Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-28

to doubt the efficacy Of foreign mission
work, but the Christian men and wO-
men upon the field never doubted IL.
Minister Conger. the late representa-.
tive Of the United States government to
Peking, gave this as his testimony at
that time: For seven years past I
have been intimately associated with
American missionaries in China. They
are veritable heroes. They are the fore.
runners Of civilization. II was they
who FIRST planted the banner Of the
Prince Of Peace in every place where
now floats the flag OF commerce and
trade. The dim pathways which they
traced. sometimes marking them with
their lifeblood. are rapidly becoming
the highways Of travel and trade. lined
with schoolhouses and railway stations.
During the memorable siege Of Peking,
when the legation walls were being bat
tered down by cannon shot and mortar
bombs. II was the encouraging words
Of prayerful missionaries that gave us
constant courage and sustaining hope.
There was but one man among us who
broke down helpless and despairing.
and he was an avowed atheist. He
had no faith in God and consequently
no strength in himself" As Minister
Congcr saw the results OF Christian
missionary work in China we. standing
upon our Pisgah heights, can see the
results Of Christian work everywhere
around us. Though certain days may
seem to he dark. yet as we look into
the far past we can see that. year by
year and decade by decade, the world
Is continuing 10 grow better through
Christian work Therefore the mighty
Inspiration comes to us to have part
in that work and have part in that
ultimate glorious triumph.
But there is always one awful reali
cation which comes to US when we
stand upon Pisgah's heights. and that
IL the realization that from an earthly
standpoint we cnn never overcome the
evil results Of the past. Methinks
can see Moses as he looks of upon
that land flowing with milk and honey
He raises his eyes TO God and says
"Lerd. wilt thou not let ME pass ovel
with my people for a little whileT
"Nay." says God: may. Dost thou moi
remember down in Kadesh when thor
didst sin against me? Dost thou not re
, member when the people cried for wa
ter thou didst make water gush from
the rock Of Horeb and then take NIL thu
credit unto thyself, saying Hear now
ye rebels: must We fetch you water
out OF this rock" Thou dldst not giv'
me the glory. Then said unto thet
thou couldst not enter into the prom
Used land. Because Of that sin thol
art excluded from the land that tho,
art permitted to see Is 1t possible
that such a sentence may be pro
nounced against any Of us? Have W,
always given God the honor that lie
ionged to him: Are there sins in OF
past that God has graciOusly forgiven
but that are still against us in ma
lures book of account: You may wlsl
that You had acted differently durinl
your early manhood or wOmanhood
hut though you may change the fu
ture, you can never change the past
Beware, O man. o woman. that 20,
do not neglect to honor God! DO no
dishonor him as Moses dishonored hin
down Mt Kadesh before Horeb's rock
Beware. IL you have not yet surren
dercd your heart to Jesus Christ. les
you let this moment pass without SUI
rendering it unto his keeping. Pts
gah's heights have their glorious v
sions. but PisRah's heights also hav
their awful regrets
May the grace Of our Lord Jesu
Christ help MS to make this momen
one Of the most blessed that we sha
ever see on Pisgah's heights. In tn
coming years we shall look back Mt i
Then may we say; "rhis Is the sacre
moment when wc entirely surrcndcre
our hearts TO the love and the pnr,lo
Of Jesus Christ. May the God Of ~
srs and the God Of Mount Nebo hles
us and save MS today"