Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-10-17

ard,
Dir. +. b. Meyer, the great English
preacher, taught this truth in Il sim
pie way. lie was making pastoral
call upon one OF his church members
who was washerwoman. She was
one of the most devoted Christians
and one of the saintlicst characters in
his church Like all good Christian
washerwomen. she did her work as
conscientously at the tub MS at the
prayer meeting. Her clean linen was
hanging upon the lines and lying
around drying when the preacher
called. What beautiful clean linen
you have said her pastor. Yes" an
swered the woman, 'if God wants me
to be washerwoman I must make
the clothes white for his glory Just as
pray we'll for his glory" But during
Dr. Meyers visit the snownakes began
to fall. When he came to the door to
say "Goodby" the white mantle of
winter was everywhere. But the snow
was so white now that II made the
linen clothes grimy in comparison.
Then DR.. Meyer said, "Oh, madam.
your clothes do not look as clean now
MS they did" "Of course not" replied
the woman. Remember. Gods white
Is always purer than mans white" So
the nearer the church comes TO union
with Christ the nearer the time for the
wedding nuptials, the more the church
is being cleansed aud the higher and
~, &c L..
more its wedding garments take upon
themselves the purity and spotlessness
Of Gods wilderness and Gods love.
Pesslnnistie Talk.
To hear some pessimists Talk one
would suppose that not only numerical
ly, but also In purity and ideals. the
church is rapidly deteriorating. con-
tend that not only Is the church grow
ing better, but 1t IS influencing the
whole world and elevating Its ideals
Social conditions which would not now
he tolerated for a day were &rmerly
ordinary commonplaces. We talk about
the curse Of tainted money" in these
days. We say that the American peo-
pie are lost TO all sense of honor and
decency when corporation funds are
accepted by political parties. We say
that the 1ugglery Of stocks In Wall
street is an outrage. We say that the
state legislatures are only puppets Of
the monopolies and that the municipal
councils nre owned body and mind
and soul. by the railroad corpora tons
Rnt cfnn' MIA ta
fact that the reason we hear SO much
about the financial dishoncsties Of life
is because the public conscience Is be.
ing aroused and n higher standard of
morals has been established? Further
more, did you ever stop to consider
that criminal financial dealings which
two centuries ago We're looked upon as
the ordinary and usual ways Of doing
things would not be tolerated now for
one moment? Did you ever hear that
one OF the first buildings which were
erected upon the campus OF Princeton
college, the headquarters OF Presbytc-
rians. was erected by the money raised
In public lottery? Don't talk to me
about the world growing worse. Why,
II some of our great-grandfathers and
grandmothers should rise up from their
graves and start to live as they used to
do they would be ostracizcd from re-
spectacle society. and we would have
nothing to do with them
But there is another fact which
want to emphasize about this conquer
Ing army OF the gospel church-that is.
it may win Its final conquest any hour.
The time may be at hand this century,
this decade, this year. this month
tablish his universal kir,dom upon
the earth. For long years ani genera
tons the prophets OF old foreto,d his
birth in Bethlehem Of Judaea. But the
people had waited for Jesus so Ions
that they became indifferent. and when
he did come they were completely
taken by surprise. In the New Tesla
ment we have again and again the
promise that Christ is going to come q
second time and establish his kingdom
/ through the church. We, too. have
waited so long for the second adven,
Of Christ that many On us are apt to
think he cannot come during our life
time. Yet there has never been Il gen
GRAFTON since he left the earth that was
so ready as this TO welcome him. mol
has there ever been q time so suited
ms this for the prophetic fulfilment Of
Christs second advent.
Tho Second Coming.
Now, il this great army Of the gospe
church is capturing the world fol
Christ, and IL the second advent OF
Jesus may take place at any moment
does it not become our duty to joir
the gospel battalions and have par
In that glorious day when all earth
and all heaven shall unite in celebrat
ing the dominion Of Christ from sea t.
sea? Shall not we do something fol
/ Christ's glory now 80 that We ma!
have the right to share in his spiritua
triumph! Is ii not about time for some
of us TO give up living our mean. self
| tsh, sordid lives Of sinful Indulgence
and to join the great gospel host o.
| those who are working and waiting
for the millennial dawn? can we
dare we. afford ia waite even n day a
an hour3in idleness when there Is still
work to he done which may bring near
err this divine contamination?
1t Is said that when the distinguish
/ ed DR.. Rackus, the late president o
Hamilton college, was dying the doc
tors told him he had but thirty min