The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1895-03-21
4.

y
gain, is this moment when you con-
quer first yourself, and then all the
hindering myrmidons of perdition by
saying: Lord Jesus. here am, un-
done and helpless, to be saved by Thee.
and Thee alone" That makes pauic
in hell That makes celebration in
Heaven. Opportunity! On the 11th Of
January, 1866, collier brig ran
into the rocks near Walmer beach,
England. Simon Pritchard stand-
ing on the beach threw off his
coat and said: "Who will help me save
that crew." Twenty men shouted: II
WILL" though only seven were needed.
Through the awful surf the boat
dashed, and in fifteen minutes from the
time Pritchard threw off his coat all
the shipwrecked crew were safe on
the land. Quicker work to-day Half
that time more than necessary to get
all this assem- mblage into the lifeboat Of
the Gospel, and ashore, standing both
feet on the Rock of Ages. By the two
strong oars of faith and prayer first
pull for the wreck and then pull 70,
the shore. Opportunity!
Over the city went the cry,
Jesus. Of Nazareth, passeth by.
Let the world go. 1t has abused you
enough, and cheated you enough, and
slandered you enough, and damaged
you enough. Even those from whom
you expected better things turned out
your assailants; as when Napoleon in
his last will and testament left five
thousand francs to the man who shot
at Wellington in the streets of
Paris. Oh, it is mean world.
Take the glorious Lord for your
companionship. I like what the
good man said to one who had every
thing but religion. The affiuent man
boasted of what he owned, and OF his
splendors of surroundings, putting
into insignificance, as he thought, the
Christians possessien's. ''Ah!2, said
the Christian, imam, have something
you have not. !" "What is that?" said the
worldling. The answer was: 'Peacc!"
And you may all have it, peace with
God; peace with the past; peace with
the future, a peace that all the assaults
of the world and all the bombardments
satanic can not interfere with. A
Scotch shepherd was dying and had
the pastor called in. The dying shep-
herd said to his wife: Mary, please 60
into the next room, for want to see
the minister alone" When the two
were alone the dying shepherd said:
II have known the Bible all my
life, but am going, and am
'afeered to dee.'" Then the pastor
quoted the Psalm: 'The Lord Is
my shepherd; I shall not want" Eyes,
mon," said the shepherd, II was IA.
miliar with that before you were born,
but I'm a-goin', and am afeered to
dee" Then said the pastor: "You
know that the Psalm says. Though
walk through the valley of the
shadow Of death, will fear no
evil" YES" said the dying
shepherd. IT knew that before
you were born, but it does not
help me-" Then said the pastor:
Don't you know that sometimes when
you were driving the sheep down
through the valleys and the revines
there would be shadows all about you,
while there was plenty of sunshine on
the hills above? You are in the shadows
now, ba. Is is sunshine higher up" Then
said the dying shepard: 'Ah! that is
good. / never saw it that way before.
All is we'll. Though pass through
the valley of the shadow Of death,
Thou art with me. Shadows here, but
sunshine above" So the dying shep-
herd got peace. Living and dying may
we have the same peace!
Opportunity! Under the arch Of that
splendid word let the multitude of my
hearers pass into the pardon, and hope,
and triumph Of the Gospel. Go by
companies of hundred each. Go by
regiments of thousand each. The
aged leaning on the staff; the middle
aged throwing off their burdens as
they pass; and the young to have
their present joys augmented by mora
glorious satisfactions. Forward into
the kingdom! As soon as you pass the
dividing line there will be shouting
all up and down the heavens. The
crowned immortals will look down
and cheer. Jesus of the many scars
will rejoice at the result of His
earthly sacrifices. Departed saints
will be gladdened that their
prayers are answered.. An order
will be given for ti,c spreading
of a banquet ut which you will be the
honored guest. From the imperial
gardens the wreaths will be twisted
for your brow, and from the halls q.
eternal music the harpers will bring
their harps. and trumpeters their
trumpet. and all up and down
the amethystine stairway of the
castles, and in all the rooms of the
house Of many mansions, it will be
talked over with holy glee that this day
while one plain man stood on the plat
form of this vast building giving the
Gospel call, an assemblage made up
from all parts of the earth and piled
up in these galleries, chose Christ as
their portion, and started for Heaven
as their everlasting home. Ring all
the bells of Heaven at the tidingsl
Strike all the cymbals at the joyi
Wave all the palm branches at the
triumph! Victory! Victory!