men work for them
selves; after that, for their children.
Now, what do you propose to leave
| Unom! NOIulup DuC uOl1dlo. AAAo'
what an inheritance! 1t is more likely
to be curse than a blessing. Your
own common sense and observation
tell you that money. without the Divine
blessing, is a curse. You must soon
leave your children. Your shoulders
are not so strong as they were, and you
know that they will soon have to carry
their own burdens. Your eyesight is
not so clear as once; they will soor
have to pick out their own way. Your
arm is not as mighty as once
they will soon have to fight theil
own battles. Oh! let it not be told on
Judgment day that you let your family
start without the only safeguard-the
religion of Christ. Give yourself nc
rest until your children are the sons
and daughters of the Lord Almighty
Your son does just as you do. He tries
to walk like you, and to talk like you
The daughter initiates the mother
Alas! if father and mother miss Heav
en-. the children will. Oh! let Jesus
come into your house. Do not bolt the
hall door, or the parlor door, or the
) kitchen door, or the bed room door
| AGAINST Him. Above all, do not boil