Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-11-24

] hNAAAN kAAA a. a uAGAAA NAAkAAIAA DAlAA "a
ism. There Is always a class IN every
church, community or society that arro-
gates TO itself all the virtue and respec-
liability in such Church, community, or
society; and these operate rs an eternal
barrier to the spread of the Gospel and
the salvation Of lust such men as our de-
parted friend. They 50 hold themselves
toward their fellow-men as to repulse all
whom they do not recognize as belong
ing TO their set. Now, l indulge in no
cant or afieotation here. / Viu not al
low myself to be embarrassed when
so many men are embarrassed The Cos
pei is for sinners-and for the very vilest
of sinners; but we would imagine, judg-
ing from the conduct ofmany protesting
Christians, that Jesus Christ diedonly for
the already righteous man. One would
imagine that He did not die for thepOor,
tempted, betrayed, and fallen sinner.
One would imagine that the grace Of
God is only for the more favored sons
and daughters of men. In no n thing
has the Church departed from the Origi-
nal purpose Of its glorious founder more
| than in this: Il Is not to sinners 1Chdt AZ
J quaint to be. 1t does not matter so much
/ about the theological system, as it does
about the practical conduct Of pro-
fessers toward n~on-professors. Prim-
tive saints won sinners to Christ
by 1oUe. 'See how these Christians
lover was a proverb. But how is it to-
day with many Christians, and among
many Churches? l will tell you. There
is really little or no effort Put forth be-
yOnd the pulpit-and often not even
thereto bring sinners to Christ. The
modern Church is greatly under the in
duence of a false and pernici0us social
sentiment. II is AFRAID to receive sin
Rers!
Ihave actually been Intercepted many
times as to dead friend. "Suppose, !"
men nave asked me, Suppose that Gen
eral Sale had offered TO come into your
church, what would you have doneTI
To which / have answered, 81 would
have received him with great and I'M
speakable JOY" ''But suppose he should
ifali?D ftThen I would pick him up"
eBut suppose he should fall again?'
'sThen l would pick him up again.
And so were he to fall q thousand times,
and a thousand times say 81 repent"
/ would have picked him up, and en-
couraged him to new efforts. Yea, /
would have locked my arm in his, and
marched abreast with him through the
world, though ten thousand devils had
sneered, and all the self-righteOus phari-
sees on earth turned up their noses.
What is the Church for, if not to save
men? OF what account is it to a perish
ing world whenit becomes too good, and
too holy, and too pure, to save sinners?
The Church is not a wax-rOom, full OF
finished and beautiful fabrics; but Gods
workshop, in which the crude and
rough material is wrought into forms of
immortal beauty. IL is good to be jeal-
Gus of the reputation Of the Church, but
it is infinitely better to make it an en-
CINE of salvation to perishing sinners
And does any u imagine that the
Church will really suffer by reason Of
such efforts? l do not. On what ac-
count would it suffer? Why, because it
tried to save sinners! Very well; Jesus
Christ both suffered and died to save
sinners, and l am in favor ofthe Church
sharing the glory with Him! For my
own part, admoRished by the death OF
my dear and cherished friend, / am
more than ever resolved, by Gods grace,
to labor night and day for the salvation
ofjust such men. l will at least acquit
nv own conscience, and then / will
leave them with their God. L am sure,
my dear friends, that you do not reflect
how great and precious q Savior Christ
Is. He did die for you. He came into
this world ofsin and death to save just
such men and womeD as you. He is
your best friend. He is not ashamed to
own you; viii you be ashamed Of Him?
No matter what the world SAYS. No
matter what your wicked and goddess
companions may say. If you are in ear
nest in your desire TO be saved, and will
accept Of Christ, then be sure that Christ
will accept YOU. You say that you are
a great sinner. Certainly; but you must
look on the other side alsO-JeSUS Christ
is q great SdUiOT! The blood of jesus
Christ cleanseth from all sin; and surely
YOU cannot have mere than all sin. He
will be the more glorified in saving you
if you are even the chief Of sinners. He
saved all His enemies-whO would have
Hmm the days of His humiliation
hanging on the cross, in agony
and blood, He prayed for His murderers.
To His murderers the Gospel vast first
preached, and pardon was first offered.
They were great sinners; their hands
red with the blood Of Gods dear
Son; whatever is done for them must be
done quickly; and so He accepts them
readily as he would kings and priests.
Now you have not murdered His heart
with an iron spear, but you have caused
it to bleed on account Of your sins. You
would nOtsnite Jesus as they did. There
S not one of you who would not be glad
10 fall down and kiss His feet. Then
give your hearts to Him. This will be
ar more precious than the ointment
Ipon His head, or the tears of the peni-
.ent upon His feet. whatsoever will, !
ct him take the water of life freely" {
Oh, that our dead friend had thus ac-
of Christi As it is, we can only
him away, trusting to that infinite I
compassion in which so few Of us take
'efuge here and now. /
Farewell, my poor, stOrm-tossed, fell
ow-mariner upon the sea of life l :
,ray God that thou mayest have been !
brought in safety to some peaceful har- I
)or!
He SHOULD have died hereafter; 7
There would have been a time for such a
word. :
Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, .
Creeps in this petty pace from day TO day,
To the last syllable OF recorded time;
And all our yesterdays nave lighted fools {
Tho vraU 10 AngFE death ~