Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-24

r.; We are of more value than many
3pArrows." AS the Christian wife
walks through the fields and picks the
daisies and clover tops and the golden.
ROD and the bright yellow buttercups
she viii remember the words Jesus
spoke when he said that as he cared
Tor the lilies OF the fields so he would
care for her There is no place on earth
where man can get so close to God
as with an open Bible in the quietude
of the woods.
Never was / more impressed with
this thought than some years ago when
l visited humble little country church
nesting among the berkshire hills.
People have often asked me what WIS
the most impressive religious service I
ever attended. have worshiped in
the Metropolitan tabernacle Of London
and witnessed the marvellous power
Charles II. Spurgeon had over his great
audience. | have been at the feet OF
Joseph Parker, the mighticst one maa
religious force today In all England.
have heard Henry Ward Beecher AMI
often Mr.. Moody. l have heard nearly
all OF the great living preach this
side OF the Atlantic and many from be-
yond the seas, but the most impressive
religious service ever attended was in
that little white meeting house way up
among the Berkshire hills There were
only about thrty-hve people present
The little organ was not worth more
than $40. The young girl who sat and
played the hymns knew but little about
music, but for three long hours before
I entered that building had been com.
muning with God In the quietude of tho
hills. Alone with my Heavenly Fa-
Their saw the setting sun. Alone with
my Heavenly Father, had been uvin;
in memory over my past sinful life.
Alone with my Heavenly Father was
telling the Saviour about my troubles.
And when I saw the little light Of the
meeting house / was beckoned in. Then
the first prayer melted my heart until
the whole room for me was filed with
the Holy Spirit.
Take Christ Along.
Oh, my brother and sister, want
you to go out into the country not only
to get a physical rest but. like the
disciples of old. want you to take
Christ along. In the Quietude Of the
woods, with your open Bible, want
you to keep open a receptive ear so
that your Heavenly Father may talk to
you, and by prayer want you TO talk
to your Heavenly Father. If you will
only do this, you will not only IN the
country draw nearer to your Heavenly
Father. but you will find that Christ
during all the long oncoming winter
months will stay very close to you. l
want you to get thoroughly acquainted
with Christ. | want you TO realize that
he Is the dearest the tenderest, the
kindest, the NEST. forgiving and the
most loving companion pardoned sin
ner could ever have.
But there is one other advantage Of
summer vacation about which l
would speak. a few words. That ad-
vantage is tic desire which comes to
all true Christian hearts to get back
into the harness TO do the work which
God has given them to do after the
summer vacation is ended. In the
spring the tired sGhoolteacher is apt
to complain. She says to herself
why did I ever become a public
school teacher? Many of the mothers
only send their children to me because
they are too lazy to take care OF the
children themselves" But after the
Christian schooltea cher has had a rest
In the country with God she begins to
realize her opportunities, and she says:
ooh, how good God Is to me! Think
of the opportunity Of usefulness l
have. Perhaps by the grace Of God
shall not only influence these children.
but also the sinful homes from which
they come" After the minister has
been of alone with Christ TO rest
awhile he longs TO be back in his pull
pit TO preach again about the Christ
whom he has so learned to love. The
mother, the tired mother, after she
has had her rest comes back with
happier heart, a sweeter smile and
gentler prayer. May God pity today
the men and the women who are so
physically exhausted that they think
their religious opportunities for doing
good are a perpetual burden. By the
power OF recreating rest may. all Chris
! lluu WOTheIS lHc COliIuS SUN
mer months nave their spiritual eyes
opened. May they rapturously see that
the happiest duty on earth is the OPP
portunty TO serve the Lord Jesus
Christ
One morning the daughter OF an Eng
lish king was found dead. with her
head pillowed near an open Bible and
with her finger pointing to the word
rest" The word rest was found in
Matthew Xi, %, Come unto me all ye
that labor and are heavy laden. and
will give you rest" Whether she found
the rest she lenged for this side Of the
grave we cannot know, but With Christ
in our hearts, II we accept his sweet
invitation, we can find his rest here.
May this summer vacation give TO all
Christian workers rest of heart and
soul. May you not only have physical
rest. but also spiritual rest. May It be
the sweet rest with which Christ will
fit you for the best work Of our earthly
life during the coming winter months.
Then In the f,Al may it be Gods will
to bring the pastor and people of this
church together again for his blessed
service
ICopyr,gh. 1919 Louis Klopsch N VI
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THE AUTHOR AT HOME
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