Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1896-02-11

~ e. capl'"l VI INC
COY aGsI. ton than for all
places. The text chosen was Isaiah XXxV''
$40: "And an highway shall be there,
and way, and it shall be called the
way of holiness. the unclean shall not
pass over it; but it shall be for those:
the wayfaring men, though fools, shall
not err therein. No lion shall be there,
nor any ravenous beast shall go there
on, it shall not be found there; but the
redeemed shall walk there; and the ran
somed of the Lord shall return. and
come to Zion with songs and everlast-
ing JOY upon their heads; they shall OBJ
tain JOY and gladness, and sorrow and
signing shall fee away"
There are hundreds of people in this
house who want to find the right road.
You sometimes see person halting at
cross roads, and you can tell by his
looks that he wishes to ask a question
as to what direction he had better take.
And l stand in your presence conscious
Of the fact that there are many of you
her who realize there are a thousand
wrong roads, but only one right one;
and take it for granted that you have
come in to ask which one it is. Here is
che road that opens widely, but have
not much faith in it. There are great
many expensive toll-gates scattered all
along that way. Indeed, at every rod
you must pay in tears, or pay in genu-
HnYionc or IN al1otinnc On RI at
road, if you get through it at all, you
have TO pay your own way: and since
this differs so much from what | have
heard in regard to the right way, l
believe il is the wrong way. Here is
another road. On either side OF it are
houses of sinful entertainment, and
invitations to come in and dine and
rest; but from the looks of the people
who stand on the piazza, / am certain
1t is the wrong house and the wrong
way. Here is another road. 1t is very
beautiful and macadamized. The horses
hoofs clatter and ring and they who
ride over it spin along the highway,
until suddenly they find that the road
breaks over an embankment and they
try to halt, end they saw the bit in the
mouth of the fiery steed, and cry "Ho!
how But it is too late, and-crash.-
they go over the embankment. We
shall turn and see If we cannot find
different kind of road. You have heard
of the Appian Way. 1t was three hun
dred and fifty miles long. 1t was TWEEN
ty-four feet wide, and on either side Of
the road was path for foot passengers.
1t was made out of rocks cut in hex
agonal shape and fitted together. What
a road it must have been! Made of
smooth, hard rock, three hundred and
fifty miles long. No wonder that in the
construction of it the treasures of a
whole empire were exhausted. Because
of invaders, and the elements, and Time
the old conqueror who tears up a
road as he goes over it--there is moth
ing left of that structure but ruin.
But l have to tell you of a road built
before the Appian Way, and yet it is
as good as when first constructed Mil
lions of souls have gone over it. Mil
lions more will come.
The prophets and apostles, too,
Pursued this road while here below;
We therefore will, without dismay
Still walk in Christ, the good old way.
First, this road of the text is the
Kings highway. In the diligence you
dash on over the Bernard pass of the
Alps, mile after mile, and there is not
so much as a pebble to jar the wheels.
You go over bridges which cross chasms
that make you hold your breath; under
projecting rock; along by dangerous
precipice; through tunnels adrip with
the MEETINGS of the glaciers, and, per-
haps for the first time learn the maj
isty Of a road built and supported by
governmental authority. Well, my
Lord the King decided to build high
way from earth to heaven. 1t should
span all the chasms of human wretch
edness; it should tunnel all the mount
aims OF earthly difficulty; it should be
wide enough and strong enough TO hold
City thousand millions of the human
race, if so many of them should ever be
born. II should be blasted out of the
Rock OF Ages" and cemented with
the blood of the Cross, and be lifted
amid the shouting of angels and the
execration of devils. The King sent his
Son 10 build that road He put head
and hand and heart to it, and after the
road was competed waved his blistcred
hand over the way, crying; 1T is fin
lshed" Napoleon paid fifteen million
francs for the building Of the Simplon
road. that his cannon might go over
for the devastation OF Italy; but our
King. st q greater expense, has built
d road for a different pu pose, that tn.
banners Of heavenly dominion might
come down over it. Being Kings
highway, of course 1t was we'll built.
Bridges splendidly arched and but
tressed have given way and crushed the
who attempted to cross
them. But Christ, the King, would
build no such thing as that. The work
done, he mounts the chariot of his love,
and multitudes mount with him, and ne
drives on and UP the steep OF heaven
amid the plaudits OF gazing worlds.
The work Is done-well done-glorlous-
w done-mlagnificently done.