Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-08-29

the world but | think there have been
helpful influences that you have never
fully acknowledged Has there not been
some influence i'm your early or 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 frwn southern plantation or from
English or Scottish or Irish home n cord
OF influence that has kept you right when
you would have gone astray and which,
after you had made n crooked truck. re-
called youf The rope may be rs long as
30 years or 300 miles long or 1900 miles
long hut hands that went out of mortal
sight long ago still hold the rope. You
want very swift horse, and you need to
rowcl him with sharpest spurs and to let
the rcins lie loose upon the neck and TO
give n shout to the racer If you are going
to ride out of reach Of your mothers
prayers. Why, ship crossing the At
lantic in six days can't sail away from
that. \ sailor finds them on the lookout
as he takes his place and finds them on
the mast as he climbs the ratlines to dis
cntanglc 81 rope in the tempest and finds
them swinging on the hammock when he
turns in. Why not be frank and ac.
knowledge III 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 n time when we
shall find out who these Damasccnes
were who lowered Paul in the basket.
and greet them and all those who have
rendered to God and the world unrecog-
nizod and unrecordcd services. That is
going to be one of the glad excitemcnts
of heaven, the hunting up and picking
ont 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 q. Finney said to
dying Chrihian. Give my love to st.
Paul when you meet him." When You
aud meet him, as we WILL | shall ask
him 10 Introduce me to those who got
INN out OF the Damascene peril
We 70 into long sermons to prove that
We will be able TO recognize people in
heaven, when there il 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 be
guilty Of the mpolteness Of 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 rcmi-
n!scences. If others fail to give introduce
tlou, God will take US through. and be-
fore our first p hours in heaven-if il
were calculated by earthly timepieces--
have passed we shnll meet and talk with
more heavenly celebrities than in our on
tro mortal state we met with earthly
celebrities. Many who made great noise
of usefulness will sit on the last seat by
the front door of the heavenly temple,
while right up within arms reach Of the
heavenly throne will he many who.
though they could not reach themselves
or do great exploits for God, nevertheless
held the rope
Patient, accomplishing Service.
Come, let us 20 right up and accost
those on the circle of heavenly thrones.
Surely they must have killed in battle
Il million men. Surely they must have
been buried with all the cathedrals sound
ing a dirge 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
humble home that | might take care Of
my parents in their old age, and endured
without complaint all their querulousness
and administered TO all their wants for 20
years" Let us pass on round the circle
OF thrones. Who art thou. mighty one OF
heaven II was for 80 years a Christian
invalid and suffered all the while, occa-
sionally writing note OF sympathy for
those worse off than /, and was general
couilant Of all those who had trouble,
nad once In awhile ! was strong enough
to make 4 garment for that poor family
in the back lane" Pass on TO another
throne Who art thou, mighty one of
heaven? Il was the mother who raised
n 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 all
my TOLL" Let us pass on in the circle OF
thrones. 81 had Sabbath school class
and they were always on my heart and
they all entered the kingdom of God. and
| am waiting for their arrival" But who
are thou the mighty one of heaven on this
other throne? In time Of bitter perse-
rutiou | owned house in Damascus, a
he on the wall. A man who preached
thirst was bounded from street to street
End | hid him from the assassins, and
when | found them breaking into my
house and | could no longer keep him
safely | advised him to flee for his life,
md basket was let down over the wall
with the maitreated man in 1t, and ! was
me who helped hold the rope" And |
Iaid: is that allf" And he answered:
That is all" And while | was lost in
tmazement l heard a strong voice that
founded as though it might once have /
been hoarse from many exposures, and tri-
umphant as though it might have be-
longed 10 one Of the martyrs. and it said:
Nnt ma min oil Ia