Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-08-07

I
through back stairs, they escaped into
the country. In the morning the be-
sieging army sprang upon the battle
momts, but found that their prey was
gone. So, when we are assaulted III
temptation, there is always some secret
stair by which we might get off. God
will not allow us to be tempted above
what we are able, but with every temp
tation will bring a way Of escape that
we may be able to bear it.
anticipating Sorrow.
The prayer of the text is appropriate
for all who are anticipating sorrow.
The greatest folly that ever grew on
this planet is the tendency to borrow
/ trouble, but there are times when ap-
preaching sorrow is so evident that we
need to be making special preparation
for its coming.
One Of your children has lately be-
come a favorite. The cry OF that child
strikes deeper into the heart than the
cry of all the others. You think more
about it. You give it more attention,
not because it is any more Of treasure
than the others, but because it is be-
coming frail There is something IN the
cheek, in the eye and in the walk that
makes you quite sure that the leaves Of
| the flower are going to be scattered.
The utmost nursing and medical at
tendance are Intellectual. The pulse be-
comes feeble, the complexion lighter,
the step weaker, the laugh fainter. No
more romping for that one through hall
and parlor. The nursery is darkened by
an approaching calamity. The heart
feels with mournful anticipation that
the is going down. Night speeds
on. 1t is toward evening.
You have long rejoiced in the care Of
mother. You have done everything TO
make her last days happy. You have
run with quick feet to wait upon her
every want. Her presence has been
perpetual blessing in the household.
But the fruit gatherers are looking wist-
fully at that tree. Her soul is ripe for
! heaven. The gates are ready to flash
open for her entrance. But your soul
sinks at the thought Of a separation.
You cannot bear TO think that soon you
will be called to take the last look at
that face which from the first hour has
! looked upon you with affection un-
changeable. But you see that life IS ebb-
ing and the grave will soon hide her
from your sight You sit quiet. You
feel heavy hearted. The light Is fading
from the sky. The air is chill. 1t is to-
ward evening.
You had a considerable estate and felt
independent. In five minutes on one fair
balance sheet you could see just how
you stood in the world. But there came
complications. Something that you
imagined impossible happened. The
best friend you had proved traitor to
your interest. 4 sudden crash Of nation
al misfortunes Frustrated your credit
You nay today be going on III business
! but YOU feel anxious about where you
are standing and fear that the next
! turning Of the wheel Will bring you
prostrate. You foresee what you con-
slider certain defalcatior. You think OF
the anguish Of telling your friends you
are not worth "A dollar. You know not
how you will ever bring your children
home from school. You wonder how
YOU will stand the selling Of your libra
nv or the moving into a palmer house.
] The misfortunes of life have accumulat-
ed. You wonder what makes the sky so
dark. IL is toward evening.
sweetening the Cup.
Trouble is an apothecary that mixes
a great many drafts bitter and sour
and nauseous, and you must drink some
one Of them. Trouble puts up great
many packs, and you must carry some
one of them. There is 10 sandal so thick
and well adjusted but some thorn will
strike through it. There is no sound so
sweet but the undertaker's screwdrlyer
CRATES through it. In this swift shuttle
! of the human heart some Of the threads
must break The journey from Jerusa-
lem TO Emmaus will soon be ended.
Our Bible. our common sense, our OBJ
servation. reiterate in tones that we can
not mistake and ought not to disregard.
1t is toward evening.
Oh. then. for Jesus to abide with usl
He sweetens the cup. He extracts the
thorn. He wipes the tear. He bushes
the tempest. He soothc5 the soul that
flies to him for shelter. Let the night
swoop and the eurcclydon cross the sea.
Let the thunders roar. Soon all VIII b'
well. Christ in the ship to soo'hc IL
| friends. Christ on the $ a to stop It's H.
multi. Christ in the grave to scatter tn,
/ darkness. Christ in the heavens to lead
the way. Blessed all such. His arms
will inclose them, his grace comfort
them, his light cheer them, his sacrlhce
free them. his glory enchant them. II
earthly estate takes wings, he VIII oe
an incorruptible treasure. If friends die,
he will be their resurrection. Standing
with us in the morning Of our JOY and
in the MONDAY Of our prosperity, he
will not forsake us when the luster has
faded and it is toward evening.
Listen to Paul's battle shout with
misfortune Hark to mounting Latl-
mer's fire song Look at the glory that
has reft the dungeon and filed the earth
and heavens with the crash Of the fall
ing manacles of despotism. And then
look at those who have tried to cure
themselves by human prescriptions, at
tempting TO heal gangrene with a patch
Of court plaster and to stop the plague
Of dying empires with the quackery OF
earthly wisdom. Nothing can speak
peace to the soul, nothing can unstrap
our crushing burdens, nothing can over
come our spiritual foes, nothing can
open cur eyes 10 see the surrounding
horses and chariots Of salvation that MI
, all the mountains, but the voice and
command Of him who stopped one night
! at Emmaus
The words Of the text are pertinent
10 us all, from the fact that we are
hearing the evening Of death. have
heard it said that we ought to live as
though each moment were to be our
last. do not believe that theory. AS
/ far as preparation is concerned, we
, ought always to be ready; but We can
not always be thinking of death, for we
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