Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-11-23

Men never pray az great IehEts HnIess they
have nothing to say. and their hearts nre
hard and cold. Ali the prayers in the Bibie
that were answered were short prayer.
GOD be merciful TO me, sinner" "Lor :,
that may receive my signt.
"Lord, save me or perish" The Longest
prayer, Solomofi's prayer at the dedication
OF the temple. less than eight minutes ~
length, according to the ordinary rate OF
enunciation. And just hear them pray now
that the prodigals are coming home. JUS
see them shake hands. No putting forth OF
the four tips of the fingers In normal way,
but hearty grasp, where the muscles OF the
heart seem to clinch the fingers of one hand
arouhd the other hand. And then see those
Christian faces, how ilumined they are. And
see that old man get up and with the same
voice that he sang fifty years ago in the old
country meeting house say, NOW, Lore,
lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace for
mino eyes have seen Thy salvation" There
was man of Keith who was hurled into
prison in time OF persecution, and one day
he got off his shackes, and he came ana
stood by the prison door, and wnen the
jailer was opening the door with one slroHe
he struck down the man who had incarcerG-
ted him.
Passing along the streets OF London, ne
wondered where his family was. lie an
not dare 10 ask lest he excite suspicion, bur
passing along a little way from the prison ne
saw Keith tankard, a cup that belonged TO
the family from generation to generation.
He saw it in window. His family, hoping
that some day he would get clear, came and
lived as near as they could to the prison
house, and they set that Keith tankart in
the window, hoping he would see it, and ne
came along and saw it, and knocked at tho
door, and went In, and the long absent lam
lily were all together again. On, II you
would start for the kingdom of God today,
think some OF you would fni nearly all
your friends and nearly all your families
around the holy tankard OF the holy COM
munon-fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters,
around that sacred tankard which com.
men crates the love of Jesus Christ our Lord
On, 1t will be a great communion day when
your whole family sits around the saereI
tankard! One on earth, one in heaven.
Once more l remark that when the prod
igal gets back the inhabitants OF heaven
keep festival. l am very certain OF IT. Ii
you have never seen te legraphic Chart, you
have no idea how many cities are connected
together and how many lands. Nearly all
the neighborhoods OF the earth seem rellcu-
late1, and news flies from city to city an1
from continent to continent. But more rap
Idly 90 ths tidings from earth to heaven,
and when prodigal returns 1t is announcer
before the throne Of Col.
And if these souls to-day should enter tho
kingdom there would be some one in the
heavenly kingdom to say, That's my
father" 'Thats my mother" That's my
son." "That's my daughter" "Thats my
friend" "That's the one used to pray for,"
'That's the one for whom 1 wapt so many
tears" and one soul would say. "Hosanna"
and another soul would say, "Hallelulah |"
Pleased with the news, thu saints bolo1
In songs their tongues employ.
Beyond the skies the tidings go,
And heaven L. filed with Joy.
Nor angels can their JOY contain,
But kindle with new fire.
The sinner lost is found. they sing,
And strike the sounding Tyre.
At the banquet OF Lucullus sat Cicero, tho
orator. At the Macedonian festival SIT
Philip, the conqueror. At the Greciau ban-
quet sat Socrates, the philosopher, but 1T
our Fathers table sit all the returne prodi-
gals, more than conquerors. The table Is 80
wide its leaves reach across seas an across
lands. Its guests are the redeeme | of the
earth and the glorihed OF heaven. Inc ring
Of Gods forgiveness on every band, the
robe Of a Saviour's righteousness adroop
from every shoulder Tho wine that glows
in the cups is from the bowls OF Il, 900 sacra-
ments. Let all the redeemed OF earth and
all the glorifled Of heaven arise, and with u
cleaning chalice drink to t1s return Of q
thousand prodgals SIM, sing, sing
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to re-
ceive blessing and riches and honor and
glory and power, world without endg'