The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-09-13
wrong. Christ was In the tigns, ali
right and forever right. y,nd vef m;


your enemy, you had better get up
on tho radiant mount whore Christ
suffered for His enemies and lust
take an oliyo branch, not stripping
Off tho soft, cool, fragrant leaves,
leaving them all on, and then try on
them that Gospel switch. 1t will not
hurt them, and it will save you.
Peace be with God, peace with man.
II you cannot take those two doc
trines, you arc no Christian.
Blest bo tho tic that binds
Our hearts in Christian love;
The fellowship OF kindred minds
Is like to that above.
From sorrow, toll and pain
And Sin we shall bo free,
And perfect love and friendship reign
q Through all eternity.
But this evergreen Of my text also
suggests tho simple fact that religion
is evergreen. What does tho pine
branch care for the snow on its
brow? It is only Il crown Of glory.
The winter cannot froeze it out. This
evergreen tree branch Is as beautiful
in winter as it Is in the summer.
And that is the characteristic Of our
holy religion. In the sharpest, cold
est winter Of misfortune and disaster
1t is MS good religion as it is in
the bright summer sunshine. Well,
now, that is a practical truth. For
suppose if I should go up and down
these aislcs would not find in this
house so people who had had no
trouble. But there are somo Of you
who have especial trouble. God only
knows what you go through with.
Oh, how many hereavcments, how
many poyertics, how many persecu-
tions, how many misrepresentation
And now, my brother, you hnvo tried
everything else, why do you not try
this evergreen religion? IT is 5ust as
good for you now as It was In tho
day Of prosperity. 1t is better for
you. Perhaps some of you feel al-
most like Muclslc Baclsie, tho fisher
man, who was chided one day be-
cause he kept on working, although
that very day he buried his child.
They came to him and said, "It is
indecent for you to be mending that
boat when this afternoon you buried
your child" And the fisherman looked
up and said: "Slr, it is very easy for
you gentlefolks to stny In the house
with your handkerchief to your eyes
in grief; but, sir, ought to let tho
other five children starve because one
OF them is drowned7 No, sir. We
maun work, we maun work, though
our hearts beat like this hammer"
You may have had accumulation Of
sorrow nnd misfortune. They como in
fioclss, they como in herds, upon your
soul. and yas have to tell you that
this religion can cdnsole you, that st
can help you, that IL can deliver you
If nothing else will. Do you tell me
that the riches and tho gain Of this
world can console you? How was It
with the eccleslnstic who had such n
fondness for money that when he
was sick he ordered basin Of gold
pieces brought to him, and he put Ids
gouty hands down among the gold
pieces, cooling his hands OF in them,
and tho rattle and rolling Of these
gold pieces were his amusement and
entertainment. Ah, the gold and sil-
yer, the honors, tho emoluments Of
this world. sdre a poor solace for
perturbed spirit. You want some
thing better than this world can give.
y
came around to play with him, res
fused to play, Ho, said. /. \" I will play
only with kings" And St would be
supposed that you would throw away
all other solacc before this regal sat
isfaction, this imperial Joy.
y The hill of zion yields ls.
A thousand sacred sweets
Before wo reach the heavenly fields
Or walk tho golden streets.
City OF eternity, to thy bridal halls
From this prison would I lac.
All, glory! That's for you and mo!
My text brings us ono step further.
It says: go forth into the mount
and fetch olive branches and pine
branches and myrtle branches and
palm branches and branches of thick
trees" Now, you know very we'll
7 make this remark under the head
Of branches of thiole treeS-that q
booth or arbor made Of slight
branches would not stand. The first
blast Of the tempest would PROSTATE
It. So then tho booth or arbor must
have four stout poles to hold up tho
arbor or booth, and hence for the
building Of the arbor for this world
we must have stout branches Of thick
trees. And SO It ia in tho Gospel ar
Dor. Blessed be God that we have a
brawny Christianity, not one easily
upset. The storms of life will como
upon US, and we want strong doc
trine; not only love, but Justice; not
only invitation, but warning. It IL
n mighty Gospel; it is an Omnipotent
Gospel. These are the stout branches
of thick trees.
Well, my friends, you see I have
omitted one or two points not be-
cause I forgot to present them, but
because 7 have not time to present
them. have shown you here is the
olive branch of peace, here is tho
pine branch Of evergreen Gospel con-
ISOLATION, here the palm tree branch
Of usefulness and Of victory, and hers
are tho stout branches Of thick trees.
Tho Gospel arbor is done. The air Is
aromatic OF Heaven. The leaves
rustic with the gladness Of God.
Come into the arbor. Come into the
booth. ] went out at different times
with fowler to the mountains to
catch pigeons, and we made our
booth, and we sat in that booth and
watched for the pigeons to como.
And we found f1ocks in the aky, and
after awhile they dropped into the
net, and we were successful. So I
como now to the door Of this Gospel
booth. / look out. I see focks Of
souls flying hither and flying thitber,
Oh, that they might come like clouds
and rs doves to the window! Come
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