Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-02-08

was invented from hearing the twang
of a bowstring. as the law Of grayita-
ton was suggested by the fall of an ap-
ple. as the order in India for the use Of
O creased cartridge started the mutiny
Of 1857, which appalled, the nations, so
something insignificant may open tie
door for great results. Be on the watch
It may be a gladness, it may be a hor-
ror, but it will be an opportunity.
A city missionary in the lower parts
Of the city found a young woman in
wretchedness and sin. He said, "Why
do you not 60 homer" She said, ''They
would not receive ME at home" He
said, "What is your fathers name, and
where does he live?" Having obtained
the address and written to the father,
the city missionary got a reply, on the
outside of the letter the word 'imme-
diate" underscored. 1t was the heart
lest possible invitation for the wanderer
TO come home. That was the city mis-
sionary's opportunity. And there are
opportunities all about you, and on
them, written by the hand of the God
who will bless you and bless those
whom you help in capitals Of light the
word Immediate
Behind Time.
A military officer very profane in his
habits was going down into a mine at
Cornwall, England, with a Christian
miner, for many Of those miners are
Christians. The officer used profane Ian
guage while in the cage going down.
As they were coming up out Of the mine
the profane officer said, IF it be so far
down to your work, how much farther
would it be to the bottomless pitt" The
Christian miner responded, II do not
know how far it is down to that place,
but if this rope should break you would
be there in a minute. " 1t was the
Christian miners opportunity. Many
years ago clergyman was on a sloop
on our Hudson river, and hearing a man
utter blasphemy the clergyman said,
"You have spoken against my best
friend, Jesus Christ. " Seven years after
this same clergyman was on his way to
the general assembly Of the Presbyterian
church at Philadelphia, when a young
minister addressed him and asked him
II he was not on sloop on the Hudson
river seven years before? The reply was
In the affirmative. well, said the
young minister, Il was the man WHOM
you corrected for uttering that oath. 1t
led me to think and repent, and am
irving to atone somewhat for my early
behavior. am preacher Of the gospel
and delegate to the general assembly.
Seven years before on that Hudson river
sloop was the clergyman opportunity.
stand this minute in the presence OF
many heads Of families. | wonder II
they all realize that the opportunity for
influencing the household for Christ and
heaven is very brief and will soon be
gone? For awhile the house is full OF
the voices and footsteps Of children. You
sometimes feel that you can hardly stand
the racket. You say: "Do be quiet lt
seems as if my head would split with all
this noise. And things get broken and
ruined, and it is, where's my hatV
WHO took my books?" "Who has been
busy with my playthings?" And it is
a.rushing this way, and a-rushing that,
until father and mother are well nigh
beside themselves
It is astonishing how much noise hve
or six children can make and not ha1
try But the years glide swiftly away.
After awhile the voices are not so many
and those which stay are more sedate.
First this room gets quiet, and then
that room. Death takes some, and mar
riage takes others, until after awhile
the house is awfully still That man
wonder would give all he is worth to
have that boy who is gone away forever
rush into the room once more with the
shout that was once thought too bolster
Gus.
That mother who was once tried be-
cause 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, l war
rant you, and as when you began house
keeping there were just two OF you'
there will be just two again. Oh, the
alarming brevity Of infancy and child
hoodl The opportunity is glorious, but
IL 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 us
But the lamentation will be Of no avail
The opportunity had wings and it van
ished. When your child gets out OF the
cradle, let it climb into the outstretched
arms Of the beautiful Christ. Come
thou and all thy house into the ark.
The Great Chance.
But there Is one opportunity so much
brighter than any other, so much more
inviting, and so superior to all others
alat there are innumerable fingers point
ing to It, and It is haloed with a glory
all its own. 1t is yoursl Ii is mine! IL
is the present hour. 1t is the now. we
shall never nave IL again. WhAiN
and you listen the opportunity is restless
As il to be gone. You cannot chain It
iown. You cannot imprison it. You
cannot make 1t stay. All its pulses are
throbbing with haste that cannot be
hindered or controlled. 1t is the oppor-
tunity Of invitation on my part and ac-
ceptance on your part The door OF the
palace of Gods mercy is wide open. 10
In. Sit down and be kings and queens
unto God forever. WELL. you say. Il
am not ready" You are ready. Are
YOU a sinneri" "Yes" "Do you want
to be saved now and forever" "Yes.
do you believe that Christ is able and
willing to do the werkky' "Yes. +" Then
you are saved. You are inside the palace
door Of Gods mercy already. You look
changed. You are changed "Halleiu-
iah, tits doner' Did you ever see any
thing done so quickly5 Invitation offer
ed and accepted in less than minute by
my watch or that clock Sir Edward
| Craasx xvrota a hook called 1.-THE Fiji