On The Procession To Roundtop
ON THE PROCESSION TO ROUNDTOP
When the last hymn had been sung on this day of the funeral of D. L. Moody, the audience was requested to remain seated until the family had passed out and also until the pallbearers had taken from the Church the precious remains of this servant of God. As we passed along in solemn procession towards Roundtop, it was my privilege to hear something of the conversation of those who followed the students who had been given the privilege of bearing him to his tomb. One gentleman said to his friend, "When Mr. Moody's little grandchild was buried only a short time ago, the students carried her from the house to her grave, and Mr. Moody said to his son, 'I think I should like to be carried like that myself,'" and so the students bore him carefully to the place where he is to rest until the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God? and he shall rise.
Roundtop was reached in the dusk of that winter day. The grave was lined with evergreen, and the resting place made as comfortable as possible. After a moment's gazing at the grave, all but the immediate family and the specially invited guests were requested to withdraw, but before they went away some one started the following old hymn which Mr. Moody ever loved to have sung in his meetings. One voice was added to another until at last a great volume of song rose towards God:
Jesus, Lover of my soul,
Let me to Thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll,
While the tempest still is high
Hide me, O my Savior, hide,
Till the storm of life is past
Safe into the haven guide,
Oh, receive my soul at last;
Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee
Leave, oh, leave me not alone,
Still support and comfort me.
All my trust on Thee is stayed,
All my help from Thee I bring;
Cover my defenseless head
With the shadow of Thy wing.
Thou, O Christ, art all I want
More than all in Thee I find
Raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
Heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is Thy Name,
I am all unrighteousness
Vile, and full of sin I am,
Thou art full of truth and grace.
Plenteous grace with Thee is found -
Grace to cover all my sin:
Let the healing streams abound;
Make me, keep me pure, within.
Thou of life the Fountain art,
Freely let me take of Thee;
Spring Thou up within my heart,
Rise to all eternity.
With heads solemnly bowed for a moment, the benediction was pronounced, and all that was mortal of D. L. Moody, the greatest evangelist of modern times, and one of the best men that ever lived was lying in the grave.
PLACE OF BLESSING.
Roundtop has ever been a place of blessing to the Northfield visitors. There each evening, when the conferences are in session, as the day is dying out of the sky, Bible students gather to talk of the things concerning the Kingdom. At this point many of the young men and women of the various students'
gatherings, which have been so intimately associated with Northfield, have decided their life work, and forth from this point they have gone to the ends of the earth to preach the Gospel. The old haystack at Williamstown figures no more conspicuously in the history of missions than Roundtop figures in the lives of a countless number of Christians throughout the whole world.
A. J. Gordon, of sainted memory, delivered some of his most telling addresses from this point. I recall one evening when he spoke of the Lord's return, and just as he finished he stood for a moment with his kindly face, all aglow with the power of his theme, and said, "I wish He might come now" and as we looked towards the west and saw the sunset glow upon everything it came to us as a regret that the Lord did not come at that instant, and that we must go down from this mount of privilege to work and to wait, possibly through weary years until He should appear.
From this point Mr. S. H. Hadley, Jerry Macauley's successor in the old Water Street Mission has told the story of his remarkable conversion, until people first sobbed in sympathy for him because of all that he had suffered through strong drink, and then praised God that He had raised him up such a miracle of grace and such a monument to His keeping power.
Here Mr. John Willis Baer has met the young people who were seeking to know what they must do to be used of God, and under the influence of the Spirit of God has pointed many a young man and young woman to the Spirit of God who could fill their lives and make them useful in every way.
Indeed, every visitor to Northfield journeys to Roundtop, and every speaker at Northfield counted himself fortunate if he were permitted to gather the people about him and speak as once the Master did when He went up into a mountain.
ROUNDTOP PARTICULARLY IDENTIFIED WITH MR. MOODY
But Roundtop is particularly identified with Mr. Moody himself. It is situated just back of his home. It was the place where often he used to go for meditation and prayer, and whatever it has been to friends of Northfield in the past, it shall be more sacred to them in the future, because it is the last resting place of the man whom they devotedly loved.
I recall one picture which can never be effaced from my memory. It was just at the close of one of the first days of the Northfield conference proper when it was announced that Mr. Moody would lead the Roundtop services, and as we were all gathered together singing, he came up. I can see him as plainly as I see my friend of to-day. He was carrying a chair in his hand upon which he was to sit in the midst of his people. He had his old, worn Bible in the one hand, and with his face beaming with delight because so many people were there at the beginning of the conference, he said, "I will ask Mr. Jacobs to sing," and the great strong voice of the singer sounded out from that hilltop and came back to us like an echo from the hills, until some of us wondered whether we were in the body or not.
Now, some one lead us in prayer," said the leader. "Now, let us sing," and there altogether we sang, he keeping time with his hymn-book. The hymn was
"Christ Returneth"
It may be at morn, when the day is awaking,
When sunlight through darkness and shadow is breaking,
That Jesus will come in the fulness of glory,
To receive from the world "His own"
Chorus--
O Lord Jesus, how long, how long
Ere we shout the glad song,
Christ returneth; Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Amen.
Hallelujah, Amen.
As the blessed words rolled out from the lips of those assembled there on that sacred hill, I remember how transported we all were with the bliss of that great truth, "Christ returneth!" The faces of those about me shone with joy, and there before us sat our beloved leader, the great factor of modern evangelism. He always seemed ready for Christ's coming, and I doubt if his joyful demeanor would have altered in the least, if at that moment the Heavens had opened. He was always ready because his consecration of himself to God was renewed with every breath, and attested by, each succeeding act in his life.
When the singing was at an end, Mr. Moody opened his Bible, and said: "I have come up to-night, dear friends, in a spirit of praise and thankfulness, to give you just a few nuggets from the margin of my Bible; you can take them down if you like, and if I go too fast for you just stop me." I stood just behind his chair, and beginning at Genesis he turned over the pages of his Bible, and quickly I wrote down what he had to say. The following is almost an exact report of that Roundtop meeting, and everything. recorded here I have, at one time or another, heard him say:
"Turn to Genesis and put this down," he said.
GENESIS:
Adam illustrates Human nature.
Cain " The carnal mind.
Abel " The spiritual mind.
Enoch " Communion.
Noah " Regeneration.
Abraham " Faith.
Isaac " Sonship.
Jacob " Service.
Joseph " Suffering and glory.
"Now, let us go on to Exodus the third chapter, maybe you would like this.
Objections raised by Moses for declining and avoiding God's call:
Lack of fitness. V. 11.
" words. V. 13.
" authority. Chap. 4: 1.
" powers of speech. 4: 10.
" special adaptation. 4: 13.
" success at first attempt. 5: 23.
" acceptance by Israelites. 6: 12.
"Have you ever noticed the seven feasts in Leviticus, twenty-third chapter? I have long had it in my Bible,
"Seven feasts:
Sabbath - Rest.
Passover - Death of Christ.
First-fruits - Resurrection.
Pentecost - Descent of the Holy Spirit.
Trumpets - Ingathering of Israel.
Atonement - Mourning for sin.
Tabernacles - Christ's indwelling in the Christian.
"Sin is an awful thing, let every man make a note of this. Joshua 7: 21.
"Steps in Achan's sin:
I saw.
I coveted.
I took,
I hid.
Compare Eve, Gen. 3: 6; Ananias, Acts 5: I - 10.
"How mean was the sin of Achan! He saw the Babylonish garment. and all the soldier in him withered up and he became a sneaking thief.
"Here is a good thing on forgiven sin. Psalm 32.
"Seven steps to blessedness of forgiven sin:
Conviction. Vs. 3, 4.
Confession. V. 5.
Forgiveness. V. 5.
Prayer. V. 6.
Protection. V. 7.
Guidance. Vs. 8, 9.
Joy. Vs. 10, 11.
"Here are seven things God will do for the believer. I find them in the 91st Psalm:
'I will deliver him.' Vs. 14, I5
'I will set him on high.' V. 14.
'I will answer his call.' V. 115.
'I will be with him in trouble.' V. 15.
'I will honor him.' V. 15
'I will satisfy him.' V. 16.
'I will show him my salvation.' V. 16.
"Now let us find something in the New Testament. Look at Matt. 7.
"In this chapter we have:
Two gates - strait, and wide;
Two ways - broad, and narrow;
Two classes - many, and few
Two destinations - life, and destruction;
Two trees - good, and corrupt
Two fruits - good, and evil;
Two things done to trees - hewn down, and cast out
Two houses;
Two foundations - rock, and sand;
Two builders - wise, and foolish
Two storms;
Two results - the one house stood, the other fell.
"I found this somewhere; does anyone want it? "Christ was foretold to:
Adam - as a man. Gen: 3: 15.
Abraham - as to His nation. Gen. 22: 18.
Jacob - as to His tribe. Gen. 49: 10.
Isaiah - as to His family. Isa. 11: 1-5.
Micah - as to His town. Micah 5: 2.
Daniel - as to His time. Dan. 9: 25.
Mary - as to His person. Luke I: 30.
By angels - as to His date. Luke 2: 11.
By a star - as to His birthplace. Matt. 2: 9.
"Here is an outhne for a sermon. Let the ministers put it down. Luke 10: 42:
'One thing is needful' - the Gospel.
'One thing I know.' 'John 9: 25.
'One thing have I desired.' Ps. 27: 4.
'One thing I do.' Phil. 3:13,14.
'Not one thing hath failed.' Josh. 23:14.
'Be not ignorant of this one thing.' 2 Peter 3: 8.
'One thing thou lackest.' Mark 10: 21.
"Here is something about the Prodigal Son." Luke 15:
His condition – 'in want. V. 14.
His conviction – 'came to himself.' V. 17.
His confidence – 'I will arise.' V. 18.
His confession – 'I have sinned.' V. 18.
His contrition – 'no more worthy.' V. 19.
His conversion – 'He arose and came. V. 20.
"Turning-points in his life:
Sick of home. Vs. 12, 113.
Homesick. Vs. 17 - 19.
Home. Vs. 20 - 24.
Sequel. Vs. 25 - 32.
"Six cases of men 'afar off' from God:
The prodigal. Chap. 15: 13.
The rich man. Chap. 16: 23.
The ten lepers. Chap. 17: 12.
The publican. Chap. 18: 13.
The beggar. Chap. 18: 40.
Peter. Chap. 22: 54.
"God's Word gives us a picture such as we find in no other place, turn to John, sixth chapter.
"Seven classes of people:
Curious. V. 2.
Admiring. V. 14.
Greedy. V. 26.
Skeptical. V. 36.
Murmurers. V. 41
Scoffers. V. 52
Backsliders. V. 66
"I have found much help in Hebrews. Note this:
Sin is met by Atonement. Chap. 1: 3.
Guilt is met by justification. 2: 9.
Defilement is met by sanctification. 2: 11.
Alienation is met by reconciliation. 2: 17.
Temptation is met by succor. 2: 18.
"Christ communicates eternity of existence to everything he touches: -- His throne is for ever and ever. Heb. 1: 8:
His salvation is eternal. 5: 9.
His priesthood is unchangeable. 7: 24.
His redemption is eternal. 9: 112.
His inheritance is eternal. 9: 15.
His kingdom cannot be moved. 12: 28.
His covenant is everlasting. 13: 20.
"The key word of Hebrews is 'better;' see how many times it occurs:
Better hope. Chap. 7: 19.
Better Testament. 7: 22.
Better covenant. 8: 6.
Better promises. 8: 6.
Better sacrifices. 9: 23.
Better substance. 10: 34.
Better resurrection. 11: 35.
Better country. 11: 16.
Better things. I 2: 24.
When it was too dark for him to see, the well-marked Bible was closed, and he offered such a prayer as I have rarely heard, thanking God that He had permitted us to come to Northfield, and asking Him that He might make it more of a blessing than ever before in all its history. This is but a specimen service of Round-top, and if the trees which stand there could speak, they would tell as thrilling a story of scenes witnessed there as has ever been pressed into human language, and now from this time on, pilgrims will journey to Northfield and to this the new heart of the old town, because in this grave lies the body of a man who yielded himself absolutely to God, who had only one supreme desire, and that was that he might glorify Him. The words of the poet certainly describe him in his life
The strong man's strength to toil for Christ,
The fervent preacher's skill,
I sometimes wish but better far
To be just what God will.
No service in itself is small,
None great, though earth it fill,
But that is small which seeks its own,
'That great which seeks God's will."
D. L. Moody was a mighty man, because, he sought, as nearly as any man I have ever seen, to do the will of God.
Chapter 29
Memorial Services
The announcement of the death of Mr. Moody was a shock to many thousands. Numerous telegrams of condolence which were sent to the bereaved family from all the quarters of the world expressed but faintly the sense of loss which affected not only those who had known him personally, but also a great following of those who had known him only through his work. Hundreds of memorial services were held. The great meeting in New York, on Monday afternoon, January 8, 1900, brought out so much of interest in regard to Mr. Moody and in regard to the sentiment entertained toward him on all sides that I believe an account of the services worthy of permanent record in this place.