The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-31

/ Inc cOmnudno "Cn1rZe! But Tor the
most part they are glad that there % Nc
more war for them. So let all Of the aged
In peace with God, through the blessed
Christ, cultivate contentment and thank
the Lord their Sedan has been fought and
the war is over. Let not him that grid
eth on his harness boast himself as he
hat putteth ii cf."
There are old farmers who cannot do
n more days work. What harvests
they raised in 1870 They knew the rota-
ton of crops as well as they knew the ro-
tation Of the seasons. Under what bis
tering suns they swung the scythe and
the cradlei Through what deep SHOWS
they drew the logs or cut their way to the
foddering Of the cattle. What droughts,
what freshets, what insectile invasion,
they remember. To clothe and feed and
educate tie household they went through
tolls and self sacrifices that the world
knew but little about. Rest, aged man!
Let the boys do the shoveling and thrash
ing and cutting and sweating. You have
put the harness off, and do not try to put
it on again.
There are old mechanics that can no
more shove the plane or pound with the
hammer or bore with the bit or run up
the ladder to the scaffolding. Master me-
chanics they were or subordinates who
wrought faithfully in the work Of house
or barn or ship building. You have a right
to quit. You have finished your task. Be
thankful that your work is done.
The Retired Physician.
Then there are aged physicians. What
tragedies Of pain and accident they have
witnessed! How much suffering they have
assuaged! How many brave battles they
have fought with lancet and cataclysm!
How many fevers they cooled, How
many broken bones they set, How many
paroIysms they Quieted, How many anx-
ious days they passed when they knew
that human lives depended upon their
skill and fidelity. They drove back death
from many a cradle. Instead of becom-
ing hardened at the sight of suffering
their sympathies deepened, as with aged
DR.. Valentine Mott when, standing be-
fore his students in clinical department
and a child was about to be operated
upon in surgery, he said, Gentlemen,
here are surgeons who will do this work
as well as 1 can, and you will excuse me
if l leave the room, for as 1 get older 1
cannot composedly witness pain as once I
could, especially the suffering Of little
children" God comfort and bless the old
doctors, allopathic, homeopathic, hydro
othA~ oho iONli AIN thCDl Will
ing to be out of practice! Before long
they will hear the benediction of him who
said, Il was sick. and We visited me-"
And there are the old ministers. Once
they We're foremost in general assemblies
and conferences and associations. They
have preached in PentecOstS. They have
stood by Christian deathbeds and seen
Elijahs so up in flaming chariots of glory.
The gospel they preached for fifty or six
ty years illumiHes their every feature.
They have stopped preaching, for their
breath is short, or their nerves are
a-jangle, OF they lose their thread Of dis
course or suffer from confusion of ideas.
Cheer Up. aged doninies and doctors! The
Bible says God forgets our sins when we
repent of them, but he. never forgets
faithful services rendered. He remem-
bers that revival where you stood watch
ing the souls that came las clouds and as
doves to the windows" He has indicated
by your physical or mental condition that
it is time for you to stop. Be content to
stop. Your helmet bears the mark of
many q battleax; your sword is bent from
many a holy struggle; your shield is dent
ed with the thrust of many q spear. Now
hang up the armor with gladness. "Let
not him that girdeth on his harness boast
himself as be that putteth it off," That
was a suggestive and tender scene when
the aged Mr.. Finlay of Edinburgh said to
a girl sinking in rapid decline: "Weel, my
dear. you're afore me. You're nineteen
and are almost across the river. I'm al
most seventy, and maybe I'll have some
hard steps afore I hear its ripple. Oh.
lassie, this is a sweet day for you. You'll
be home first"
Again, l learn from Benhadad's beha-
vior the unwisdom of boasting of what
one is going to do. Two messages had he
sent to the king Of Israel, both messages
full Of insolence and braggadocio. With
brimming beaker in hand he is talking
with the royal group about what he will
do with the spoils Of the victory he is
going to achieve that afternoon. He
takes it for granted that Samaria will
surrender. He gives command for the
capture of some of the inhabitants Of Sa-
maria who are approaching, saying,
whether they be come out for peace
take them alive, or whether they be come
out for war take them alive" But behold
the fugitive king in frightened retreat be-
| fore sundowni Better not tell boastingly
what you are going to do. Wait until it is
done. You do well to lay out your plans,
but there are so many mistakes n dis
appointments in life that you may not be
able to carry out your plans, and there is
no need of invoking the worlds derision
and caricature. Napoleon was so sure of
c%onQuering England, Scotland and Ire
land that he had a medal struck celebrat-
ing the conquest, which he never made.
On that medal was represented his own
crowned head.
Courage In Face Of Death.
DR.. Pendleton and Mr.. Saunders were
talking in the time of persecution under
Queen Mary. Saunders was trembling
and afraid. but Pendleton said: What.
Man, there is much more cause for me 10
fear than you. You are small. and l have
a large bodily frame, but you will see the
last piece of this flesh consumed to ashes
before / ever forsake Jesus Christ and his
truth, which / have protested" Not long
after Saunders. the faint hearted. gave
up his life for Christ's sake. while Pen
dle;on. who had talked so big. played
coward and gave up religion when the
test came. Wherefore did not tell what
he Uas coipp IN do With tho slave trade