Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-02-15
CalnnaSe
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Tslmaee, D. d.

been so picturesquely presented as IN
this sermon, which gives glimpses that
afford cheer and encoura cement TO
those who are in danger of becoming
disheartened in the struggle OF life.
The text is Daniel xii, 3, "As the stars
forever and ever
Some people are spiritually farslght-
ed. They cannot see Gods blessings
near at hand. They will sing with
great gusto, 81 want to be an angel and
with the angels stand" but they never
thank God for the present opportuni-
ties Of Christian work and for the
blessings Of earthly Christian fellow
ship here and now. They are never
capable Of having their heartstrings
bind them to q mundane tabernacle as
the heart Of John Fawcett, author of
the noble hymn, "Blest be the tie that
binds" and that of his dear wife. were
bound to the little parsonage of WainS-
gate, in Yorkshire, England. After
young Fawcett had been a rural pastor
in this humble village a few years he
was called TO great metropolitan
church as the successor OF the famous
Rev. DR.. Gill Of London. 1t was a pull
pit of which any man might have been
proud. The resignation was read, the
farewell sermon preached, the wagons
were loaded with the furniture to take
the young pastor to his new field OF
labor. While the goodby words were
being said. Mrs. Fawcett, her husba nd
and the villagers all broke down and
wept. Then Mrs. Fawcett said: ooh,
John, I cannot bear this I know not
how to co. Nor either" said her
husband, land we will not 20. The
wagons shall be unloaded, and every
thing put in its old place. So the
wagons were unoaded. A letter was
sent to London explaining the condi-
tons, and John Fawcett, who might
have become Dr. Gill's successor in q
great metropolitan pulpit, remained
in his humble rural church because Of
his affection for his people. All, We
whose hearts beat and throb to the key
note OF love, can you blame him? Then
he went into his study and wrote his
immortal hymn. which has done more
good than all the sermons he has ever
preached. Like John Fawcett are most
Of us. We thank God for the tender
ties that bind our loving hearts to
earthly friends and for The ties that
bind our hearts to the opportunities of
gospel work this side of the grave.
GIories Beyond the Grave.
But though We love earthly life and
all the dear ones who are now by our
side; though we love our Christian
work in the home, the church. the store
and the study, Yet we would not forget
those who have gone beyond. We would
not forget the celestial rewards that
are to be ours when our earthly work
for Christ is done. Therefore the pur-
pose of this sermon is to tell you what
glories await you on the other side Of
the grave if you have been a winner
of souls for Christ during your earthly
pilgrimage. And am going TO tell You
this by one of tho most beautiful sym
bols of the Bible: it Is the symbol OF
the stars, in stellar letters Of gold. writ
ten upon the broad black pages Of the
night. 1t is in the mighty review Of
other worlds when the zlittering hosts
wheel into line. and stars, consultations
and systems, with their signals of light,
singing as they sang on the morning of
who created them and who rules them
Today we have a beautiful subject.
one which transports us to that glori-
Gus armament 10 whose brightness
Daniel appealed when he said, "They
that be wise shall shine as the bright
ness OF the armament and they that
turn many to righteousness as the stars
forever and ever The stars. the stars,
the glorious stars, which we shall he
like when the archangel puts the last
trumpet to his lips and blows the rever-
beratlng blast of the resurrection.
Canst thou not today catch an inspired
vision Of the heavenly armament as
Klrke White, when he looked up and
saw the harbinger OF his future in the
flaming glory Of the stars?
Now. the first fact to which I want
TO call your attention IS to the num-
Der of the stars. would lead you out
upon the hillsides of the night, as God
led Abraham Of old. and say unto you,
Look now toward heaven aud tell the
stars II thou be able to count them"
Can you count? Are you good at fig
ures? Yes" you answer, with a
laugh. 81 am good at figures. l was
the best mathematician of my college
class. But l have not, nor has any
other man. mental force enough or
time enough to count the stars. You
might as well ask me to count the
sands OF the Sahara desert or the
drops of water contained in the mighty
deep MS to count the number Of the
stars. have neither the time nor the
ability 10 do this" Then while you
are speaking Of the infinite number of
the stars you recall wonderful ex-
perience you had some years ago.
Counting the stars.
You were out camping. You had
been living some weeks in the open.
That day you had long, hard pull
over the mountains. You were almost
tagged out when you made camp. But
after the IRE was built, the coffee pre-