Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-03-23


and companion were lashed to a
guide. They began to descend on the
rough rocks and the companion sug-
gested that they should walk on the
snow alongside They did so and their
weight disturbed the equilibrium of
the whole body and sent them down
as an avalanche. Just before they
reached the precipice the guide thrust
his iron shod boot against projecting
rock and shouted, I'm the name of
God, halt" They were drawn up
when there was but moment between
them and eternity. l would say to
every one of you. dear young men. If
you find yourselves being carried away
by your social surroundings or intlu-
ences toward the prccipicc of ruin.
plant your feet firmly against Gods
truth and Gods right ere you are
swept away.
The third anchor is patience. That
was tedious night of peril and gloom
which laid upon Paul and his ship
mates, but they held out and waited
for the day. Patience is that staying
power in the will which Paul in his
episte calls longmindedncsS. 1t is the
ppNtl W tilbult l 'oli'IIitN' '''i'''
without finchng: it is the staying
power that wins the prize. Mark how
much of the Old Testament makes OF
waiting patiently upon God. In the
New Testament the word often is on
dures, and | would say to all those
dear young friends. who have lately
been united with this church. that the
start is not sufficient, "he that cndur-
eth shall be saved
This patient waiting is opposed to
every anxiety and the worry that frit-
ters away strength and produces no
result will give You three simple
rules to put into practice. First, talk"
short views; never cross Il bridge until
you come to it: never fight the battle
until the evening Is in sight. Second,
discharge the duty that comes next to
your hands; take the step that God
points out Immediately before YOU. If
in ascending mountain You look UP
you may grow weary and if YOU look
down YOU may grow dizzy. One step
at n time is the secret OF the successful
climb. and there is noOne with strength
enough TO bear to-day's duties with
the worries and interests of tomorrow
piled on top of them. Third. never
yield to the demon of diScoura@cmcnt
You parents have need of patience with
your children to encourage everything
that is good, to bear with pcrvrrScneSS
until you can correct it. instead of only
increasing it by irritation. WHY do
you tell that boy twenty tines" said
the father of John Wesley to bis broth
or. Because" replied the wise man,
nineteen times so for naught and |
shall not gain my point without the
twentieth" Wise Susanna Wesley
trained the founder of MethodiSn
Gods delays are sometimes test OF
faith. Look at that Syrophocnician
woman plucking the garment of Christ.
She persists. and cllngs to Him, untis
He says: "Oh. woman. great is thy
faith" etc. During the first charge or
my ministry grew so discouraged
that | was about to give up when my
Master headed me off with one of the
most powerful rcyivalS | have known.
The darkest hour was just before the
dawn. Here in Brooklyn to-day Gods
voice to the churches evidently * to
do their utmost work, to pour forth
the most fcrvcnt prayer. to engage III
the most personal effort and trust to
Him for the blessing. The best enter
priscs in this world have had their Pc
riodS of diScoura cement, when pa
ticncc was the vital grace that won tho
day. That glorious old missionary,
Iudson. worked for five years in Eur
nah without a convert Then the cloud
burst and the great and permanent
Burmah mission resulted. Th" lesson
to-day, beloved members of this
church. is: stand by the pastor. assist
him in every movement, echo his every
cXhortation and, with united pastor
and people, let us move on to spiritual
harvcstingS and victory.
The fourth anchor is that beautiful
word, hope That is not the possession
of good things; it is rather tn" conn
dent expectation of good things tllat
are assuredly in store for us. I'VE are
saved by hope In our spiritual me
hope is vitality important, | thank GOD
that throughout my life He has en-
ablcd me to be an inveterate hopper.
The word, however, in the New TcSta'
ment has sometimes Il peculiar meah-
ing in describing the Christian. me
apostle, in speaking of the hope OF sal.
vaton. calls it IAN anchor sure ana
stcadfust holding to that within the
vale" Let me ask each one OF YOU
this morning. Where is your hope! On
what are YOU resting for this world ana
the next? Is your hope an anchor
fastened to the Lord Jesus. or is it only
mere cable attached TO sand? That
great Christian. Harmon Page. VINO
| = al tn
one ten minutes without saying some
thing good. He went into his sunday
school with Il note book in hanu ana
asked each one. Have you a hope OF
salvation?" Most of them gave nm
an affirmative answer. He came to one
man, a stranger, in the adult Blhic
class who shook his head and SAID
II have none" Sagacious Mr. rage
instead of rcbuking him, in Il very pa
thetic tone said. Then | viii! put YOU
down as having no hope The gem
tleman could not sleep that night. lie
said. Page has me down in his book
as a hopeless man. and he laid hold
of Christ and made his decision for the
Master, and the next time he met tile
Superintendent he said. "Thank COZ
for your plain. loving talk with me, LOT
| have hope now like an anchor.
cite the case of that phlanthroplst
who came to New York rs Il humble
carpenter, and who wrought such
work that over 100 souls were con-
yerted under him. Brother believers,
let the storms of earth howl ms loudly
as they will. if we have committee
| everything to Jesus all should be well,
for so it came to pass that when the
daylight broke the tempeSt-tossed mar
iners on the shores of Melita come
safe to land.
So it will be with us, through the
nights darkness, through perilouS voy-
| ages we shall each have our souls fast
| anchored to the univcrsalzing Saviour,
| ,,,hor, ,,ono wa cam tr,lSt for salvation.