Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-20

also an agency Of death ana Of destruc.
ton. Did you know that In the year
1900 nearly 600 people were killed by
lightning IN the United States alonsf
One OF my brother ministers Of Chi.
cogo had q son struck down IN that
year Just few miles from his home.
Did you know In the United Statas in
the seven years between 1886 and 1892.
from known records. there wore at
least 8,616 fires from lightning and
nearly S18.O0O.O00 worth OF property
was thereby destroyed see Christ
In the symbol Of the lightning coming
to save. I also see Christ In tho sym.
Dol Of the lightning coming TO destroy.
And the saddest part about this sym.
Dol h the lightning Of Gods wrath, as
his second coming will not separate
nations. but communities and families
and closest friends ana business asso.
ciates. Listen to the record. Two par.
ents shall be bending over the crib: tho
one shall be taken and the other left,
There shall be two In the fleld: the
one shall be taken and tho other let.
Two women shall be grinding at tho
mill; the one shall be taken and the
other left" o man, Is your mother
or your wife or your daughter or your
son or your loved one to be- taken aud
you to be left7 Families split Homes
split. Marriage affairs split.
"Here Am I, Lord.~
Christ will surely come. There n
no doubt about that. He may come
any minute Of any hour Of any day.
There Is also TO doubt about TINT
Christ snid it. He il not only coming
suddenly, but also at the most unex.
pected time. In Matthew we read
Christ's own words, watch, there.
fore, for ye know not what hour your
Lord doth come, "for "as the days Of
Noah were, 80 shall also the coming
Of the Son Of man be-" Therefore this
Is the great practical application Of
this sermon: When Christ docs come.
shall we be prepared TO meet him?
When he does come, where do you
think Christ wants to find us? The
Millerltes went forth TO greet Christ
some years ago. They were clothed IN
white linen ana stood upon the noun.
tain tops when they expected him to
come. Shall we 60 forth like the Mil.
leritcss Hundreds Of people have
crossed the seas aud are now living
near the city Of Jerusalem because
there. as the American consul, DR..
Edwin 8. Wallace. told me, they ex.
pected Christ first TO appear. Shall
we HE to the Jerusalem hills? do
not believe Christ at his coming wants
to find you and me on the hilltop in
white linen or on Mount Ollvet or near
to the beautiful gate. When Christ
comes. as come he may at any min
ute. I think he would like to find us
In our ordinary working apparel doing
the Christian work no has given us to
do.
Would thot we were as faithful in
the tasks Christ has given to us as
was that noble Christian statesman Of
many years ago. 1t was during the
time when many men were prophesy.
Ing the speedy termination Of the
world. The Connecticut legislature was
IN session, Of which this Christian was
a member. Suddenly in the broad day.
light the sun became overcast, and
there Wa darkness upon the face of
the earth like that awful black Friday
when Christ was crucified. Some of
the members were greatly alarmed and
moved to adjourn. With that this no.
BILE Puritan arose and spoke rs fol.
lows: "Mr. Chairman, we are told that
our duties are always imminent and
obligatory. Some III this house nre
afraid that the last day Of the world
Is come. 1t may be they are right. But,
as our duties never cease, instead OF
moving that we adjourn l move that
the candles be brought in and that we
proceed with the order Of the day. If
Christ is to come today want him to
end mo at my post Of duty" If Christ
comes today will he find us at our
post OF duty? Are we faithful Chris
tian disciples Of many homes? Are we
true Christian business men and true
Christian church members? Oh, friend,
II Christ comes today he wants to find
as doing the Christian work for which
we were sent. Are we at our posts Of
Christian duty and prepared to answer
"Herc am I. Lord" when he comes?
copyright. 1906. by Louis Klopsch.l