Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-08-09

US lOuty we see lldl IL Is II mere rem
nant of great host which once start
ed out marching side by side. Th'
white lips Of the dead as well as tn,
trembling lips Of the living Christian
veterans beside us are speaking en-
tirely different words from those will
which the Grecian philosopher fright
ened the trembling Athenians. Th'
dead lips Of the aged Christian con
temporaries are saying to us: Most o.
you will never be old men. Most Of
you will never be old women. Mos
Of you will die in your youth or il
middle life. Therefore, what you are
to do for Christ you must do soon oil
you will never do it at all"
Perhaps this may be a chimerlca
fancy, but | believe that some of oul
aged Christians now living may bC
lingering upon this side of the river
Of death in order to carry to heaven tC
our departed loved ones the latest
news about the dear ones on earth
You know the Bible declares that the
celestial messengers are continually
ascending and descending between
earth and heaven. Jacobs dream was
not all fanciful dream. The sleeping
son of Isaac saw the angels ascending
and descending the ladder which con-
nected earth with heaven. SO believe
that the aged Christians are lingering
this side of the Jordan for awhile In
order to carry the gospel news about
ourselves to our loved ones. | remem.
ber well when dear old elder Of the
Brooklyn Tabernacle was dying my
father turned to aim and said: We'll,
Mr.. Nichols. soodby for little while,
We shall soon meet again. But. as
you are going ahead Of me to the celes-
tial land. will you hunt up my boy De
Witt and give him my loveY And the
old dying elder said, Yes, DR.. Tai
mage. | will. will" When the wild
over Bishop Haven was dying, he
turned to his mother and said: Moth
er, after have first seen the Lord !
shall want to hunt up my dear wife.
l shall give to her your love. Then |
shall want to rest for the first thou
sand year, in the green pastures by
the side Of the still waters. with my
head in the lap of my Mary"
Messengers to the other Side.
And if some of our aged Christian
friends are waiting for a little while
in order to carry the latest gospel news
10 the dear ones on the other side of
he Jordan. what will they be able to
ell our fathers and mothers, our broth
ers and sisters. our wives and little
who have gone beyond and
ire awaiting our coming? VIII they
)e able to tell them that you and love
he Lord Jesuss VIII they be able TO
ell our loved ones that they must keep
| place by their side for us in one Of
he heavenly mansions? Oh, my
)rother and sister, see by the tears
n your eyes that you are anxious,
wfully anxious. in reference 10 the |
Message which our aged Christian
riends shall have to bear. Shall we |
lead with God that our dear aged |
riends may be allowed to live just |
little while longer so that we all |
nay, here and now. give our hearts to
esus? Then. ye aged Christian
riends, carry the news as soon as you
lay to that bright and happy land.
AIRY the news that, by the blood Of
hrist, we have all been cleansed from
in. Tell them that we have all been
urged with hyssOp until we are clean,
lat we have been washed until we are
hitter than snow.
That was Il significant experience
lat Archbishop Leighton had in one
his Illnesses. 1t was thought that
2 was dying. but, in answer to the
ayers of his friends, he was raised
ON the threshold of the grave. But
le good man did not share the glad
ess of his friends. He said 81 did
IT want to get we'll am an old man,
Id most of my friends are on the
her side. In my last sickness | felt
was like a weary mariner sailing
'er the sea. | was coming near the
rbor OF peace. | could see a great
st of my departed loved ones COM
g down to the shore and waving to
e, and was waving back. | could
cognize their different faces. But
st as | was about to enter the har-
r of peace a great storm arose and J .
was driven back. The storm drove
! far out of sight of the heavenly !
Id. Now | must sail the weary voy
e of life over again"
And so, my aged Christian friends.
elieye that you are the favored ones.
u are the Christians who will carry I
, message to our dear ones as we'll |
to your own. When you go. want Z
j personally TO take to my mother
/ father my love, just as my father c
It his love to his boy. Tell them for =
that by the grace Of God we all K
mt to meet them soon. lS
hus, We aged Christians, | want you j
realize that the words Of my text 4
re written for you. "They shall j
bring forth fruit in their old age" y
ans that your work and usefulness O.
not be finished until you draw y
II last breath, until you take your D
rious departure. | want you to n
lie that your work in life is just W
same kind of work as was that ~
d farmers who was planting some Jo
ng trees one day, when neighbor -
le along and said: "Nhat are you
nting those trees for? You will
er live long enough to see them
w up" NO" answered the old
I; Il never expect to see them grow
but my grandfather planted yonder
trees so that could play under
n and pluck their fruit, and | want
liant these trees that my children
my children's Children can eat of
r fruit after am dead" So, aged
istians. as your aged parents sweet
] your life when you were young.
By the blessing Of God, are sweet ~
e ours. May your work be to you
lppy work until at last the angel ne
he resurrection comes to call you me-
our eternal reward. May we be as trl
e - N