Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-07-19
,aIoce TO the rich and the poor, the


young alike. 1t brings its salutatlons
to the rich and the great men. There
were many great men and women III
Caesars household who were without
doubt members of the household OF
faith. Nero's household, intellectually
and financially, was the noted court OF
it's day. And some OF the saints III
Cmsar's palace must have been num-
bered among the princes and prln-
cesses Of the realm and among the
great commanders Of the Roman Ie-
gion. the cabinet officials and the mem
bers of the privy council. So we fnd
today. among the great and the ia
nous of the earth, there have been
saints in Caesars palace. Witness VIII
liam Mckinley, shot down by an as
sassin's bullet, calmly turning his face
toward his invalid wife, saying, Gods
will, not ours, be done" Witness
Stonewar Jackson, leaving his army
hat outside of his tent as sign that he
did not wish to be interrupted because
he was then on his knees to God in
prayer. Witness Neal Dow and Fred
erick Robertson and William Il. Glad
stone and Thomas Chalmers and John
Knox and whole army Of earthly
saints Of whom the world was not
worthy. These are some Of the famous
modern saints who have already won
immortal fame by laying down their
lives for Christ.
But | also find that in NerO's ancient
palace there were slaves as well as
rich mobiles. There were menials who
had to perform the most humble serY-
ices. as well as generals who command
ed Nero's armies or prime ministers
who decided the international policies
or financial ministers who levied the
taxes. There were the cooks and the
chambermaids. There were the porters
and the gardeners and the messengers,
the private guards and the negro sery-
ants. as well as the white servants.
! There were the sculliOns, as well as
the ladies in waiting, who stood by the
|
palace were in all probability found in
the kitchen as well as in the parlor, III
the servants livery rs well as in the
courtier's uniform. All of which prove:
that God is ready to honor the man OF
one talent, If he is saint, just as
much as he honOrs the man Of ten tai
ents who makes spiritual use of his
genius.
My hearers, no matter what our walk
OF life may be, will you today be
saint Of God and throw yourself upon
the pardon and the mercy Of Christ
Will you here and now dedicate youl
life to the Saviour even if that dedica
ton means the shedding Of your life''
blood? VIII you be willing to suffer
for Christ as we'll as to have the pleas
ure and the joys that come from the
Christian life? Are you ready to shoul
der for Christ the heavy burden. Are
you ready, for him, to have the fee
ache. the hands ache. the back ache
the head ache and the heart acheE
would plead with you to be willing
to make these sacrifices for Christ. a'
did the saints in Caesars palaces, be
cause it is on account of their sacri
fees that Jesus is going to reward
you in another place which he hai
builded for you, not in Rome, but upol
the golden boulevard Of heaven. 1t II
only step from the palace of perse
cution into the palace Of reward. /
IS only step from C9sars throne
when the saint of God is condemned
to earthly death by the power of sir
TO the throne of God. where the re
deemed saint is given everlasting life
1t is only a step from the Roman are
ma. where the ancient saints were tori
10 pieces by the wild beasts, into th'
green pastures by the side of the still
waters, where the glorifed saints shall
forever dwell with the Lamb. 1t Il
only step-a short step. Are WI
ready to live for Christ in a place
where we may ultimately take tha
step. although to take it we shall pas
through the fires Of earthly persecu
ton? 1t is such a short step for tn
saints Of God from the palaces of Ner
TO the palaces which Christ has pre-
pared for his own that it does seen
as though the palaces Of persecution
are but the vestibules Of the palaces o
reward. May God help each one o
us to be true to his faith while w
4well for little while on earth In on
Of Caesars earthly palaces!
rCopyright. 1902. by Louis Ilopschl