The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-08-27

held the rope, didn't weF' And the
voice, tremulous with joyful emotion. re-
spends: Yes, father, we held the rope
/ feel my work is done. Now, Lord.
lettest thou thy servant depart In
peace, for mine eyes have seen thy saliva
ton" "Pshaw," says the father. L
never felt so much like living in my life
as now. / want 10 see what that fellow
is going to do, be has begun so well"
Something occurs to me quite personal.
I was the youngest Of q large family of
children. Ny parents were neither rich
nor poor. -Four OF tie sons wanted q cob
legiate education, and four obtained II,
but not without great home struggle. We
never heard the old people say once that
they were denying themselves to effect
this, but l remember now that my par
ents always looked tired. / don't think
they ever got rested until they lsy down
in the Somerville cemetery. Mother
would sit down in the evening and say,
well, I don't know what makes me feel
so tired" Father would fall Immediate
ly to sleep, seated by the evening stand,
overcome with the days fatigues. About
30 years ago the one and about 81 years
ago the other put dow the burdens OF
this life, but they still hold the rope.
Recognition of Blessings.
o men and women. you brag some
times how you ave fought your way in
the world, but l think there have been
helpful influences that you have never
fully acknowledged. Has there not been
some influence in your early OF present
home that the world cannot see? Does
there not reach you from among the New
England hills or from the western prai-
RE or from southern plantation or from
English or Scottish or Irish home q cord
Of influence that has kept you right when
you would hav gone astray and which,
after you had made q crooked track, re
called you? The rope may be as long as
30 years or 500 miles long or 1900 miles
long, but hands that went out Of mortal
sight long ago still hold the rope. You
want q very swift horse, and you need to
rowel him with sharpest spurs and TO let
the reins lie loose upon the neck and to
give a shout to the racer If you are going
to ride out Of reach Of your mothers
prayers. Why, a ship crossing the At
lantic in six days can't sail away from
that. A sailor finds them on the lookout
as he takes his place and finds them on
the mast as he Climbs the ratlines to dis
entangle a rope in the tempest and finds
them swinging on the hammock when he
turns in. Why not be frank and ac-
knowledge it? The most of us would
long ago have been dashed to pieces had
not gracious and loving hands steadily
and lovingly and nightly held the rope.
But there must come q time when we
shall find out who these Damascenes
were who lowered Paul In the basket,
n greet them and all those who have
rendered to God and the world unrecog-
nized and unrecorded services That is
going to be one Of the glad excitements
of heaven, the hunting up and picking
out of those who did great good on
earth and got no credit for It Here the
church has been going on 10 centuries,
and yet the world has not recognized the
services of the people in that Damascus
balcony. Charles G. Finney said to a
dying Christian, Give my love to st.
Paul when you meet him" When you
and I meet him, as we will, I shall ask
him to introduce me to those who got
him out Of the Damascene peril.
We go into long sermons to prove that
we will be able 10 recognize people in
heaven, when there is one reason we fail
to present, and that Is better than all
God will introduce us. We shall have
them all pointed out. You would not b
guilty Of the impoliteness o having
friends in your parlor not introduced,
and celestial politeness will demand that
we be made acquainted with all the
heavenly household. What rehearsal Of
old times and recital Of stirring remi-
niscences! If others fail to give introduce
ton. God will take Us through. and be-
fore our first "a hours in heaven-if it
were calculated by earthly timepieces-
have passed we shall meet and talk with
more heavenly celebrities than IN our en-
tire mortal state we net with earthly
celebrities. Many who made great noise
Of usefulness will sit On the las: seat by
the front door Of the heavenly temple,
while right up within arms reach Of the
heavenly throne will be many who,
though they could not reach themselves
OK 90 great exploits for God, nevertheless
held the rope.
Patient, UncoznpinininE Service.
Come, let Us go right up and accost
those On the circle Of heavenly thrones.
Surely they d u have killed in battle
a million men. Surely they must have
been buried with all the eathedrals sound
ing 4 dirse and all the towers OF all the
cities tolling the national grief. Who art
thou. mighty one Of heaven? Il lived by
choice the unmarried daughter in q
humble home that l might take care of
my parent. in their Old age. and I endured
without complaint ell their Querulousness
and administered to all their wants for 90
years" Let us pas on round the circle
of thrones. Who art thou. mighty one of
heaven? Il was for 80 years q Christian
invalid and suffered all the while. occa-
sionally writing q note Of sympathy for
those worse off than 1. and was general
confdant OF all those who had trouble,
and once in awhile / was strong enough
to make q garment for that poor family
in the pack lane" Pass on to another
throne. Who art thou, mighty one OF
heaven? Il was the mother who raised
a whole family of children for God, and
they are out in the world Christian mer,
chants, Christian mechanics, Christian
wives, and ! have had full reward for al
my toll" Let US pass on in the circle OF
thrones. Il had O Sabbath school class
and they were always on my heart, and
they all entered the kingdom Of God, and
l am waiting for their arrival" But who
are thou, the mighty one Of heaven on this
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