The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-10-12

and new earth" The old mans hand I
trembles as he turns over this apoca-
lvptic leaf. and he has to take out his
handkerchief to wipe his spectacies-
THAT book of Revelation is prospect
ms now Of the country into which he
is soon to emigrate; the country IN
which he has lots already laid ou''
and avenues opened, and mansions
built.
Yet there are people here to whom
this world is brighter than heaven
Well. dear souls, do not blame you.
II is natural. But after awhile you
will he ready to go. 1t was not until
lob had been worn out with bereave-
,,arts that he wanted to see God. IL
was not until the prodigal got tired OF
living among the hogs that he wanted
IN 90 to his fathers house. 1t Is the
ministry of trouble to make this world
worth less and Heaven worth more.
AGAIN, it is the use OF trouble TO
make us feel our dependence upon
Cod Men think that they can do
ANYTHING until God shows them 'ney
can do nothing at all. we lay our
great plans. and we like to execute
them. 1t looks big. God comes ana
takes us down. AS Prometheus was
assaulted by his enemy. when the
lance struck him it opened great
swelling that had threntenei his
death. and he got we'll. So it is the
arrow of trouble that lets out great
swellinrs of pride. We never feel our
dependence upon God until we get
.rouble. / was riding with my little
child along the road. and she asked II
she might drive. / said: "Certatnig'
: I handed over the reins to her, ana l
had to admire the glee with which she
drove. But after awhile we met
team and had to turn out. The ROAD
( was narrow, and it was sheer down on
F! both sides. She handed the reins over
to me and said: II think you had let
: ter take charge of the horse. 80 we
n are all children; and on this road OF
e life we like to drive. 1t gives one
t such an appearance of superiority
h and mower. 1t looks big. But after
!, awhile we meet some obstacle. anu we
e have to turn out, and the road IS mar
row. and it is sheer down on both sides
:? and then we are willing that zoo
y should take the reins and drive. An
e nv friends, we get upset so often De
d cause we do not hand over the reln
d soon enough.
n After man has had trouble, praye
Al is with him taking hold of the arm
1T of God and crying out for help
il have heard earnest prayers on two
re three occasions that l remember
e? Once, on the Cincinnati express train
of going. at forty miles the hour, tn
IS. train Jumped the track, and we wer
III near a chasm eighty feet deep; an
" the men who, a few minutes before
st, had been swearing and biasphe MIN
sy God, began to pull and jerk at the De
or rope. and got up on the backs OF I'll
N; seats and cried out: 'Oh, God. say
ur usr There was another time, aoou
es eight hundred miles out at sea, on
ne laundering steamship, after the la
al lifeboat had been split finer tha
No l,indling wood. They prayed the
he Wby is it YOU so often hear people,
id reciting the last experience OF son
of friend. say: '.IIe made the most bea
n tiful prayer I ever heard9 VII
! n makes it beautiful? It is the earne'
ar. ness of it. Oh! tell you, man is
of earnest when his stripped and max
soul wades out in the soundless, shol
zen less, bottomless ocean of eternity.
va Tt is trouble, my friends. that MAX
ms us feel our dependence upon God.
II do not know our own weakness
Md Gods strength until the plank breal
1ou It is contemplate in us when there
ase nothing else 10 take hold OF, that
ars catch hold of God only. Why. you
rth not know who the Lord Is. He is
nil an autocrat seated far up in pala
ex. from which lie energies once We
Md preceded by heralds swinging swo
to clear the way. No. but 1atl
ugh willing at our call, to stand by US
ave every crisis and prcdicament OF l
nst tell YOU what some OF you busln
adj men make me think of. yot
this man goes off from home to e.
Won his fortune. He goes with his moth
has consent and benediction. She
and large wealth, but he wants to M
tire his own fortune. He goes far aw
nce falls sick, gets out OF money.
the sends for the hotel keeper where n
are staying, asking for lenience. and
pa answer he gets is: 'If you don't
at up Saturday night you'll be reno
this to the hospital"
he Again. it is the use OF trouble TO
,v;sb pacitate us for the Office OF sympa
how The priests, under the old dispe
md. ton. were set apart by having W
He sprinkled upon their hands, feet
Ills head: and by the sprinkling OF t
ferr people are now set apart to the c
tract of sympathy. When we are in
or to perity we like to have'a great n
\ the young people around us, and we IL
es Of when they laugh, and we romp '
~ ex. they romp, and we sing when
- his sing: but when we have trouble
cbael like plenty OF old folks around. '
LAST They know how to talk. Take
d his aged mother, seventy years OF
1T or. and she is almost omnipotent In
. and fort. Why? She has been throu
tben all At seven o'clock in the mol
eave3 She goes over to comfort
mother who has just lost her
,al of Grandmother knows all about
ready trouble. Fifty years ago she Il
where At twelve o'clock of that day she
, like over to comfort widowed soul.
,tmos- Knows all about That. She has
# dis walking in that dark valley t'
ra.tba wears. At four o'clock in the
.o,,a ono knocks at the