Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1823-09-27
must have piece of John Ellis's, must

must have piece of John Ellis's, l must
try, but l do not know what to give III
do not recollsct piece of his-he is
our best preacher. must think little
we'll, recollect piece of Christmas
Evans-Christma Evans is a good
preacher, and | heard him a little time
ago, at an association OF ministers /;
he was preaching on the depravity of
man by sin-of his recovery by the death
Of Christ, and he said, Brethren, il
were to represent to you in figure, the
condition of man as snner-and the
means of his recovery by the cross OF
Jesus Christ, | should represent it some
what in this way. Suppose large grave
yard surrounded by high wall, with
only one entrance, which is by large
iron gate fast 6okted-Withn these walls
are thousands and tens of thousands OF
human beings of all classes and OF all
ages, by one epidemic disease bending
TO the grave-lhe grave yawns to swallow
them, and they must all dle-,here is no
balm to heal them-no physician there
they must perish This is the condition
Of man as a sinner, all have sinned. The
soul that sinneth it shall die While
man was in this deplorable state, Mercy,
the darling attribute OF Deity, came down
and stood by the gate, looking at the
scene, and wept over it, eXclaiming, y
that might enter, would bind up their
wounds, would relieve their sorrows,
| would save their souls While Mercy
stood at the gate weeping, an embassy
of Angels commissioned from the Court
OF Heaven to some other world, passing
lover, paused at the sight-heaven for
gave the pause--and seeing Mercy
standing there, they cried, Mercy, Mer-
cy, can you not enter, can you look upon
this scene and not pity, can you pity and
not relieve!' Mercy replied, | can see,
and in her tears added, / can pity, but |
cannot relieve Why cannot ye enter
f'Oh,' said Mercy, Justice has barred
the gate against me, aud cannot, mast
not unbar it, AT this moment Justice
himself appeared, as it to watch the gale.
The angels inquired Of him why he would
not let Mercy in? Justice replied, My
law is broken, and must be honored-
Die they must, or Justice must A, this
there appeared among The angels form
like unto the Son of God, who address
ing himself to Justice, said, what are
thy demands!' Justice replied, 'My
terms are stern and rigid--I must have
sickness tor health-I must have igno-
| miny for honor-I must have death for
| life-Wihout the shedding OF blood
there is no remission JUSTICE said
the Son of God, l accept thy terms, on
me be this wrong, let Mercy ENTER
When,' said Justice, 'wiIl you perform
this promise? Jesus replied, -Four
thousand years hence, upon the hill OF
Calvary, without the gates OF Jerusalem,
| will perform it in my own person.
The deed was prepared and signed in
the presence of the angels OF God-Jus-
tice was sats6ed-and Mercy entered,
preaching salvation in the name OF Jesus.
The deed was committed to The pa
triarchs, by them to the kings OF Israel
and the prophets, by them ii was preserv-
ed till Daniels seventy weeks were &C.
omplished-hen, al the appointed time,
Justice appeared on the hill of Cavalry,
and Mercy presented TO him the 'mpor-
tant deed. Where said Justice, is
the Son of Godr Behold him. said
Mercy, at the bottom Of the hill bearing
his cross and she then departed and
stood aloof at the hour Of trial. Jesus
assembled the hill-while in his tram fol.
lowed his weeping church. Justice i'm
mediately presented him the deed, say.
ing This is the day the bond is TO be
executed When he received it, did he
tear it to pieces, and give it to the winds
ofheaven? No! he nailed ii to his cross,
exclaiming, it is finished Justice call
ed down holy fire 10 consume the sacri-
fice-holy fire descended-it swallowed
his humanity, but when it touched his
Deity it expired-and there was darkness
in the whole Heayens-bu glory to God
in The highest, and on earth peace, and
good will to man" This, said the
Welchman, is a stecimen Of Christmas
Evans.
~ VNnOI VL,DtI>IAA