Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1896-04-17

of that true hcrOism which beamed IN
the eye and beat in the heart Of that un-
conquerable apostle. Paul did not cover
before Felix; Fclixcowered before Paul.
The iniidel and wording are compelled
TO honor in their hearts, although they
may not eulOgize with their lips, Chris
tian firm in persecution, cheerful in
poverty, trustful in losses, triumphant
in death. | find Christian men in all
professions and occupations, and l find
them respected and honored and success
ful. John Frederick Oberlin alleyiating
ignorance and distress; Howard passing
from dungeon to lazaretto with healing
for the body and soul; Elizabeth Fry
going to the prohigacy Of Newgate pris-
on to shake its obduracy as the angel
came to the prison at Philippi, driving
open the doors and swapping loose the
chain. as we'll as the lives Of thousands
of followers Of Jesus who have devoted
themselves to the temporal and spiritual
welfare of the race are monuments Of
the Christian religion that shall not
crumble while the world lasts. A man
said TO me in the cars: what is re-
ligion? Judging from the character Of
many professors Of religion do not ad-
mire religion. l said: Now, suppose
we went to an artist in the city Of Rome
and while in his gallery asked him,
What is the art Of painting? Would he
take US out in a low alley and show us
a mere daub Of a pretender at paintings,
or would he take US down into the cor
ridors and show US the Rubens, and the
Raphaels, and the Michael Angeles?
When we asked him, What is the art
Of painting:' he would point TO the
works Of these great masters and say,
That is painting. Now, you propose
to find the mere caricature Of religion,
10 seek after that which is the mere
pretension Of a holy life, and you call
that religion. point you to the splen-
did men and women whom this gospel
has blessed and lifted and crowned.
Look at the masterpieces Of divine grace
if You want to know what religion IS. -
Result of Persecution.
We learn also from this story Of
joseph that the result Of persecution is
elevation. Had itnot been for his being
sold into Egyptian bondage by his ma
licious brothers and his false imprison-
ment Joseph never would have become
a governor. Everybody accepts the
promise. Blessed are they that are per
secuted for Righteousness sake, for
theirs is the kingdom Of heaven, " but
they do not realize the fact that this
principle applies to worldly as well as
spiritual success. It is true in all de-
partmonts. Men rise TO high official po-
eitions through misrepresentation Pub
lie abuse is all that some Of our public
men have had to rely upon for their ele-
walton. 1t has brought to them what
talent and executive force could not
have achieved. Many Of those who are
making great effort for place and power
will never succeed just because they
are not Of enough importance to be
abused 1t is the nature Of men-that is
/ Of all generous and reasonable men-to
gather about those who are prosecuted
and defend them. and they are apt to
forget the fault Of those who are the
subjects If attack while attempting TO
drive back the slanderers. Persecution
is elevation. Helen Stirk, the Scotch
MARTYR. standing with her husband at
tho place of execution, said: Husband,
Lot MS rejoice today. We have lived to-
cether many happy years. This is the
manifest time Of all our life. You see
we are to be happy together forever be
brave now, be brave. | will not say
Good night to you, for we shall soon
he i'm the kingdom Of our Father togeth'
or " Persecution shows the heroes and
bcroincs. l 90 into another department,
and find that those great denomina
tions Of Christians which have beer
most abused have spread the mos'
rapidly. -,
No good man was ever more violently
moltroated than John Wesley-beliec
and caricatured and slandered until on'
dav he stood in a pulpit in London, ant
q man arose in the audience and SAID
"You were drunk last night, and JOIN
Wesley said: THANK God, the who'll
catalogue is now complete. / have beel
charged with everything but that!' HI
followers were hooted at and maligne'
and called by every detestable name tina
internal ingenuity could invent, but tn
hotter the persecution the more rapid.
tbev spread until you know what
great host they have become and what
tremendous force for God and the trutl
thev are welding all the world over. l
was persecution that gave Scotland 4
{ Prosbvterianism. 1t was persecution
2 that gave our land first to civil hbert
and afterward to religious freedom
p Yea. l might go farther back and say
, was persecution that gave the world tn
l preat salvation Of the gospel The rioal
5 mockerv. the hungering and thirstine
the unjust charge, the ignominiou
4 death. when all the force Of hell's fur
Q was hurled against the cross, was Tn
/ introduction of that religion which
4 vet TO be the earth's deliverance and ou
a eternal salvation. The state sometime
s said TO the church, Come, take m
e hand. and will help you" What wa
e the result? The church went back, an
il lost its estate Of holiness, and it b
@ came ineffective. At other times II
/ state said 70 the church, Il will crus
p Won. " What has been the result. Att'
k the storms have spent their fury Il
d church. so far from having lost any
S its force, has increased and is worth II
l. fnitely more after the assault than D
e fore Read all history and you Will M
y that true. The church is far more Il
J. debted to the opposition of civil goverl
e ment than to its approval The fires OF u
d stake have only been the torches whi'
8 Christ held in his hand, by the light
d which the church has marched 10 n
it present glorious position. In the sour
re II racks and implements OF torture
s. hear the rumbling Of the gospel charlo
4 The scaffolds Of martyrdom have be-
y the stairs by which the church mounte
e. A Thousand Tongues.