Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-01-17

a chain win one ma. AIo Irraf one link the
golden ring % Gods everlasting love.
20 a step farther. and tell yOu that when
CHRIST receives a soul into HIS love. He puts
IN him the mig - fsstiviiy You know that
II has been the custom in al age 10 bgstOw
ungS u very happy occasions There l.
nothing more appropriate for birthday gift
than "a ring. You delight 10 best0W such
glit upon your children AZ such a time. II
means joy, hilariiy, ieStiyity. Well. when
this old man Of the text wanted 10 tel how
glad he was that his hoy had got hack. III
expressed Il In this way. Actually. before
he ordered sandals 10 be put ON his bare
feet; before he ordered the faued calf 10 BE-
killed 20 anuease the boys hunger. he com
manded. Put a ring on his hand"
Oh IL is a merry time when Christ and the
soul are united! JOY 81 forgivnessi What
a splendid thing il II TO feel that all is right
between nv God and myself What a glori-
Gus thing il l. 10 have God Just take up all
the sins OF my life and put them IN one bun
die. and then ding them into the depths of
the sea. never 20 rise again. never To be
talked OF again. Pollution all gone. Dark
ness all ilumined. God reconciled. The
prodigal home. Put ring ON his hand"
Every day find happy Christian people.
! ilnd some Of them with no second coat.
some Of them in hut> and tenement houses.
not one earthly comfort afforded them, and
yet theyare a happy a happy can he. They
sing "ROck Of Ages is no other people in
the world sing IL Tney never wore any
iewelry in their life but one gold ring. and
that was the ring Of God'- undylng afIec
ton. Oh. how happy religion makes as!
Did II make you gloomy and sady Did you
20 with YOUR head east DOWN | do not
think you got religion. my brother. That is
not the effect Of religion. True religion is
JOY. Her ways are ways Of pledsantness,
and all her paths are peace"
Why, religion lightens all our burdens.
II smooths all our way. 1t interprets all
our sorrows. II changes the jar Of earthly
discord for the peal of festal bells. In front
OF the flaming furnace Of trial il sets the
forge on which scepters are hammered out.
Would YOU not like this hour to come up
from the swine feeding and try this religion?
All the joys Of heaven would come out aud
meet you. and God would cry from the
throne. Put ring on his hand.
You are not happy. lsee II. There IS 10
peace, and sometimes You laugh when YOU
feel a great deal more like crying. The
world is a cheat. 1t first wears yoa down
with its fOllies. then il kicks You out into
darkness. II comes back from the massacre
of million souls to attempt the destruction
Of your soul to-day. No peace out Of God.
but here is the fountain that can slake the
thirst. Here is the harbOr where YOU can
Would YOU not like. ] ask yOu-not per
iunctorily. but a. one brother might tall to
aEother-would you not like TO have pill
low Of rest to put your head on? And would
yOa not like. when yuu retire at night. to
feel that all is well whether You wake up to-
morrow morning AT o'clock or sleep the
steep that knows no waking Would YOU
not like To exchange this awful uncertainty
about the future for glorious assurance OF
heaven! Accept Of the Lord Jesus to-day
and all is well. II on your way home some
peril should cross the street and dash your
life out ii would not hurt you. You would
rise up Immediately You would stand in
the celestial streets You would be amid the
great thrOnc that forever worship and are
forever happy. II this night some sudden
disease should come upon You, 10 would not
| brighten you. II you knew YOU were going
you could give a calm farewell to your beau
! tiful home on earth aud know that YOU are
going right into the companionship Of those
who have already got beyond the toiling and
/ the weeping
/ You feel on Saturday night different from
| the way you feel any other night of the
/ week. You come home from the bank, or
/ the store, or the office, and you say. We'll.
| now my weeks work is done. and tomorrow
| is sunday 1t is pleasant thought.
/ There are refreshment and reconstruction in
| the very idea. oh, how pleasant it will be
/ if, when we get through the day of our life.
/ and we go and lie down in our bed OF dust.
we can realize, well, now the work is ali
! done. and tomorrow is Sunday--an ever
! lasting sunday