The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-04-30

strong and bold. You used to be active
and responsive to an the calls made upon
you. Now you cannot be relied upon TOT
support and cooperation when stern and
trying work is to bc done. because YOU
have become weak and worldly through
long indulgence. ~ Il poor man. You
were a fine, useful. working Christian. As
prosperous man YOU nave NJ testimony
and your strength is gone. To live
longer with that habit IS to surrender To
weakness, which is unworthy and I'M
becoming a Christian man. Overcome NJ.
Put il away. and let it not he numbered
longer among the assets of your life.
While these things are not worth keep
ing. there are others which we should
keep forever as permanent stock. There
are some things upon which the world
sets little value. To our ncighhor. per
haps. they would be worthless, hut To
Us. with their history and the holy mem
cries which cling about them, they are
priceless. They are associated with the
highest and SacTcdeSt experiences of our
lives. Maybe there is an old letter-the
paper is yellow with age the writing mas
almost faded. YOU can scarcely read II.
but that is mothers last letter and the
hand that wrote the loving message has
long been dust. 1t is only a piece OF
faded paper. but it brings back holy
memories and Stirs strange sweet feelings
in the heart. Yes. | would keep that
There is an old flower pressed many years
ago. 1t is not SO fragrant in one sense
as it once was. II is dry with many years
keeping but il is fragrant with dear old
associations, and the sweetness OF "A great
occasion fingers about il. Is II the ring
of marriage bells YOU hear. or was II
taken from a sacred mound Wnlch Hes
along the roadside of the past Maybe lt
is only "A little bunch Of lilies OF the val
ley, but once they We're held IN a httis
cold white hand and you Thought you
would like To have them. Yes. / Wouic.
keep them. They take little room anu
while you look upon them, BABY arms
seem to reach through months and years
to caress you. and the music of a baby
voice charms your listening heart, ana
you seem to grow better, tenderer when
you remember that time.
Keep the old things. the old rings: tne
pictures. the china, the silver, the hSht III
the eyes which looked upon them mas
long since gone out. The hearts Iat
loved them and the hands that handled
them are dust, but they kept them Tor
you. and there is blessing Win theihU =,
n link that binds US To the past. win an
it's holy memorieS-and this is no small IN
heritance.
Keep Your faith-I mean the old-time
faith in God the Father, God the son
and God th, Holy Ghost That may be
the least bit questionable i'm some quar-
ters but that old faith has Deen
mighty power in the history Oh lIr ,.i,,-,
mean faith in the old doctrines OF grace;
of the sovereignty of God, of the sun ana
eternal reward of the righteous: OF tne
sure and eternal punishment OF the WICK
ed. There is a gospel which some one
has expressed thus, Except We repent
as il were, and believe to some extent,
We will be damned i'll a measure. Ihat
is not the gospel we preach, that 1t not
the gospel of Jesus or Paul, nor the gos-
pel that through all histories has brought
life and light and healing to the souls
of men, Keep the old faith, it was
mighty comfort to your father and moth
err and it is to you also when IN yom
best and highest moments you enter into
its vast spiritual storehouse to enjoy
the wealth of the redeemed. There is
nothing TO take its place; nothing will
supply the need which the old time faith
i'm God fills nobly and gloriously Carry
that over among your permanent pos
sessions you may need it before this
anniversary comes again; you Will need
its rock-like foundation to support you;
you will need its comfort which comes