Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1895-10-11


erosion. we have entertained for many
a long year in our heart, which should
be the cleanest, brightest room in all
our nature. Out with the vile herd!
Begone, we befoulers of an immortal
nature!
Turn out the beasts and let Christ
come in! A heather came to an early
Christian, who had the reputation OF
curing diseases. The Christian said,
you must have all your idols de-
stroyed.' The heather gave to the
Christian the key to his house, that he
might go in and destroy the idols. He
battered to pieces all he saw, but still
the man did not get well. The Chris
tian said to him, There must be some
idol in your house not yet destroyed
The heather confessed that there was
one idol of beaten gold that he could
not bear to give up. After awhile, when
that was destroyed, in answer to the
prayer of the Christian, the sick man
got we'll.
Many man has awakened in his
dying hour to find HIS sins all about
him. They clambered up on the right
side of the bed, and on the left side,
and over the head board, and over the
foo.-board. and horribly devoured the
soul.
Repent! the voice celestial cries,
Nor longer dare delay;
The wretch that scorns the mandate
dies,
And meets fiery day.
Again, we need believing heart. A
good many years ago weary one went
up one of the hills of Asia Minor, and
with two logs on his back cried out to
all the world, offering to carry their
sins and sorrows. They pursued him.
They slapped him in the face. They
Knocked him. When he groaned they
groaned. They shook their fists at
him. They spat on him. They hound
ed him as though he were wild beast
His healing of the sick, his sight-giv-
ing to the blind, his mercy to the out
cast. silenced not the revenge of the
world. His prayers and benedictions
were lost in that whirlwind of execra-
ton: Away with him! Away with
him.
All! it was not merely the two pieces
Of wood that he carried: it was the
transgressions of the race, the anguish
of the ages, the wrath of God, the sor-
rows OF hell, the stupendous interests
of an amending eternity. No wonder
his back bent. No wonder the blood
started from every pore. No wonder
that he crouched under torture that
made the sun faint, and the everlasting
hills tremble, and the dead rush up in
their winding-Sheets as he cried: III
it be possible, let this cup pass from
me-" But the cup did not pass. None
to comfort.
There he hangs! What has that
hand done that it should be thus
crushed in the palm? 1t has been heal
ing the lame and wiping away tears.
What has that foot been doing that it
should be so lacerated? 1t has been
going about doing good. OF what has
the victim been guilty? Guilty of saw
ing world. Tell me, We heavens and
earth, was there ever such another
criminal? Was there ever such a
crime? On that hill of carnage, that
sunless day, amid those bowling riot
persisted? l believe it. Oh. the ran
som has been paid. Those arms of Je-
sus were stretched out SO wide, that
when he brought them together again
they might embrace the world. Oh,
that / might, out of the blossoms Of the
spring. or the flaming foliage of the
autumn, make one wreath for my Lord
Oh, that all the triumphal arches of the
world could be swung in one gateway
where the King of Glory might come
in! Oh, that all the harps and trum-
pets and organs Of earthly music
might, in one anthem. speak his praise!
But what were earthly flowers to him
who walketh amid the snow Of the
white lilies of heaven? What were
arches of early masonary to him who
hath about his throne rainbow spun
out of everlasting sunshine? What
were ali car my huoiC " ulm when tue
hundred and forty and four thousand
on one side, and cherubim and sera-
phim and archangels stand on the other
side, and all the space between is filled
with the doXologies of eternal jubilee
the hosanna of a redeemed earth, the
hallelujah of unfallen angels, song af-
ter song rising about the throne of God
and Of the Lamb? In that pure, high
place, let him hear us. Stop! harps OF
heaven, that our poor cry may be heard
Oh, my Lord Jesus! it will not hurt thee
for one hour to step out from the shin
ing throng. They will make it all up
when thou goest back again. Come
hither, o blessed One, that we may kiss
thy feet. Our hearts, too long with
held. we now surrender into thy keep
ing. When thou goest back tell it to
all the immortals that the lost are
found, and let the Fathers house ring
with the music and the dance.
They have some old wine in heaven,
not used except in rare festivities. In
this world, those who are accustomed
to use wine on great occasions bring
out the beverage and say, This wine Is
thirty years old" or forty years Old