The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-26

Etthisnt44The Eeaapu 81 tsAiyhHohs anu bhe
misery oil those WHO lose their opportunity.
in tho chapter Of The text the Prophet pottrays
In sad and striking eolpfa the oelslnities OF his
apuntrymen, both dead and alive for The tomb
ID disturbed by the invading and Insulting foe.
irha hanpa Of The Inhabitants of Jerusalem, both
great and small. "they shall bring out OF Their
nrayes." The Prophet slHo mentions that death
sbail be chosen rather than life by tho residue
III the people" The meurnfal Prophet, as Jere.
1niah has been called, also upefaaas .us .oonAn
and shameless impehtenoy OF his cetntrymen'
ss.They hold fast deceit aud refuse to re-
tnrn. No man fapanted him Of his wieRedness
saving what have | done, Every one turned to
his course "a The horse rnsheth INTO tine bathe.
irha prnuhst shows the gfiesous Judgment that
hhail eoilae upon the land. and Ia plalhtye strains
ia ba,yailp heir desperate estate. lie text pre-.
SCENTS the climax Of tue evils that were 70 pefali
ahs people and country. Tue opportunity ei ue-
siiypfante Was pact and they we're not saved. Thy
had neglected the proper seasons OF the oountry's
Aalsabi0n, aud they were past beyond recovery,
the enemy had arrived; The en0Tting OF iiis
hofsea was heard from Dan, tho whole lhnd
tranbsd ab the sound OF The neighbE OF lie
alrenas onts," Ancient authors have made men.
lion 81 The noise produced by the Ba5ylunan
hersamsp on cavalry aud how their sound Cena
yulsed the eaith for miles distant. The people
rsslcd III false hoess. They we're deceived III
thair confidence. "rhey looked for peace, but no
good came, and for time of health, aud behold
sronble."
IL ID lamcnable for people 10 be deceived IN
their hopes aud consequently sit still enc be
4aiina hand aud foot without knowing IL, aud
yshau ttay ought, by proper defensive measures,
To have prepared TO strike for their pro seiian
ana taIt Tia issues IN the hRuds OF Him who IL
Tim Dlap1ser Of events and the srhisar Of ma
aiona. It IL truly saa iof ? brave people 20 als
alill ana do nothing ana let tho harvest pass and
the summer end without hbiBg saved, But, my
frieuds, although have given the literal history
us fha text. | Wish 10 uHe IL by way u spiritual
accommodation 10 q sfeater crias IMAM nm.
tinnnl one / desire to-day 10 discuss those
l,aasoue III grace thai are pfopiious tines for
tile salvation u the soul, for ito safe deiyesAnue
lhrnitsh tho ffjanaHlip Of JeEts Christ, from
every apritnal ieB-4the ilesli, the wotld and the
devil ,...,...
than the aslyation pf Htate-"for what Ia q IMAM
rroHtsd II he shall gein tha whole world and lose
kiH own eunl or vhat ehall fnan give In on.
change for hts soul ~ IL our sonis he not saved
la this world, no language can describe and no
Imagination can conceive the misery that awHits
IN hi The eternal world, Tho Lamentations vi the
nrnahas over the aad state OF his country was In.
deed becoming, and IL was tender aud Affection.
Alto, The people had hoped TO have received
suect,r from Egypt, bat the summer, the time II
snarnhtnit sFtnise, wac ended aud theY were left
without aspistanae. The haryent was rast and
thsy are now left 10 tho fury OF the svaaing foe,
and II on account of these mponting olsmities
the prophet was greatly disturbed, IL there not
enasnp fos gtaater lamentRtien III we let the res
ligionp hatvopt pses withouS being eaved.
Ii tho Prophet wept over the temporal ealanis
ties oI hia people, and exclaimed, "0h. that my
heat were wAtera and mine eyes fountain OF
teara, that ] might weep day and night for the
slain of the daughter ct my people, with what
greater renaon have we TO mako lansntation over
you, II you miaimpEoye your opportunity OF
salvation.
lrt me proceed briefly to point out some OF
the seRsona of grace, or favorable time CT ssva-
tor as they eone TO us in the cottrpe OF nature.
Youth Il > favorable time, moi only for religious
impressions, but for conversion. Many OF tn
Saissa eminent for their piety and zeal, were
converted la carly lfe The Samues and Tynio-
thyr, and 0uatiaha and JeBephs hive been found
tn all ages uf The church EARLY Impressions,
ba they good or bad, arc tho most lasting
and youth is vel httad 70 receive good
tn1nreselcua. Tho tnind then 10 more
iiexbe. The affections mere ardent, the passions
moro Ruyernabe, tha conscience more tender.
and the Will loss nbetinatei but many. alas, have
lost that favorable season OF salvation: and
Young people often suffer ia after Life for tho
lack of those advantages they neglected the
natural aeaaon Of obtaining; and while VIC do not
limit the mercy or God lend have soen u nau
eighty yeafs OF age converted in this misslon.l
vet every one knows that the most propitious
season or !. race ia when the dow OF youth 10
upon YOU, and the bihlo teaches: "Bemember
now thy Creator in the days OF thy youth"
propitioue times of salvation are afforded by
Divine Providence. Meroies are sent TO WOO nS
warn us; but many under BIO h have remained
unregeharHte.
The Sabbath, In tho kind providence of God,
was appointed TO promote the best interests OF
mankind, both his physical and spiritual welfare,
snd IL tine sabbath) ought TO he spent In the
pubic or private exercises of religion. On this
day pubic worship ia conducted and the ordi-
nance Oh Chris ianity dispensed, and Jehovah on
that day more especially ealls aud converts ain.
ners to himself and places various seals OF his
zyA II ati DbnervNnpn "A
Lords day, anu has even numbered 1T among the
ten commandments. But how many let that
superb season pass away without obtaining the
Anowledge of sayatiou, which they could easily 90
by stepping into one OF the many open churches
in our city on Sunday. There are also golden
opportunities presented to us by grace. In re-
viyals OF religion and extraordinary awakentBgs
When the Holy Spirit IL poured out abundant
iy. When all seem TO feel the strlyings OF tho
Holy Spirit. II men did but improve ''these gol-
den moments" they never would exclaim in
agony, the harvest is past, the summer is ended
and We are not saved but many stifle their con-
wictions at such seasons, and grieve away the
Holy Spirit. 1
Let me urge you TO improve such precious
times OF salvation thai have been mentton ed, and
NO would do we'll for o moment TO reflect upon
their misery who lose their day OF grace, or VINO
neglect their opportunities OF salvation.
Iheae seasons once lost are irrecoyerable.
Many would gladly recall on their dying beds
their neglected privileges and opportunities. But
all in vain. Time once past never returns, The
season OF grace does not return. IL may be re-
newed.
Like the volume OF water which flows along 40
YOU stand on the bank or the river when it
passes it never returns, but flows ON to the
ocean; and 90 . neglected privilege never re-
turns, but goes on TO eternity where IL will con-
front you with its awful responsibility
Lost seasons OF salvation may never be re-
newed. Many promise themselves time and
spaoe for repentance, but how often does death
dlsappoint such expectations. The individual
who stands on the margin of the stream may
drop a hfeless corpse before the passing current
il renewed by another.
Lost seasons aggravate our guilt. The means
OF grace are go many talents committed to our |
care. We are to give an account OF our steward |
chip and the negiecting to improve them will be |
punished. Aud east ye the Improbable ser. |
want into outer darkness, there shall be weeping
and crashing of teeth"
Every lost season i,atdens the heart. Who |
have their hearts "dospel hardened" above all |
others2 Unconverted ministers of the Gospel |
uncunverted choirs and sections. In short, all |
who use an unhoiy familiarity with sacred things.