Middletown transcript., 1921-10-29
became his parish.
More than a century ago, the spirit of
God called a red-headed, awkward

became his parish.
More than century ago, the spirit of
God called red-headed, awkward
youth, saying, Go, preach my Cos
pei" Young Matthew Simpson replied,
II never can, for everybody says am
ungainly as declaimer. My voice is
thin and squeaky; can't commit any
thing perfectly to memory, and. what
is worst of ali, it will break my poor
mothers heart. Finally, under deep
conviction, he went to his mother with
the terrible story. She said, with glow
ing eyes and bounding heart. my dear
son, l have been waiting to hear you
say that ever since you were born. "
Bishop Simpson blew the trumpet of
the Gospel with an eloquence that often
caused vast congregations to rise to
their feet and shout with glory and
praise. He has ever been regarded as
the chief orator among the Methodist
Bishops of this country.
How can person refuse the call OF
God to service, to honor. glory and an
Immortality of bliss. He Who guides
the bee, the birds and planets will not
fail to lead us safely who are but little
lower than the angels, and will be
crowned with glory and honor in the
day of reward. Each folio wer of Christ
is chosen for a special service by Him
Who knows what you can do when aid
ed by His almighty power. Therefore,
do not seek to break the appointed plan
for you, called by the One Who died to
bring you to His palace, after the work
Of life is accomplished.
The church building is where the
Christian meditates and communes,
prays and sings, as he listens to the
words of life from the preacher. Here
the sinner finds the saviour; here the
great realities of life, death and eter-
nifty are presented. Here the still.
small voice of God is heard, giving
comfort in sorrow, hope in despair,
peace in turmoil and restoration to the
fallen. No wonder the Psalmist cried
ouf, Il would dwell in the house of the
Lo~d all the Jays of my life y Il
would walk about Zion and go round
about her; tell the towers thereof.
Mark ye we'll her bulwarks. consider
her palaces; that ye may tell it to the
generations following
We should cherish the church where
we first learned to lisp "Our Father,
Who art in heaven;' where I'VE first
began to taste and see that our Lord is
gracious; where we have partaken of
the ordinances of baptism and the Holy
Supper; at whose alters we have stood
in welded union. founding the home
the nation.
Is not the church building a sermon in
stone, silent preacher of the Gospel
of Christ to every passerby?
We are to believe Jesus words, HIS
works, Himself if we would know all
truth divine. He says, II 60 to prepare
| place for you, that where am, there
We may be also If it were not so, l
would have tcld you." If these words
are unworthy of belief, creation is q
magnificent ruin, life a mockery, hope a
despair and fatherhood failure.
Christ sealed His testim ny with His
blood; He illustrated immortality by His
rising and His ascension into heaven
and by His spirit coming to Pentecost
and by His drawing all mankind unto
| Him for score of centuries.
| Socrates said IF on the other side of
death he is to meet Homer and the
good of all lands, then death must be a
blessed thing" But Christ had no if
in His promise of perennial being and
the reunion of souls Uncertainty was
unknown to Him; absolute fulfillment
was the glory of His being. Our Lord s
life killed death. abolished the monster,
so that mortals could sing ''There is no
death, but life, life more abundant for
evermore. for death is swallowed up
in victory"
This pleasing hope and fond desire is
benin fulfilled every day as this 1nhabi.
tants of earth are floating away to
glory on Gods river of life.
If friend should have asked John
Howard Payne in France, "Where are
you going?" he would have replied. 81
am going to my own Home, sweet
Home in New York City," If one
should ask sailor making long voy-
age "Where are you going" his reply
would be, II am going home, to loved
ones." When the streets are full OF
childre just out of school at noontime,
are not every one saying. Il am going
home ?" When the business man and
the laborer after the day is done are
hurrying away from toll, they are going
home. When Jesus finished His mission
He prayed, "Let Me 60 to the glory
had with the Father. at Home, before
the world was" Is not home, home,
the cry throughout the universe of the
Father? Are not the last words of the
dying saints. the angels have come t.
bear me on their snowy wings to my
,, eternal home
There is no deep. dark river of deatf
since Jesus bridged the stream; wha
seems death is only transition. crossin!
: over in eternal life. o Homela d
beckon US on to thy mansions filled will
: waiting ones whom we have lost awhile
who will never say goodbye again
There we will begin q new journey tina
will never end.
+ Think of
Stepping on shore and finding !
/ Of taking hold of hand and finding j
Gods hand,
Of breathing new air and finding
? celestial air,
CT feeling invigorated and finding
q immortality,
> Of passing from storm and tempest
) an unknown calm,
OF waking up and finding it HOME!