The Progress., 1897-04-10

rides through the ruins He overcomCs
the most fcrocious opposition. He arouscs
the piety and patriotism Of the people. And
In less than two months-nalnely, sc days
-JeruCalem was rebuilt. That's whit
call busy and triumphant sadness
The Design of Trouble.
NV friends, the whole temptation is W it'll
you when you have trouble to do just tho
opposite to the behavior Of Nehemiah, and
that Is to give up. You say, II have lost
my child and can never smile again.
You say, II have lost my property, and
never can repair my fortunes. You say,
"1 have fallen into sin. and l never can
start again for u new life" If satan Gun
make you form that resolution and make
you keep it, he has ruined you. Trouble
is not sent 70 crush you, but to arouse you.
to animate you, to propel you The black
smith does not thrust the iron into the
forge and then blow away with the bel
lows and then bring the hot iron out on
the anvil and beat with stroke after stroke
to ruin the iron, but to prepare 1t for
better use. Oh, that the Lord God OF Ne
hemiah would rouse up all broken hearted
people to rebuild Whipped, betrayed.
shipwrecked, imprisoned, Paul went right
on. The Italian martyr Algcrius sits In
his dungeon writing letter, and be dates
1t, From the delectable orchard of the
Leonine prison." That is what l call tri
umphant sadness. I knew a mother who
buried her babe on Friday and Oh Sabbath
appeared In the house Of God and said:
"Give me a class. Give me Sabbath
school class. have no child now left me,
and would like to have q class Of little
children. Give me a class of the back
street." That, I say, Is beautiful. That
Is triumphant sadness. At O'Clock every
Sabbath afternoon for years In u BEAUTIFUL
parlor In Philadelphia-a parlor pictured
and statuetted-there were from 10 to 20
80 No
destitute children received religious In
struction, concluding with cakes and sand
wiches. How do know that that was 60
Ing on for 16 years? know it in this way:
That was the first home In Philadelphia
where was called to comfort q great Sor-
row. They had splendid boy, and he
had been drowned at Long Branch. Tho
father and mother almost idolized the boy,
and the sob and shrek of that father and
| mother as they hung over the coffin re-
| sound in my ears today. There seemed to
| be no use Of praying, for when / knels
down to pray the outcry in the room
drowned out all the prayer. But the Lord
oomforted that sorrow. They did not for
! get their trouble. II you should go any
| afternoon into Laurel Hill, you would find
a monument with the word Walter in
! scribed upon 1t md a wreath OF fresh
| flowers around the name. l think there
| was not an hour in 20 years, winter or
summer, when there was not a wreath Of
fresh flowers around Walters name.
| Triumphant Sadness.
But the Christian mother who sent those
flowers there, having no child left, Sab
bath afternoons mothered 10 or 90 of tho
! lost ones Of the street. That is beautiful.
That Is what call busy and triumphant
sadness. Here Is a man who has lost his
| property. He docs not go to hard drink
ing. He does not destroy his own life. He
comes and says: Harness me for Chris
tian work. My moneys gone. have no
| treasure on earth. l want treasures In
heaven. have voice and a heart to serve
God" You say that TINT man has failed.
He has not failed-he has triulnphcd-
Oh, wish could persuade all the peo-
pie who have any kind OF trOublc-Esser to
give up! I wish they would look at the
midnight rider of the text, and that the
four hoofs Of that beast on which Nehe-
miah rode might cut to pieces all your dis
comagements and hardships and trials
Give upi Who is going to give up when
ON the bosom Of God he can have all his
troubles hushedS Give up! Never think Of
Il -