The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-06

keeps them on the run. Rivalries OF life
keep them on the run. They are running
from disaster. They are running for re-
ward. Aud those who run the fastest and
run the longest seem best to succeed. But
my text suggests q restful posture for all
time have been on the run. "They shall sit
DOWN. Why run any longer! When man
gets heaven, what more can he getp "They
shall sit down." Not alone, but picked COM
pantonship OF the universe; not em5ar-
rassed. though seraph should sit down on
one side OF you and an archangel on tho
other.
There is that mother who, through all the
years OF infancy and childhood, was kept
running amid sick trundle beds, now to
shake up the pillow for that faxen head,
and now to give drink to those parched
lips and now to hush the frightened dream
OF little one. and when there was one less
of the children, because the great lover OF
children had lifted one out OF the or CUP into
the easy breathing OF celestial atm osphere,,
the mother putting all the more anxious
care on those who were left, so weary OF
arm and foot and back and head, 80 often
crying out II am 80 tired am 80 tiredW
Her work done, she shall sit down. and that
business man for thirty, forty. fifty years
has kept on the run. not urged by sci fish
livelihood for the household. On the run
from store to store, or from factory to fac
tory, meeting this loss and discovering that
;tnaccuracy and suffering betrayal or disap-
pointment, nevermore to DO cheated or per-
lplexed or exasperated, he shall sit down,
not In great armchair OF heaven, for the
rockers Of such q chair would imply ones
need Of soothing, OF changing to essy pos
ture or semi-invalidism, but q atnrone, solid
as eternity and radiant as the morning after
g night of storm. "They shall sit down"
7 notice that the most OF the styles OF toll
require an erect attitude. There are the
thousands Of girls behind counters, many
such persons through the inhumanity OF
employers compelled to stand, even when
because a lack of customers there Is no need
that they stand. Then there are all the car
penters, and the stonemasons, and the
blacksmiths, and the farmers and the engi-
neers, and the ticket agents, and the con-
ductors. In most trades, In most occupa-
tions, they must stand. But ahead Of all
those who love and serve the Lord is rest
ing place, a complete relaxation of fatigued
muscle, something cushioned and uphols-
tered and embroidered, with the very ease
of heaven. "They shall sit down." Rest
from toll, rest from pain, rest from persecu-
tion, rest from uncertainty. Beautiful, joy
Gus, transporting, everlasting rest!
Oh, men and women of the frozen North,
and the blooming South, and from the
realms OF the rising or setting SUI, through
Christ get your sins forgiven AMI start tor
the place where you may at last sit down In
blissful recovery from the fattgues Of earth.
while there roll over you the raptures OF
heaven. Many Of you have had such a rough
tussle In this world that II your faculties
were not perfect in heaven you would some
time forget yourself and say, "It is time for
me to start on that Journey" or SIT must be
time for me to count out the drops OF that
medicine" or "I wonder what new attack
there Is on me through the newspapers2" or
"Do you think will save anything of those
crops from the grasshoppers, or the locusts,
or the droughtsp" or ~ wonder how much
7 have lost in that last bsrgain?" or "I must
hurry lest miss the train" No, no! Tae
last volume of direful, earthly experiences
will be finished. Yea, the last chapter, the
last paragraph, the last sentence, the last
word. Flnisi
Frederick the Great, Notwithstanding, the
mighty dominion over which he reigned,
was 30 depressed at times he could not speak
without crying, and carried small bottle OF
quick poison with which to end his misery
when he could stand 1t no longer. But I
give you this small vial OF gospel anodyne,
one drop Of which, not hurting either body
or soul, ought to soothe all unrest and put
your pulses into an eternal calm. ''TheY
shall come from the East AN from .he West,
and from the North, and the South, and shall
cit down."