The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1896-01-10

for he was not only anxious about the
falling Of a prison, but the falling OF =
world.
Again, / remark. I characterize this
question of the agit7ted Jail keeper as
one of incompatible Importance. Men
are alike, and suppose he had scores
of questions on his mind. but all ques-
tions for this world are hushed up, for
gotten, annihilated in this one ques-
ton of the text. What must do 10 be
saved?' And have you, my
brother, any question of Importance
compared with that question:? Is it a
question Of business? Your common
sense tells you that you will soon
cease worldly business You know
very we'll that you will soon pass out
of that partnership You know that
beyond a certain point of all the
millions OF dollars worth of goods
sold you viii not handle a yard of
cloth, or a pound OF sugar. or pen
ny's worth. After that, If a conhagra-
ton should sweep all Washington into
ashes it would not touch you and
would not damage you. If every CASH
Ter should abScond. and every bank
suspend payment, and every insurance
company fail, it would not affect you.
Oh. how insignificant is business this
side the grave with business On the
other side the grave! Havs you
made any purchases for eter-
nifty? Have you any securities
that will last forever? Are you job
bling for time when you might Ia
wholesaling for eternity? Is there
any question 40 broad at the base, so
altitudin0us, so overshadowing as the
| Question, What must / do to BE-
saved?" Or is it domestic Question?
Is it something about father or moth
err or husband or wife or son or daugh-
ter that is the more important ques-
ton? You know by universal and in
exorable law the relation will soon be
broken up Father will be gone, moth
er will DO gone. children will be gone,
you will be gone, but after that the
question of the text will begin to har-
vest its chief gains, or deplore It's worst
losses, or roll up its mightiest 1naghi-
tudes, or sweep its vaster circles.
Oh, what dnestion-what an ina
portant question: Is there cav ques-
ton that com pAFes With it in import
ance? What is it now to Napoleon III
whether he triumphed or SURRENDERED
at Sedan, whether he disd at the Tuil-
cries or Chisslhurst, whether he was
emperor or exile? Because he was laid
out in the coffin in the dress of a field
marshal, did that give hin any b6tteF
chance for the future than if he had
been laid e9t Ia plain shroud? What
difference will it soon make to you or
to me whether in this world we walked
or rode, whether we were bowed 10 OF
maltreated, whether we were apPlaIids
ed or hissed at welcomed in 6F Kicked
oht9 While laying Reld of every mo-
ment az tie future and burning in
every splendor or every grief and over
arching or undergirdieg al time and
all eternity Will be the plain, startling,
initiate, stupendous question of the
text, What must do to be saved?''
Again, l characterize this erestiSi
of the agitated Jail Keeper as one
crushed oAE by his misfortunes, pressed
out by his misfortunes The falling of
the penitentiary, his occupation was
gone. Besides that the fight of q
prisoner was ordinarily the death of
the iailun He was held fesponAiRla
II all had gone WELL If the Prison walls
had net been shaken of the earth
quake; if the prisoners had all staid
quiet in the stocks; if the morning sun
light had calmly dropped en the 1ail-
sr's pillow, do you think he would
have hurled This red-hot question
from his soul into the ear of his apos-
tolic prisoners? All, no! You know
as well as I do it was the earthquake
that reused him up. And it is trouble
that starts a great many people TO ask
ing the same question. It has been SO
VITA d multitude of you. Your APP
parel is not as bright as it once was.
Why have you changed the garb? Do
you not like solferino and crimson and
purple as we'll as once2 Yes, but you
say; while 1 was prosperous and hap
ny those e6loFs Were accordant with
ray feelings. Now they would be dis
cord to my soul" And so you have
plated up the shadows inte your ap-
parel The world is 4 very different
place frefn What it was once for you!
Once you said: "Oh, if could only
have it quiet little whileF' 1t is too
quiet.
Some people say thst they would not
bring back their departed friends from
Heaven even if they had the opportun-
ity, but if you had the opportunity you
would Bring back your loved enes, and
soon their feet would Be Bounding in
the hall, and soon their voices would
be heard in the family. and the old
times would come back just as the fes-
tai days of Christmas and Thanksgiv-
| ing-days gone forever. Oh, il Is the
earthquake that startled you to ask
ing this questionable EARTHQUAKES of
domestic misfortune. Death is SO
cruel, So devouring, so relentless, that
when it swallows up our loved
! ones we must have some one 10
whom we can carry Our torn and
bleeding hearts. We need a balsam
better than anything that ever exuded
from earthly tree to heal the pang of
the soul. 1t is pleasant to have our
friends gather around us and tell ps
how sorry they are and try to break
up the loneliness, but nothing but the
hand of Jesus Christ can take the
bruised soul and put it in his bosom,
hushing it with the lullaby of Heaven.
o brotherl o sisterl The gravestone
will never be lifted from your heart
until Christ lifts it Was it not the
| loss of your friends, or the persecution
of your enemies, or the overthrow of
your worldly estate-was it not an
earthquake that started you out TO
ask this stupendous question of my
text2
ize this question of the agitated Jail
l.