Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-03-21
PETER ASTONIsHED.

Some one has drawn the picture of Peter
saying, "Lord, you don't mean that we shall
60 to Jerusalem aud preach salvation to these
murderers ?" =" Yes, Peter go back to Jerusa-
lem and find that man that made that cruel
crown of thorns and placed it upon my
brow, and tell him ! will give him a crown
without a thorn if he will believe in me.
Hunt up that man that thrust that crown over
my brown, and tell him that If he will
believe the gospel, he will sit with me
| upon the throne by-and-by, and | will give
him golden sceptre. Hunt up that man
that spat upon me, and tell him | forgive
him freely and love him and want to do
him good. Go hunt up that man that struck
me with the palm of his hand, aud wanted
me to prophesy who it was struck me, and
tell him forgive him freely. Hunt up the
Roman soldier that thrust the spear into
my heart, and tell him that there is a nearer
way to my heart than that-that forgive
him freely, and that he shall have a seat
with me if he will believe my gospel" He
came to save sinners, and those Jerusalem
sinners had salvation offered to them first,
and If those murderers of Christ, those men
that had had all his works performed before
them, that had heard him preach and had
witnessed his mracles-if they had the
| gospel offered to them, and had a chance TO
to believe, is there man in Boston that can
| not repent and be saved, that cannot believe
the gospel that is to be preached to every
creature ? | like that word" Go ye in
into all the world and preach the gospel
| TO every creature" Don't leave out one,
Thrt means these little boys down nero,
it takes them in it takes in these gray-haired
men. Perhaps you have been fighting
against him all your days, and yet the
gospel is to be preached to every creature,
and he that believes and is baptized shall be
saved. Believes what ? The gospel.
WHAT Is THE GOSPEL?
Paul says it is that Christ died for our
sins. When Peter preached, he preached
that Christ had been crucifed had been
buried, had come out of the grave and had
ascended to heaven. That was what he
preached when three thousand men were
converted. Paul SAYS, "If any man preach
any other gospel, let him be cursed"
The gospel is this-Christ died for our sins.
God has decreed that the soul that sins
shall die. Right here comes salvation to
every man, woman and child, if you will
have it. Christ is the remedy for sin I; God
gave him up freely, and all we have to do is
take that gift and be saved. The wages of
sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal
life. II you are convinced that you are a
sinner that is the work of the Holy Ghost.
When he appeared, when he came, he was to
convince the world of sin, not because men
swear and lie and murder, but because they
believe not in him-that is the sin of all
sins. There is no drunkard, or blasphemer,
or murderer, or one who commits adultery,
or gambler in Boston, but has this miser-
able unbelief that has come into the world
that is the sin that is going to condemn the
world-because they will not believe the
gospel and be saved. Let us go back to that
word "whosoever." God so loved the
world that he gave his only begotten son,
that whosoever believeth in him shall not
perish, but have everlasting life That is
broad enough to take in every man, woman
and child in this world
THE GUILTY HOPE IN MAN, NOT GOD.
When Mr.. Pollock was Governor of Penn
sylvania there was man whose death war
rant he had signed. He felt that he could
not let him die, being Christian himself,
without going down to tell him of a Saviour's
love. lie went to the prison where this man
was that was to be hung, few days before
the time fixed for the execution. He said to
the sheriff, ." | wish you would take me to
his cell; don't tell him who I am" He
went in and talked and prayed with the man.
He told him of Christ and heaven, how God
had sent his Son into the world to save sin
ners He read him some portions of the
Word of God and got down and prayed with
him, and commended him to the God of all
grace Some little time after that the sheriff
was passing by the condemned mans cell,
and he said, "Who was that man that talked
with me so kindly and prayed with me p
The sheriff answered, That was Governor
| Pollock The condemned man turned
deathly pale, and lifting up both his hands
he said, "Oh, Sheriff, was that Governor
Pollock Why didn't you tell me ? Oh, ii
had known it l would have fallen at his
feet and cried mercy would have asked
him to save me. Why didn't you tell me
that was the Governor ?" He wept and
wrung his hands in agony to think that the
Governor had been right in his cell and the
sheriff didn't tell him it was the Governor.
Sinner, | bring you good news tonight.
There is one greater than any Governor.
lie is here tonight, and he is here for pur-
pose. He is here to save sinners. He is
here to pardon you. He does not want you
to perish and be lost. He comes to give you
a pardon. Do you want the pardon Take
it. 1t is for every one. $50 ye into all the
world and preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth and is baptized shall be
saved, but he that beleveth not shall be
damned" Oh may God help you to be-
lieve it tonight and be saved Let us bow
our heads In prayer.