The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1858-04-15

worm dieth not and the fire is not qucnch-
ed was the terrible declaration. He
understood this as having reference to the
world Of the grave. We all knew that it
was our custom to bury the dead, and we
were also aware of the frightful condition
TO which our bodies were subjected In the
grave, when it became the loathsome hab-
ltat'on of destroying worms. Then, a.
gain, IN some countries, as an Evangelist
was aware, it was the custom not to bury
but to burn the bodies of the dead. The
torments above alluded to could, of course
be intended but to typify the dread or.
deal OF the soul hereafter. We knew that
the fires which Dan may kinde must go
out; also, that the body which man con.
signs to the flames must soon be consum-
led, but when the conscience of 4 guilty
soul is once set or FIRE by the angry
breath ofGod, it will burn fore7er. This
was the quoBchless fire to be endured
throughout eternity. The sinner was
treading a path that led directly to this
awful dooui, and to him the voice of g cd
was now echoed to his inmost soul, Turn
fye, turn ye, from your evil ways; for wb y
will ye diein t ~ .a- -..
We could certainly not escape the con-
clusion tha; God meant to turn Us from
some great danger; We could not think, as
rational creatures, that God, by his sol
emn warning, intended merely to fright
en- US.
At this point the preacher took up the
second division of his theme, viz: That
the words ofthe text were not only words
OF warming, but also of earnest persuasion
The import of this divine entreaty to
"turn , was evidently an appeal for US to
N make an earnest aud honest effort to es-
cape, and which fact in itself was a clear
implication that escape is possible; nay
more, it was an emphatic assurance that
we shall escape if We hear and heed the
warning. The necessity for turning was
easily explained. Sinners had been pur.
suing path that led its victims down to
death, and of course to escape this awful
terminus, they must turn aside and enter
the path that leads to the cross, which
was the path of hope, of faith, and OF
righteousness, and which led right on to
eternal life at the right hand of Cod
We could not doubt that god was in earn
est in this matter. If we did, we must
at once regard these words Of Jehovah as
a mockery aud a cheat. Nc; this warn
/ ing came to Us because its Author knew
the meaning of Eternity, and what our
poor fallen nature demanded; and in this
word he was pointing Us to the blood y
tree on Calvary, and urging upon all OF
Us to bear the tender message of Christ S
rcdeeming love to all men everywhere -
No language could depict the earuestness
of that Fathers heart, as the word went
forth in heavenly solicitation to his wan
dering children to return unto Him again,
and inherit Eternal Life.
Certain it was that, at the judgment, we
could, none of US, ever charge God with
not having warned US from "wrath to
come" #e| m.
Mr.. Shepherds closing appeal to the
impenitent was given with the yearning
tenderness of an affectionate pastor and
devoted minister That he might lead
some one to heed the exhortation of the
text, and turn from the folIies oftbe world
unto Christ, seemed to be the burden of
bis every thought, the language of his ey-
cry intonation.-PItIG.P Press.