The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-02-05

come out. Society did not say SO, the
church did not say 80, the world did not say
30. but on that day Of all other days, the last
day, God will say so.
| There are men to whom life is grlno
and conflict. hereditary tendencies 70 20
overcome, accidental environments 10 10
endured, appalling opposition to Do met anu anu
conquered, and they never so mucn as nau
a rose pinned to their coat lapei IN aani,fa a.
tion. They never had song oef,eaLeu hoaT ure' 20
their name. They never had pook pre-,
sented TO them with complimentary Woro
on the fiyIeaf. All they have to show Tor
their lifetime battle is scars. But IN the last
Gov the story will come out, and that life
will be put in holy and transcendent
rhythm. and their courage and persistence
and faith and victory will not only be an
nounced but rewarded. "Ihese are tney
fiat came out OF great tribulation and had
tbeir robes washed and made white In the
blood of the Lamb" God will say 80!
We miss one Of the chief ideas Of last
Judgment. We put into the picture the fire.
and the smoke, and the earthquake, and the
descending angels, and the uprising dead.
but we omit to put into the picture that
which makes the last judgment magnificent
opportunity. We omit the fact that 1t is to
be day Of glorious explanation and COM
mendation. The first justice that millions
uakOSSesAAAoS&
preciated men and women get will be on
that day, when services that never called
forth 80 much as a newspaper line OF finest
pearl or diamond type, as the printers term
1t, shall be called up for coronation. That
will be the day OF enforcement for those
whom the world called '.nohodies." Joshua,
who commanded the sun and moon to stand
still. needs no last judgment to get justice
done him, but those men do need last
- t. 11n6aY
the most violent assault, in obediencet TO COM
mand themselves stood still. Deborah, who
encouraged Barak to bravery in battle against
the oppressors of Israel, needs no last judg-
ment to get justice done her. for thou
sands Of years have clapped her applause.
But the wives who in all ages have encour-
aged their husbands In the battles OF life,
women whose names were hardly known be-
yond the next street or the next farmhouse,
must have God say to them: "You did we'll.
You did gioriously. saw you down in that
dairy. watched you in the old farmhouse
mending those children's clothes. heard
what you said in the way OF cheer when the
breadwinner of the household was in des.
pair. remember all the sick cradles you
have sung to. I remember the backaches,
the headaches. the heartache5. I know the
story of your knitting needle as we'll as
know the story Of queens scepter. Your
castle on the heavenly hill is all ready for
YOU. Go up and take it." And turning to
the surprised multitudes OF heaven he vii!
say. ''She did what she could" God will
say 50.
And now close with giving my own per-
naltestimony. for must not enjoin upon
Others that which decline myself to do.
Born at Bound Brook. N. j., Of parenta6e
as pious as the world ever saw, attest be-
fore earth and heaven that I have always
felt the elevating and restraining influence
OF having had a good father and good
mother, and If am able to do half as we'll
for my children as tho old folks did for me I
will be thankful forever. The years OF my
life passed on until, at about eighteen years
of age. I felt the pressure Of eternal realities
and after prayer and religious counsel
passed into what I took to be q
saved state and joined the church,
and attest before earth and heaven
that T have found It most helpful and
inspiring association. like the COM
panionship so well that I cannot be sat-
isfled If have day less Of 1t than Gil eter-
nifty. After graduating at collegiate and
theological institutions had the hands OF
ten or twelve good men put upon my head
in solemn ordination. at Belleviile, N j.,
work Of the gospel ministry has been de-
lightful, and expect to preach until my
last hour. Many times I have passed
through deep water of bereavement and but
for the divine promise Of heavenly reunion
would have gone under, but I attest before
earth and heaven that the comfort OF the
gospel is high, deep, glorious. eternal. Many
times have I been maligned and my work
misrepresented. but all such falsehood and
persecution have turned out for my advan-
tage and enlarged my work, md attest be-
fore earth and heaven that God has fulfilled
to me the promises, ''Lo! am with you al
ways" and 'Tne gates OF hell shall not pre-
vail against you"
For the cheer of younger men in all de.
partments let me say you will come out all
right If you mind your own business and are
patient. The assault Of the world Is only be.
ing rubbed down by rough Turkish towel,
and it improves the circulation and makes
one more vigorous. While the future holds
for me many mysteries which do not pre-
tend to solve, am living In expectation that
when my poor work Is done. I shall go
| through the gates and meet my Lord and all
my kindred who have preceded me.