Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-12-30
HOPE.
BY Rev. ". n. B. Allen.

Hy KEY ". H. a. AHSH.
Come, come quickly.-Rev. xxi.
On the shores of a small island in the
midst o. the Aegean Sea stands one
whose hair is now silvered by the
hand of time, gazing reyerently up into
the everlasting heavens, as If commun-
ing again with the one he had loved
so much, Friends and companions
have passed away. Now alone he
stands awaiting the summons, express
ing his feelings in the words Even
so, Lord Jesus, come, come quickly
AS the waves beat upon that lonely
shore memories surge In upon him
precious memories of the past To him
for time comes the past with its
questions, its strifes, Its turIDils, and
its joys. Well does he remember the
hour when Christ called him. And
those wonderful wsrks of Jesus, how
well does he recall them all! The
daughter of Jairus returned again TO
her parents alive. The happiness that
falls TO the widow whose son is re
stored to Main The Gliding of the sea
of Galilee, and then the peace as the
winds and waves obey his voice. The
joy of that moment when his head
rested lovingly upCn the Savior's
breast. The sorrow of THAI judgment
hall the great grief at Calvary. Then
the doubts, the questionings che de-
mails of those who ought TO have
known him. And as they place the
Messiah in the tomb the candle of
faith fiekers and wanes, darkness
takes the place of JOY. y"eak faith fall
tiers. How human, now true ts all
time. Then comes the news Of the
resurrection, bringing visions of She
true life to come.
How well does st. John see again
those eager faces pressing around tie
Redeemer to learn of him the things
concerning the work and life of each.
How he remembers when Christ COM
manded them TO go out and preach the
gospel of salvation everywhere. How
cheerfully did they obey. They en-
dured persecution and the martyrdom
without murmuing One by one they
had been called away from their labors
to enter upon their life in paradise, and
now he, a lonely exile in Patmos. was
the only survivor of the twelve. He had
been spared to see the fulillment of
many of the Savior's promises. The
Holy City was heap of stones and
ruins The sacrifical worship in Jer-
usalem had ceased. Many Christian
churches had been organized; he HIM
self banished. Why had he been left
while his companions were taken? Why
was he doomed to linger among the
burdens of life while there were such
spiritual joys to be had in the home
beyond the grave? Do you wonder
he was gazing so earnestly upward
and asking God to come-yea, come
quickly?
The Christian life of St John is one
that ought to cause us to live like him.
Has not his lonely life appealed TO
you? Gray-haired, silvered II you like
by the hand of time; there alone, never
murmuring, never questioning, never
doubling. only waiting, perfectly salts
fed to abide by His will AS vision
of that life comes to me | feel as il
we to-day had lost somewhere the
faith once confessed before men in the
person of Christ Jesus. To-day the
harping and piping are on all things
but the hope OF the eternal tomorrow.
Why are we not like him looking for
the coming Christ? Need | answer?
Does not the heart make response that
the reasons are clear? Men become
servants of self rather than children
of God Women become men-pleasers
rather than God servers. The family
is not taught that God is friend and
helper Vanity rules, and God is for
gotten To us the cry of st. John,
even so come. Lord Jesus" in his
meaning and spirit is almost unknown.
To St John eventide meant peace, last
ing peace, the presence of God-eter-
1al life. To us in the twentieth cen
fury eventide means life spent in
sordid gain-a loss of love of God.
Now and again we meet a servant of
God but how few.
Brethren, these things ought not so
10 be- WHAT is life but daily round,
ever tending TO the end? In it sue
cess, position. and earthly power may
come but they must end. These may
have many rose-colored and tinted
rays. but over all falls a shadow-the
shadow that sooner or later overtakes
all.
O. to be like st John. To be able,
like him, to look unfinchinglp into the
unseen and say. Come. Lord Jesus"
To be able to rest where peace, eternal
,eace. resides. Why is it men hesitate
between few years of doubtful en-
ioyment. liable to be broken at any
hour by sickness and death, and the
eternal rest founded by the Rock of
Ages?
Are men or women satisfied? Does
not something tell them of the life to
come? They know the truth; why do
they not confess it? How often we
hear the cry. 20. if l could live over,
how different I would make it." My
readers. this is a simple story with
some simple questions The gospel of
Jesus Christ is a simple narrative. but
how much we can draw from it if we
only try! Let us learn from to-day to
live a holy life filed with charity, love,
meekness, and, when the dark shadows
fall. TO utter truthfully from the soul
entirely Christ's Even 50, Lord Jesus,
come, come quickly"
PROOFS OF FUTURE LIFE.