The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1895-02-08

he is worth to have that boy who il
gone away forever rush into the room
once more with the shout that was
once thought too boisterous. That
mother who was once tried because
her little girl, now gone forever, with
careless scissors cut up something
really valuable, would like to have the
child come back, willing to put in her
hands the most valuable wardrobe to
cut as she pleases. Yes! Yes! The house
noisy now will soon be still enough, |
warrant you; and as when you began
housekeeping, there were just two of
you, there will be Just two again. Oh.
the alarming brevity of infancy and
childhood! The opportunity is glorious.
but it soon passes. Parents may say at
| the close of life: what pity we did
not do more for the religious welfare
of our children while we had them with
u.s." But the lamentation will be of
no avail. The opportunity had wings
and it vanished. When your child gets
out of the cradle let it climb into the
oustretched arms of the beautiful
Christ. Come thou and all thy house
into the ark"
But there is one opportunity, so
much brighter than any other: so much
more inviting, and so superior to all
| others that there are innumera BILE
fingers pointing to it, and it is haloed
with glory all its own. 1t is yours!
1t is mine. 1t is the present hour. 1t
is the now. We shall never have it
auain Nbila I small apd ,.o,, 1;ctay,
the opportunity is restless as if to be
gone. You cannot chain it down. You
cannot imprison it. You cannot make
it stay. All its pulses are throbbing
with a haste that cannot be him
dered or controlled. 1t is the OPP
pOrtunity of invitation on my part
and acceptance on your part. The door
of the palace of Gods mercy is wide
open. Gro in. Sit down. and be kings
and queens unto God forever. We'll, ."
you say. Il am not ready" You ara
ready. Are you a sinner" YES.
DO you want to be saved now and for
ever?' Yes do YOU believe that
Christ is willing and able to do the
work?' Yes" Then you are saved.
You are inside the palace door of God )
mercy already. You look changed.
You are changed. "Halleluiah. tits
done Did you ever see anything done
SO quickly? Invitation offered and ac-
cepted in less than minute by my
watch or that clock.
On the 18th of January. 1866, a collier
brig ran into the rocks near Walmer
Beach. England. Simon Pritchard.
standing on the beach. threw off his
coat and said: "Who will help me save
that crew." Twenty men shouted: Il
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 assemblage into the life
boat of the Gospel. and ashore, stand
ing both feet on the Rock of ages. BY
the two strong oars of faith and prayer
first pull for the wreck and then pull
for 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 tenstament left 1000
francs to the man who shot at Yelling
ton in the streets of Paris. Oh. it is a
mean world. Take the glorious Lord
for your companionship.
A scotch shepherd was dying and
had the pastor called in. The dying
shepherd said to his wife. Mary,
please go into the next room. for
want to see the minister alone" When
the two were alone the dying shepherd
said: Il have known the Bible all my
life, but l am going. and I am 'afeerd
to dee" Then the pastor quoted the
Psalm, The Lord is my Shepherd;
shall not want" YES. mon.' said the
shepherd, Il was familiar with that
before You were born, but | am a-goin',
and | am afeerd to dee" Then said
the pastor, You know that the Psalm
says. Though l walk through the val
ley of the shadow of death, will fear
no evil" Yes, said the dying shep-
herd. Il 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 ravines there would be shadows
all about you, while there was plenty
of sunshine on the hills above? You
are in the shadows now, but it is sun
shine higher up" Then said the dying
All! that is good never
Though l pass through the valley of
the shadow of death, Thou art with
me- Shadows here, but sunshine
above" So the dying shepherd got
peace. Living and dying may we have
the same peace. Opportunity. Under
the arch of that splendid word let this
multitude of my hearers pass into the
pardon, and hope, and triumph of the
Gospel. Go by companies of a
each. Go by regiments of a
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 aug
mented by more glorious satisfaction. (
Forward into the Kingdom. As soon /
as you pass the dividing line there will |
be shouting all up and down the heav-
ems. 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 the spreading of banquet at which |
Won will be the honnred pnest Ernm |