The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1901-09-13

UEOHBs Shrlbp Wub III Euo rlgnV, Gil
right and forever right. And yet Hc
took tho first step. And instead of
going and getting a knotty scourge
with which to whip your antagonist,
your enemy, you had better got up
on tho radiant mount whero Christ
suffered for His enemies and lust
take on olive 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 doo-
trines, you arc no Christian.
Blest bo tho tic that binds
Our hearts in Christian love; S
Tho fellowship OF kindred minds
Is like to that above
From sorrow. toll and pain
And SIN we shall bo free,
And perfect lows and friendship reign
Through all eternity.
But this evergreen Of my text also
suggests tho simple fact that religion
is evergreen. What does tho pine
branch caro- for tho snow on it's
brow? 1t is only crown Of glory.
Tho winter cannot freezo it out This
evergreen tree branch is MS beautiful
in winter as it Is in the summer.
And that is tho characteristic Of our
holy religion. In tho sharpcst, cold
est winter Of misfortune and disaster
1t is as good a religion as it is in
tho bright summer sunshine. Well,
now, that is practical truth. For
suppose If I should go up and down
these aislcs I would not find in this
house so people who had had no
trouble. But there arc somo Of you
who have especial trouble. God only
knows what you go through with.
Oh, how many bereavcmcnts, how
many povertics, how many persecu-
tions, how many Misrepresentation
And now, my brother. you have tried
everything clso, why dc you not try
this evergreen religion? It is 5n.t MS
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 NIuclslc Bacl<ie, 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 Inending that
boat when this afternoon you buried
your child" And tho fisherman looked
Up and said: "sir, it Is very easy for
you genticfolles to stay In tho house
with your handkerchief to your eyes
in grief; bu., sir, ought I to let the
other FIVE children starve because one
Of them La drowned? No, sir. We
maun work, wo maun work, though
our hearts beat like this hummer"
You may have had accumulation Of
sorrow md misfortune. They como in
hocks, they como in herds, upon your
soul. and yet have to tell you that
this religion can cdnsole you, that It
can help you, that it can deliver you
II nothing else will. Do you tell mo
that the riches and tho gain OF this
world can console you? How was It
with the ecclesiastic who had such o
fondness for money that when he
was sick he ordered a basin of gold
pieces brought to him, and lie put his
gouty hands down among the gold
pieces, cooling his hands off in than,
and the rattle and rolling Of these
entertainment. Ah, the gold and sill
yer, the honors, tho emoluments Of
this world, sare a poor solace for a
perturbed spirit. You want some-
thing better than this world can give.
A young prince, when the children
came around to play. with him, re-,
fused to play. Flo said, .I Will play
only with kings" And It would be
supposed that you would throw away
all other solacc before this regal sat
isfaction, this imperial Joy. ii.
The hill of Zion yields
A thousand sacred sweets
Before wo roach the heavenly fields
Or walk the golden streets.
City Of eternity, to thy bridal halls
From this prison would Zee.
All. gloryl That's for you and me!
My text brings re 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.
I make this romark under tho head
Of branches of thick treeS-that a
booth or arbor mndo Of slight
branches would not stand. The first
blast Of the tempest would PROSTATE
It. So then the booth or arbor must
have four stout poles to hold up tho
arbor or booth, and hence for the
building Of tho arbor for this world
we must have stout branches of thick
trees. And SO It is 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 Is
a mighty Gospel; it is an Omnipotent
Gospel These ore the stout branches
OF thick trees.
Well, my friends, you see have
omitted one or two points not boz
cause T forgot to present them, but
because + have not time to present
them. I have shown you here ia the
olive branch Of peace. here Is the
pine branch Of evergreen Gospel con-
ISOLATION, hero the palm tree branch
of usefulness and Of victory, and hers
are the stout branches OF thick treoB.
Tho Gospel arbor is done. The air is
aromatic OF Heaven. The leaves
rustic with the gladness OF God.
Como 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 hocks in the aky, and
after awhile they dropped into the
not, and we were successful. So