Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-10-26

: under the very shadow of Sina
And now. for two thousand year
man has been under dispensation Of Grac,
and yet he is total failure in himself. W
i may as well be honest with ourselves
n this matter, and own our sin. Oi courst
there are degrees in sin. and there may b
degrees in the torment of the lost. Doubt
: less, it is better to be moral than lmmOra
a better to be temperate than drunkard
but yet all are sinners; and no one can sc
Gods kingdom unless saved by Grace. Som
worthless apple trees produce less bad frui
, than others; but it does not make ther
good trees. In your State Prison some wer
sentenced for greater crimes than Others
: but all are criminals alike. They had a re
i. form in Chicago, under which no man was t
| have an appointment on the police. withou
recommendations of good character and VIII
was not of a certain height. and many al
applicant who prided himself on his excel
lent recommendations, was found wantln!
when he was measured. These sinners VIII,
like to say that they are as good as churcl
members, better wait till they are measured
Those who fall little short Of the standard
will be rejected as surely as thOse who CONT
short by a good deal. Take Gods perfec
law for the standard. and you will all fine
you come short. If you have broken on
command you are sinner. Ii Adam wa
driven out of Eden fer one sin, how can you
get into Heaven with ten thousand sins, un
forgiven
Is there then ,sno star i'll all this dark
ness? Cannot our fears and works and
prayers make atonement for sin? No.
But an atonement has been made, e,-Jdsns
Christ died for sinners lie comes to each
burdened soul and says: "You have snned,
but | forgive you. | will save you.
from this hour, if you accept my pardon
| your name shall be written IN the Lamb 5
book OF lite. Sinner, will you accept the
otfer There was young lady, and | think
she was from this State, whose lover was In
the army in tho late war. His term OF
service was nearly out, and they were to be
married as soon as he returned. After the
battle of the Wilderness a letter came in a
strange handwriting. lt was written by a
cOmrsde OF her betrOthed, at his dictation,
and was to say that he bad lost both OF his
arms. The hands with which he had
hoped to labor for and support her were
gone and. though loving her better than
ever, he could not ask her to marry a
MANNED and helpless man. She did not
answer the letter, but the next train took
her to Virginia. and a day or two after she
appeared at his bed side in the hospital, and
| land his pale face upon her bosom and said ::
'these hahds shall toll for you. as cheer
| fully as yours would have worked for me
| They were married, and | have heard that
| there was not a happier couple in Brooklyn,
where they live. This is q type og the way
| in which Christ comes to US in our weak
ness and trouble.
But suppose that man had turned from
her who thus came to care for him. spurn-
ing the offer OF that gentle heart Yet that
is what you do when you turn away from
the Saviour, and say to him, II don't want
your help" Will you not accept him, and
let him blot out Your sins, that you may be
come rejoicing child of God? ! wish |
could believe for you; but | cannot. You
must do it, each for himself. And to As
many as receive him will he give power to
become the sons of God.
Mr.. Moody spoke with unusual earnest
ness and power, and the silent and close at
tention and moistened eyes of his hearers,
showed that his words found way to many
hearts. In conclusion. he prayed earnestly
for delivery from self-righteousness, and for
grace to accept Gods offers of mercy.
Mr.. sankey then sung almost per
suaded," echoing with the solemn words of
the hymn. Almost will not avail, almost
is but to fall" the solemn warnings of the
preacher.
A large number o: inquirers attended the
inquiry meeting which followed in the
chapel, while a number remained in the
church to pray for them.
FRIDAY NOON MEETING.
The ll:30 prayer meeting was held as
usual in the Winooski Avenue Congrega-
tional chapel and was very fully attended.
The regular noon meeting of the day was
attended by large assemblage. the church
being well filled. a goodly number being
compelled to find seats in the gallery. The
meeting opened with tine singing OF the
5lst hymn. after which Rev. Mr. Stafford
read the numerous requests for prayers for
the Incorporate, while at the feeling re
quest of Mr.. Moody all engaged in silent
PRAYER for the poor victims OF strong drink,
for the desOlate or disturbed homes made so
by the drunkard and for the iurtherance of
the cause of Christian reform in this par
ticulsr. MIR. Moody announced that only
those requests would be read which bore
upon the subject of intemperance, all others
being reserved until the Saturday meeting.
At the conclusion of the reading OF the
requests. Dea. f. A. Fuller ma de heartfelt
prayer presenting at the throne of Grace,
those petitions which had Just been heard.
After the singing of hymn 80, Mr.. Moody
made earnest remarks upon the subject OF
the hOur-"lntemperance." lie would say
that those engaged in the great work do not
go far enough. We should not simply ask
Ir.n 49,
fol passions and all the time RELY upon
their being able to hold out by their own
strength. They should be taught Alright
to rely upon the source Of all strength, il
we would have them stand and endure.
Bible references were given to show that man
is by nature weak, at enmity with God and
unable TO endure.-ROmans viii, !.
When We are partakers OF divine nature,
then and then only have We power to CON
quer evil and endure all things to the end.
Mr.. Moody here related several stories com
ing in his own experience, showing how
those relying on the strength which God
alone can give, may endure to the end. and
are helped by HIM. One of them was as
follows: In Boston. was a faithful wife
whose husband was q drunkard of many
years habit. naturally an evil man. who in
liquor destroyed and cursed As We can
imagine demon to delight in doing. The
wife became encouraged TO try what prayer
and Gods help would do, and, meeting her
husband accidentally. asked him to attend
Mr.. Moody's meeting that night at the J
Tabernacle, Her reply was curse upon
God upon her. Mr.. Moody. Mr. Sankey. the
Tabernacle, and all connected with them; but
at evening the man attended the meeting,
and in the inquiry meeting later. asked
Mr.. Moody pardon relating to him the rea-
son. lie became converted and never since
has his appetite returned for strong drink.
In some interesting remarks and instances
which followed, from a Mr. Marshall, OF
Boston, he referred to this same man. having
lately heard HIM at a suitable meeting, ex-
hOrting his associates to come out boldly ON
the good side. Many similar stories were
given by MIR. Marshall. all showing how he
whose strength is from the Lord can endure
to the end in cODquering his evil passions.
GOd gives no man His love unsss he wants
1t. II any man wants 20 take it and stand
God is able to make him stand Earnest
prayers ior the drunkari were made by Mr.
s Huntington and Rev. Mr. Ferguson. En-
couraging remarks were made by Dea Mial
Davis. with prayer for Divine aid in the
good work. Mr.. Sankey then sang Res
cue the perishing. the whole congregation
joining in the chorus. Reading portions of
the 9TH chapter of lst Corinthians. Mr..
Moody encouraged all to the work. Let Us 20
to these men and show them we are friends,
let them know 50 many arc praying for
them and have faith in God. All engaged for
Il short space in silent prayer. when at Mr.
Moody's request many arose ior prayers /;
and alter a short and ieryent petition to the
Throne of Grace. Mr.. Moody dismissed the
congregation with the benedictlon.
FRIDAY THREE O'clock MEETING.
The Methodist church was again filled t.
overtlowing with people anxious to hear
Mr.. Moody's discourse upon Tho gilt of
the Holy Spirit" The audience was made
up in a large part of people from adjoining
towns Tho meeting opened with the sing
ing of the Tooth hymn
At Mr.. Moody's request. all engaged for
q briei period in silent prayer, at the
conclusion OF which Mr.. Moody offered