The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-11-25

bundle in which are biscuits2 How dare she
risk herself among those "roughs," and
where is she going2 She is one Of the queens
OF heaven bunting up the sick and hungry;
and before night she will have read Christ's
"Let not your heart be troubled" in eight or
ten places, and counted out from those vials
the right number OF drops to case pain, aud
given food 10 u family that would otherwise
have had nothing to eat to-day, and taken
the measure OF dead child that she may
prepare for 1t a shroud-her every act Of
kindness for the body accompanied with a
benedicuon for the soul. You sen nothing
but the filthy street along which she walks
but she Is accompanied by an unseen cohort
OF angels with drawn swords to defend her,
and with Rarlands twisted for her victories
all up and down the tenement house dis
tricts. I tell you there was not so much
excitement when Anne Boleyn, on her
way to her coronation, found the Thames
stirred by fifty gilded barges, with bril-
liant flags, in which hung small bells
rung by each motion Of the wind, noble
men standing In scarlet, and wharf spread
with cloth Of gold, and all the. gateways
surmounted by huzzaing admirers, and the
streets hung with crimson velvet, and trum-
pets and cannon sounding the jubilee, and
Anne: dressed In surcoat Of silver tissue, and
brow cleaning with clrclet Of rubies, and
amid fountains that poured Rhentsh wine
passed on to Westminster Hall and rode In
on q caparisoned palfry, its hoofs Gathering
on the classic floor, and, d1smounting,
passed into Westminster Abbey, and between
the choir and high altar was GRO Uned queen
amid organs and choirs chanting the "Te
Deum"-I say there was not much IN all
that glory which dazzles the eyes OF history
when It is compared with the heavenly re-
ception which that ministering spirit OF the
back alley shall receive when she goes up to
coronation. When she goes In, what well
come on the river Of life, Its banks OF pearl
lined with splendors seraphic and In temples
OF eternal worship, whose music is com.
manded by swing OF archangelic scepter and
before thrones where sit those who have
reigned a thousand years but have just
begun their dominion. Poor Anne Boleyn,
in two years after that pageant, lost life and
throne by one stroke OF headsman, but those
who on earth have divine passion for souls
shall never lose their thrones. "They shall
reign forever and ever"
But, after all, the best way to cultivate
that divine passion for Souls is to work for
their salvation. Under God save one, and
you will want right away to save two. Save
two, and you will want to save ten. Save
ten, and you will want to save twenty. Save
twenty. and you will want to save hundred.
Save q hundred, and you will want to save
everyb: dy. And what Is the use OF talking
about 1t when the place to begin Is here and
the time is now2 And while you pray will
in one minute tell all there Is Of 1t. Full
pardon for the worst man on earth II he will
believe in Christ, whose blood can instantly
wash away the foulest crimes. Full comfort
for the most narrowing distress that ever
moment OF belief, a process by which the
whole universe Of God will turn clear
around for your eternal advantage. For the
mere asking, II the asking be in earnest, and
you throw everything into that asking. COM
plete solace and helpfulness for the few
wears of this life, and then a wide open
heaven which you can reach In less time
than 1t takes me TO pronounce that imperial
word, flashing with all the Joy that an in
finite God knows how to bestoW-heaven.
In this world God never does His best. he
can hang on the horizon grander mornings
than have ever yet been kindled, and rain
bow the sky with richer colors than have
ever been arched, and attune the oceans to
more majestic doxologies than have ever yet
been attained; but az near as can tell. and
speak 1t reverently, heaven is the place
where God has done His best. he can build
no greater Joys, lift no mightier splendors,
roll no loftier anthems, march no more i'm
posing processlons, build no greater palaces,
more Transporting magnihcence. l think
heaven Is the best heaven God can construct,
and It Is all yours for the serious asking.
How do you like the offer2 Do you really
think 1t Is worth ,sccepting2 II 30, pray for
II. Get not up from that pew where you are
sitting, uor move one inch from where you
are standing, before you get full title for
1t, written In the blood OF the Son Of God,
who would have all men come to life present
and life everlasting.
II you have been In military life, you know
what soldiers call the 9ong roll" All the
drums beat 1t because the enemy yisapproach-
ing, and all the troops must Immediately
get into line. What scury1ng around the
camp and putting Of the arms through the
straps Of the knapsack, and saying good.by
to comrades you may never meet again!
Some Of you Germans or Frenchmen may
have heard that long roll just before Sedan.
Some OF you Italians may have heard that
long roll just before Bergamo. Some OF you
Northern and Southern men may hay have heard
II Just before the battle Of the Wilderness.
You know its stirring and solemn mean
ing, and 80 sound the long roll to-day. l
beat this old gospel drum that has for CEN
turies been calling thousands to take
their places in line for this battle, on one
side of which are oil the forces beatif1c and
on the other side all the forces demoniac.
Here the long roll call, "Who is on the
Lords side?" "Quit yourselves like men"
In solemn column march for God and happi-
ness and heaven. SO glad am that do
not have to "wIsh myself acculted" and
throw away my heaven that you may win
your heaven, but that we may huve whole
convention Of heavens-heaven added to
heaven, heaven built on heaven. And while
I dwell upon the theme begin to expert
once in my own poor self that which take
to be something like passion orsouls. And
now unto God, the only wise, the only good,
the only great be glory forever. Amen!