The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-01-20

II
Jewel in the British crown; for I loved
her with an affection that her death
81 years since has not in the least
abated." Worthy and loyal SON
Again Solomon says: 1.-THE hoary
head Is a crown of glory II it be found
the way of righteousness" The un.
godly are not kindly. Years are on
them but they are yet slaves to habit
and the fear of death. Theirs is the
fearful looking for Of judgment and
merry indignation. They are at the
swelltngs of the Jordan. They stare
beyond. They tremble at the demands
OF the great crisis. They embark on
the voyage but know that they are in
no friendship with the Judge awaiting
them, and that they are unfit for en-
rollment with the robed in white
Ihey are not kingly. They are cow
ardly. They are Belshazzar's and
would surrender their earthly all to
escape the wrath to come. That can
not be. The hoary head in the way of
righteousness is kindly. 1t is the
noblest sight on which God and angels
can look. 1t bespeaks conquests. He
mas passed his teens, thirties, fifties,
seventies. He is not defeated. He
stands on the tier of the life everlast-
Ing full of hope of a crown more en-
during than the one circling his brow
He accepted Christ in his Gospel in
HIS youth, He abided in Him during
life. What temptation met him. He
Wrestled with them and overcomethem.
what passions assailed him and per-
sisted In sweeping him from his land
mark: He fought them down and
made them his servants. What vain
thoughts surged his bosom and threat
ened again and again to bring him I'M
der. He brought them under and now
he stands on the brow of the grave
with self, the world and the prince of
darkness under his feet.
How kfngly, nobler far than Cyrus
or Octavius. God looks on him with
favor and shows Himself to him. We
delight In meeting an old friend, shak-
ing hands with him. sitting with him
and emptying our mind into his. That
is precisely what God does with his
Old friends. They are His special de-
light He talks with them and they
with Him. He takes them into His
counsel. He makes Abraham his cab
1net-minister. Abraham is lifelong
friend, an old disciple, praying saint,
true king. God honors him by ad-
visfng with him: "Shall-I hide from
Abraham that thing which do" He
does not. He communes with him I'M
der the oaks on Mamre: "The secret of
the Lord is with them that fear Him,
and He will show His covenant" God
Is in love with his kingly, old-friends.
His eye is daily upon them. He cares
for them until they are ripe for his
presence and glory. He calls himself
the ancient OF days" The ,kingly are
ancient. They represent him among
us. AS we look upon them we look
on an image though feeble of the over
lasting God. Do not slight them. The
insult is to him who is before time be-
gan. He remembers it, and will re-
sent it. They are the respectable.
The Holy Spirit links them with the
honorable of the earth. A white head
with a holy heart is sight most glori-
Gus. A head white as snow with
heart black as hell is most contempti-
BILE. Look at him, a captive by Satan
at his will. Hoary heads in the paths
OF righteousness are the true honora-
bles, the candidates of the purchased
dignities of the world far off.
They are with us and around us.
They are the holy corps. Johns, Zach
ariases, Eizabeths, Simeons, Annas,
Abrahams and Davids. They are the
esteemed of the father. They whis-
per:-"O God, thou hast taught me
from my youth, and hitherto have 1
declared thy wonderous works." They
say: Cast me not off in the time of
old age, forsake me not when my
strength faileth, how also when I am
old and gray headed forsake me not
until have showed thy strength unto
this generation and thy power to
every one that is to come"
Gray heads are blessing among us.
The old mans gray hairs are an orna-
ment: SO becoming: how grave he
looks, and authoritative. He illus
trates the power of the Gospel amid
temptations and difficulties. He is a
witness of Gods loving providence and
the riches of his grace. He is also
useful among us. His hoary head rep
resents experience and wisdom, in
length of days is understanding. He
has travelled UP the hill of life. What
knowledge is beneath his gray hairs.
He is willing to unbosom it to us, lust
as willing as the aged psalmist:
Come We, children, hearken unto me,
l will teach you the fear of the Lord %
He is travelling down the other side
of the hill of life, he leans on two
slaves. One is the memory of life
we'll spent, the other is the hope of
eternal glory. He declares that the
descent is far from uneasy. The last
enemy is before him but he is no un-
welcome visitor. He is confident that
death has lost his sting. He sees the
country beyond. It's beams rising
upon him are brighter and brighter.
Its melodies are in his ears, it's robes
and palms are clear before his eyes.
He awaits the exodus. Lifting the
words from the apostles lips he ex-
claims: II am now ready to be offered,
and the time of my departure is at
hand. have fought a good fight.
have finished my course. have kept
the faith, hence there is laid up for
me crown of righteousness, which
the Lord. the righteous Judge, shall
give me at trial day, and not to me
only, but unto all men also who love
his appearing" Amen.
A SAD DEATH.