The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-02-13

peare or Victor Hugo to write out In five
tremendous acts. Shall tell 1t? He struck
her. Yes the one who at the altar he had
taken with VOWS 80 solemn they made the
orange blossoms tremble! He struck her !!
He made the beautiful holidays "a reign OF
supported him. The children had often
heard him speak the name Of God. but never
In prayer-only In profanity. It was the
ssddest thing on earth that can think Of
q destroyed home! Walking along the
street one day an impersonatton OF all
wretchedness. he saw sign at the door OF
a Young Mems Christian Association.
'Meeting Fer Men Only"
He went in hardly knowing why he did
so, and sat down by the door. and young
man was in broken voice and poor grammar
telling how the Lord had saved him from
dissipated lie, and, the man back by the
door said to himself, "Why cannot I have
the Lord do the same thing for me?" and he
put his hands, all o a.tremble. over his bloated
face and said: 30 God, I want that must
have that p and God said, "You shall have
1t, and you have it nowT And the man
came out and went home changed man,
and though the children at first shrank back
and looked to the mother and began to cry
with fright they soon saw that the father
was O changed man. That home has tura ed
from paradise Lost" to "Paradise Re-
gained" The wife sings all day long at her
work, for she Is 30 happy, and the children
rush out into the hall at the first rattle of the
fathers key in the door latch to welcome
him with caresses and questions Of, "What
have you brought me2" They have family
prayers. They are altogether on the
road to heaven, and when the journey OF
life Is over they wuS live forever in each
others companionship. Two Of their dar-
ling children are there already, waiting tor
father and mother to come up. What
changed that manp What reconstructed that
home? What took that wife, who was
queen on a throne of affection? I hear
whispering oil through this assemblage. I
know what you are saying: "That's rellg.
ion! Yes, that's religionr' My Lord and
my God, give US more OF Il
Why, my hearers from all parts of the
earth, do you not get this bright and beauri-
ful and radiant and blissful and triumphant
thing for yourselves, then go home telling all
your neighbors on tho Pacific, or in Nova
Scotia, or in Louisiana, or Maine, or Brazil,
or England, or Italy, or any part OF the
round world. that they may have it TOO too;
Have It for the asking! Have 1t now! Mind
you, I do not start from the pessimistic
standpoint that David did, when he got mad
and said in his haste, siAll men are liars !"
or from the creed Of others that every man
Is as bad as he can be. rather think from
your looks that you are doing about as we'll
as you can in the circumstances which you
are placed, but want to invite you up into
heights OF safety and satisfaction and holi-
ness, as much higher than those which the
world affords as Everest, the highest noun
tain in all the earth, is higher than your
front doorstep.
Here He comes now. Who is It? 1 might
be alarmed and afraid il I had not seen Him
before and heard His voice. I thought He
would come before got through with this
sermon. Stand back and make way for Him.
He comes with,scars all around His forehead
scars In the center OF both hands stretched
out to greet you scars on the instep OF both
the feet with which He advances; {; scars on
the breast under which throbs the great
heart otsympathy which feels for you. an
nounce Him. introduce Him to you, Jesus
of Bethlehem and Olivet and Golgotha. Why
comest Thou hither:this winter day, Thou OF
the springtime and summery heavens! he
answers To give all this audience pardon
for guilt, coincidence for grief, whole regi.
ments OF help for day OF battle and eternal
life for the dead! What response shall
give Him2 In your behalf and In my own
behalf hail Him with the ascription: Gun
to Him who hath loved US, and washed US
from our sins in His own blood. and hath
made US kings and priests unto God and His
Father to Him be glory and dominion for-
ever and ever. Amen"