The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-01-02

died. Oh. nv friends, II Is not hardship or
trial or starvation that injuries the soul, but
abundant supply. It Is not the vulture OF
trouble that eats up the Christian life. 1t 1s
the quails. It is the quais. You will yet
find out that your midnight wrestle by the
brook Jabhok is with an angel of God come
down to bless and to save.
Learn again that, while our wrestling with
trouble might be triumphant, we must ex-
pect that it will leave its mark upon US.
Jacob prevailed, but the angel touched him,
and his thigh bone sprang from its sockets,
and the good man went imping on his way.
We must carry through this world the marx
of the combat. What plowed these premature
wrinkles in your face2 What whitened your
hair before il was time for frost! What
silenced forever so much Of the hllarity OF
your household? All, 1t is because the angel
of trouble hath touched you that you so limp
ing ON your way. You need not be surprised
that those who have passed through the fire
do not feel as gay as once they dld. DO
not be out or patience with those who come
not out Of their dependency. They may
triumph over their loss, and yet their gait
shall tell you that they have been trouble
touched. Are we Stoics that we can I'M
moved see our cradle rifed of the bright eyes
and the sweet lips? Can we stand unmoved
and see our gardens OF earthly delight no
rooted? Will Jesus, who wept Himself, be
angry with US If We pour our tears TITO the
graves that open to swallow down what we
loved best2 Was Lazarus more dear to Him
than ourbeloved dead to US? No. We have
a right to weep. Our tears must come You
shall not drive them back to scald the heart.
They fall into Gods bottle. Afflicted ones
have died because they could not weep.
Thank God for the sweet, the mysterious re-
lief that comes to us in tears. Under this
gentle rain the flowers OF hope put forth
their bloom. God pity that dry, withered.
parched, all consuming grief that wrlngs its
hands, and grinds its teeth, and bites its
nails into the quick, but cannot weep. We
may have found the comfort OF The cross,
and yet ever after show that in the dark
night and by the brook Jabbok We were
trouble touched.
Again, we may tako the idea Of the text
and announce the approach OF the day dawn.
No one was ever more glad to see the morn
ing than was Jacob after that night of strug-
gle. 1t is appropriate for philan'hropists
and Christians to cry out with His angel OF
the text, '.The day breaketh." Superstition
has had Its strongest props knocked out. The
church of Christ is rising up in its strength
to go forth "fair as the morn, clear as the
sun and terrible as an army with banners"
Clap your hands, all ye people, 1.-THE day
breaketh."
As look around about me see many who
have passed through seas OF trouble that
came up higher than their girdle. In Gods
name proclaim cessation of hostilities. You
shall not always 90 saddened and heart
broken. God will bring your dead to life.
God will staneh the hearts bleeding. know
He will. Like as a father piteth his chill
dreD, so the Lord pities you. The pains OF
earth will end. The dead will rise The
morning star trembles on a Frightening sky.
The gates of the east begin to swing open.
"The day breaketb."
Luther and Melanchthon were talking to-
gether gloomily about the prospects of the
church. They could see no hope OF delivef-
ance. After awhile Luther got up and said
to Melanchthon, "Come, Philip, let US sing
the Forty-sixth Psalm, God is our refuge
and strength in every time of trouble =
Death to many-nay, to all-is struggle
and q wrestle. We have many friends whom
it would be hard to leave. / care not how
bright our future hope is. 1t is bitter thing
to look upon this fair world and know that
We shall never again see its blossonIing
spring, its autumnal fruits. its sparkling
streams and to say farewell to those with
whom we played in childhood or counseled
in manhood. In that night, like ia
cob, we may have to wrestle, but
God will not leave US unblessed.
1t shall not be told in heaven that dy.
ing soul cried unto God for help, but was not
delivered. The lattice Ray be- turned to
keep out the sun, or book SET to dim the
light of the midnight taper, or the room may
DO filed with the cries of orDhanage or
widowhood, or the church of Christ may
mourn over our going; but, II Jesus calls,
all is well. The strong wrestling by the
brook will cease. The hours OF deaths
night will pass along--1 O'Clock In the morn
ing, o'clock in the morning, O'Clock in
the morning, 5 o'clock in the morning-''the
day breaketh."
So would have 1t when die. am in no
haste to be gone. would like to stand here
twenty years years and preach this gospal. I
have NO grudge against this world. The
only fault have to find with this world Is
that ii treats me too well. But when tho
time comes to go trust to be ready, my
worldly affairs all settled. If have wronged
others, I want then to be sure OF their for
giveness. In that last wrestling, my arm
enfeebled with sickness AMI my head faint, I
want Jesus beside me. II there be hands on
this side of tho flood stretched out to hold
me back, 1 want the heavenly hands stretched
out to draw me forward. Then, % Jesus,
help me on and help ME up! Unfearing, un-
doubling. may / step right out into the light
and be able to look back to my kindred and
friends, who would detain me here, exciaim-
ing: Let :ne go! Let me gol The day
breaketh."