Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-05-31

past, until the apron came up to her
eyes, because the memory was too much
for her?
Oft the big, unbidden tear
Stealing down the furrowed cheek,
Told in eloquence sincere,
Tales Of woe they could not speak.
But this scene Of weeping Ger.
Past this scene of toll and pain,
They shall feel distress no more,
Never. never weep again.
Who are these under the altar?'' the
question was asked: and the respone
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 path of tears into
glory. Be not surprised if we have to
travel the same pathway.
/ remark, again, if we want to win
the society of our friends in Heaven we
will not only have to travel path of
faith and path of tribula ton. but we
will also have to positively battle for
| their cOmpaniOnShip. David and his
men never wanted sharp swords and
plates so much as they wanted them on
the day when they came down upon the
Amalekites. If they had lost that
battle they never would have got their
families back. [ suppose that one
glance at their loved ones in
captivity hurled them into the battle
with tenfold courage and energy.
They said: we must win it. Every
thing depends upon it. Let each one
take q man on point Of spear or sword.
We must win it." And I have to tell
you that between US and coming into
the companionship of our loved ones
who are departed there IS an AusterlitZ.
there is a Gettysburg. there is Water
loo. War with the world. war with the
flesh, war with the devil. We have
either to conquer our troubles OF our
troubles will conquer us. David viii
either Stay the Amalel1ites or the
Amalekites viii Stay David. And
yet is not the fort TO be taken worth
all the pain, all the peril. all the be-
siegement? Look. Who are thew on
the bright hills of Heaven wonder?
There they are, those who sat at your
own table. the chair now vacant.
There they are, those whom You
rocked in infancy Ill the cradle or
hushed to sleep in your arms. There
they are, their brow more radiant than
ever before you saw it. their lips wait
ing for the kiss of heavenly greeting,
their cheek roseate with the
health Of eternal summer, their
hands reckoning you up the steep,
the feet bounding With the nirth
Of Heaven. The pallor Of their last
sickness gone out Of their face never
more to be sick, never moro to cough.
never more to limp, never more TO be
old. never more to weep. They are
watching from those heights to see if
through Christ you can take the fort,
and whether you will rush in upon
them-victors. They know that upon
this battle depends whether you viii
ever join their society. Up. strike
harder! Charge more bravely. Re-
member that every inch you gain puts
you so much farther on toward that
heavenly reunion.
You say that all this implies that our
departed Christian friends are alive.
Why. had you any iGea they were dead?
They have only moved. If you should
go on the second of May to a house
where one of your friends lived, and
find him gone, you would not think that
he was dead. You would inquire next
door where he had moved to. Our de-
parted Christian friends have only taken
another house. The secret is that
they are richer now than they once
were, and can afford better residence.
They once drank out of earthenware;
they now drink from the Kings chalice.
"Joseph is yet alive, and Jacob will 60
up and see him. Living? are they?
Why, if a man can live in this damp,
dark dungeon of earthly captivity, can
he not live where he breathes the brac-
ing atmosphere of the mountains of
Heaven? Oh, yes, they are living!
Do you think that Paul is so near
dead now as he was when he was living
in the Roman dungeon? Do you think
that Frederick Robertson, of Brighton,
is as near dead now as ne was when,
year after year, he slept seated on the
floor, his head on the bottom of chair.
because he could find ease in no other
position? Do you think that Rob
ert Hall is as near dead now as
when, on his couch, he tossed in phys
ical tortures? No. Death gave them
the few black drops that cured them.
That is all death does to a Christian
cures him. | know that what I have
said implies that they are living. There
is no question about that. The only
question. this morning, is whether YOU
will ever join them.
May God Almighty, through the
blood of the everlasting covenant, bring
us into the companiOnship of our be-
loved ones who have already entered
the Heavenly land, and into the pres
ence of Christ whom, not having seen,
we love, and so David shall recover all,
''and as his part is that goeth down to
the battle, so that his part be that tar
rieth by the stuff.
New York Churchman:-The proof
reader is often abused, but much less