Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1900-02-16

1t is a wonder that ministers of the |
Gospel have any nerves left and tha,
the angel of sleep does not quit their
presence forever.
But here and now pronounce high. |
est consolation for all those who In any
department have sacrificed their health |
TO duty. Your sleeplessness is as much |
a wound as you can find on any battle
field and is an honorable wound. We
all look with reverence and admiration
upon one who has lost an eye or an arm
in the service of Ills country. and we
ought TO look with admiration upon
those who, through extreme fidelity 10
their life work, have lost their capacity
for slumber. Remember glorious Al.
bert Barnes going along the streets OF
Philadelphia at four o'clock In the
morning for many years to his church
study, writing all his commentaries be.
fore breakfast, and keeping on until
he was stone blind. Will not the Lord
reward such sacrifices? And II through
your fidelity you have lost capacity 10
sleep, God, who never slumhers or
sleeps, will look after you. When you
hear the clock strike twelve and one nd
two and three and four without your
going TO your slumber, let II remind
you that you have not been sluggard
or do-nothing. You are suffering 10
a good cause. Paul got sore eyes in the
Lords service. and had many a scar.
but, so far from complaining about 1t.
he exults in those scars, saying-in the
only inspired letter we know that be
wrote with his own hand, for the other
letters were dictated TO amanuenses-
in that letter to the Galatians: IL bear
in my body the marks of the Lord
| Jesus"
All the victims of insomnia ought
to be consoled with the fact that they
will have good long sleep after awhile.
| Sacred and profane literature again
and again speak of that last sleep. God
knew that the human race would be
disposed 10 make great ado about
exit from this world. and so he inspires
Job and David and Daniel and John and
Paul 10 call that condition sleep"
When at Bethany the brother who was
the support of his sisters after their
father and mother were gone had him.
self expired, Christ cried out in regard
10 him: "He is not dead, but sleep
eth" Cheering thought to all poor
sleepers, for that will be a pleasant
sleep, induced by no narcotic, disturbed
by no frightful dream, interrupted by
no harsh sound. Better than any sleep
you ever took, o child of God, will be
the last sleep. In your other slumbers
your home may be invaded by burglars
and your treasures carried off. but
while here and there, in one case out
of millions, the resurrectionist may dis
turb the pillow OF dust, the last sleep
is almost sure 10 be kept from inva-
sion. There will be no burglary of
the tomb. And il will be refreshing
sleep. You have sometimes risen in the
morning more weary than when you
laid down AT night, but waking from the
sleep Of which speak, the last fatigue.
the last ache, the last worriment, will
be forever gone. Oh, what refreshing
sleepl
Most people are tired. The nights
do not repair the day. Scientists. by
minute calculation, say that every
night comes a little short of restoring
The body TO where it was the day be-
fore, and so every seventh day was
put in for entire rest, TO make up in
reparaton for what the nights could
not do. But SO restful will be the last
sleep that you will rise from it with
out one sore nerve, without one tired
limb-rested, forever rested. as only
God can rest you. o ye tired folks
all up and down the world, tired with
work, or tired with prosecutions, or
tired with ailments, or tired with be-
reavements, or tired in the struggle
against temptation, clap your hands
with eternal glee in expectation OF
that sleep from which you will wake
up so rested that you will never need
another sleep or even another night
There shall be no night there" be.
cause there will be no need of ITS
quieting influences. No lengthening
of the shadows OF tower and wall and
gate. No evening mist rising from
the river. No sundown. Thy sun
shall no more go down, neither shall
thy moon withdraw itself, for the
. Lord shall be thine everlasting light
r and the days of thy mourning shall be
, ended"
. So, my hearer, my reader, Good
: night" May God give you such sleeT
tonight as is best for you, and if yol
wake too soon may He fill your sou
, with "reminiscences and expectations
that will be better than slumber. Coco
night! Having in prayer, kneeling a
the bedside, committed yourself ant
, all yours to the keeping of the slum
. berless God, fear nothing. The pesti
a lence that walketh in darkness will
!. not cross your doorsill, and you neet
not be afraid of evil tidings. Goof
h night! May you have no such ex
q perience as Job had when he said
/ Thou scarest me with dreams ant
terrlfiest me through visions"
you dream at all, may it be vision o
n reunions and congratulations, and
/. waking, may you find some of then
true. Good night! And when yo,
4 come to the best sleep, the blissfu
n sleep, the last sleep, may you be abl
h to turn and say to all the cares an,
fatigues and bereavements and pang
+, OF lifetime: Good night!" an
A your kindred, standing around you
illumned pillow, give you hopefu
;. though sorrowful farewell as yo
|. move out from their loving embrac
!, into the house Of welcoming Goo
Good night! Good night!
d Hard 10 believe.
d II wouldn't have minded bein
q, whipped so much," said the youn
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