The age-herald., 1902-01-05


 has appropriately provided for them. They are not longing for other chapulte- pecs They do not want to undertake another South Mountain. Their foot does not ache to get into the stirrup of the cavaryman. They are not longing for the hardtack of the soldiers breakfast along the Chickahominy. They have no desire for another ride in the ambulance to the field hospital When the Spanish war broke out they sometimes wondered if their rheumatic knee would allow them to keep step In a march, and if their sight was good enough to SC an advanc- ing foeman, and If their ear was alert enough to hear the command "Charge!" But for the most part they are glad that there Is no more war for them. So let all of the aged in peace with God, through the blessed Christ, cultivate content ment and thank the Lord their Sedan has been fought and the war Is over.
 'Let not him that girdeth on his har- ness boast himself as he that putteth 1t off"
 There are old farmers who cannot do one more days work. What harvests they raised in 1870! They knew the rota- ton of crops as we'll as they knew the rotation of the seasons Under what blistering suns they swung the scythe and the cradle! Through what deep
 
 way to the foddering of the cattle What drouth, what freshets, what insectile invasions they rememberi To clothe and feed and educate the 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 threshing 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 mechanics they were or subordinates who wrought faithfully in the work of house or barn or shipbuilding. You have right to quit. You have finished you task. Be thankful that your work is done.
 Faithful Service Remembered. Then there are aged physicians What tragedies of pain and accident they have witnessedl How much suffering they have assuaged! How many brave bat ties they have fought with lancet and cataclysm How many fevers they cooled How many broken bones they set How many paroylsms they quieted! How many anxious days they passed when they Knew that human lives de- pended, hpon their skill and fidelity! They drove back death from many cradle
 And there are the old minister's Once they were foremost in general assemblies and conferences and associations. They have preached in Pentecosts. They have stood by Christian deathbeds and seen Elijahs go up in flaming chariots of glory. The gospel they preached for fifty or sixty years illumines their every feature. They have stopped preaching, for their breath is short, or their nerves are a-jangle, or they lose their thread of discourse or suffer from confusion of ideas. Cheer up, aged domnies and doc tors. The Bible says God forgets our sins when we repent of them, but he never forgets faithful services rendered. He remembers that revival where you stood watching the souls that came ''as clouds and as doves to the windows" He has indicated by your physical or mental condition that 1t Is time for you to stop Your helmet bears the mark of many battle axe your sword is bent from many a holy struggle; your shield Is dented with the thrust of many a spear Now hang up the armor with gladness.
 Unwlse Braggadocio.
 Again, learn from Benhadad's be- havior the unwisdom of boasting of what one is going to do. Two messages had he sent to the King of Israel, both messages l full of insolence and braggadocio. With | brimming beaker in hand he Is talking with the royal group about what he will l do with the spells of the victory he I is going to achieve that afternoon. He 1 takes it for granted that Samaria will | surrender. He gives command for the | capture of some of the inhabitants of 1 Samaria who are approaching, saying, Whether they be come out for peace 1 take them alive, or whether they be l come out for war take them alive" But behold the fugitive King in frightened re- ] treat before sundown Better not tell poastingly what you are going to do. | Walt until 1t is done. You do well to- lay ] out your plans. but there are so many mistakes and disappointments in life that l you may not be able to carry out your l plans, and there Is no need of invoking | the worlds derision and caricature. Ma | poleon was so sure of conquering Eng land, Scotland and Ireland that he had a medal struck celebrating the conquest, which he never made. On that medal was represented his own crowned head. Dr. Pendeton and MT. 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 to fear than you. You are small. and I have a large bodily frame but you will see the last piece of this flesh consumed to ashes before I ever forsake Jesus Christ and his truth which I have pro- fessed." Not long after Saunders. the fent-hearted, gave up his life for Christs sake. while Pendleton. who had talked so big played coward and gave up re- ligion when the test came. Wilberforce did not tell what he was going to do with the slave trade, but how much he ac- complished is suggested by Lord Trough am's remark concerning Wilberforce af- ter his decease: ''He went to heaven with S00000 broken letters in his hand"
 Do not boast of your moral strength. One of the most brilliant men of the nineteenth century. having temporarily