The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-01-10

them into harmony. It smooths rhs
chopped sea. It kindles gloom into
glow. 1t turns requiem into grand
march. 1t trusts when it cannot un-
derstand. It forgives before forgive
ness is asked. Gracious God! Give Il
to us, give it to US now, give it to m
in abundance.
Now, let us this hour turn over a
new leaf and Danish worriment and
care out of all our lives. just see how
these perversities have multiplied
wrinkles in your face and acidulated
your disposition and torn your nerves.
You are ten years older than Won
ought to be. Do two things, one for
the betterment of your spiritual con.
dition and the other for the safety of
your worldly interests. First, get
your heart right with God by being
pardoned through the atonement Of
Jesus Christ. That will give security
for your souls welfare. Then get
your life insured in some well-estab-
lished life insurance company. That
will take from you all anxiety about
the welfare of your household in case
OF your sudden demise. The salutary
influence of such insurance is not suf-
ficiently understood.
This last summer I stood on Spar
row hill, four miles from Moscow. It
was the place where Napoleon stood
and looked upon the city which he
was about to capture. His army had
been in long marches and awful fights
and fearful lexhaustions, and when they
came to Sparrow hill the shout went
up from tens of thousands of voices:
Moscow, Moscow" I do not wonder
at the transport. A ridge of hills
sweeps round the city. A river semi
circles it with brilliance. It is a
spectacle that you place in your men,
ory as one of three or four most beau
tlful scenes in all the earth. Ma
poleon's army marched on it in four
divisions, four overwhelming torrents
OF yalor and pomp. Down Sparrow
hill and through the beautiful val
ley and across the bridges and into
the palaces which surrounded without
one shot of resistance, because tho
avalanche of troops was irresistible.
ihere is the room in which Napoleon
slept, and his pillow, which must have
been very uneasy, for, oh, how short
his stay. Fires kindled in all parts
OF the city simultaneously drove out
that army into the snowstorms under
which $4,000 men perished. How soon
did triumphal march turn into hor-
rlble demolition. To-day, while
speak, we come on high hill. glo-
rious hill of Christian anticipation.
These hosts of God have had a long
march, and fearful battles and defeats
have again and again mingled with
the victories, but to-day we come in
sight OF the great city, the capital OF
the universe, the residence of the
King and the home of those who are
to reign with Him for ever and ever.
Look at the towers and hear them
ring with eternal jubilee. Look at the
house of many mansions, where MANY
OF our loved ones are. Behold the
streets of FURNISHED gold and hear
the rumble of the chariots of those
who are more than conquerors. S,
far from being driven back, all the 12
gates are wide open for our entrance.
We are marching on and marching on,
and our every step brings us nearer
to the city.
At what hour we shall enter we
have no power to foretell, but once
enlisted amid the blood-washed host
our entrance is centain Tt NAV be
in the bright MONDAY or the dark
midnight. 1t may be when the air
is laden with springtime fragrance or
chilled with falling SHOWS. But enter
We must, and enter we will through
the grace offered us as the chief Of
sinners. Higher hills than any have
spoken of will guard that city. More
radiant waters than 1 saw in the Rus
sian valley will pour through that
great metropolis. No raging confla-
grafton shall drive us forth, for the
only fires kindled in that city will be
the fires of splendor that shall ever
hoist and never die. Reaching that
shining gate, there will be a parting,
but no tears at the parting. There
will be an eternal farewell, but no
sadness in the utterance. Then and
there we will part with one of the
best friends we ever had. No place
for her in Heaven, for she needs no
Heaven. While love and joy and other
graces enter Heaven, she will stay
out. Patience, beautiful Patience,
long suffering Patience, will at that
gate say: "Good-by! ! helped you
in the battle of life, but now that you
have gained the triumph you need me
no more. bound up your wounds,
but now they are all healed. soothed
your bereavements, but you pass now
into the reunions of Heaven. / can
do no more for you, and there is moth
ing for me to do in city where there
are no burdens to carry. Good-by! /
go back into the world from which
you came up, to resume my tonr
among hospitals, and sickrooms. and
bereft households, and almshouses.
The cry of the worlds sorrow reaches
my ears, and must descend. Up and
down that poor suffering world I will
go to assuage and comfort and sus-