The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-02-07
BARNUM AND SANKEY

THE sIIowMAN's VIEWS OF FUTURE PUN
IfNTEfFY g IsHMENT. }sFsSi#
|; AT the meeting in the South Baptist
Church Thursday night, Mr.. Moody approach
ed Mr.. P. 7. Barnum with the usual ques-
ton, s'Are you Christian?' a
81 think man is very unwise who don It
believe in Christ and the principles Of
Chrstianity,'' replied Mr.. Barnum.
AIoody-You believe that is the only true
road to salvation?
Barnum-Yes, believe no man can be
saved from sin except by turning away from
it and practicing the precepts Of Christ, and
nobody can cheat the Almighty. The full
fllment of His laws bring peace, while the
infringement of them brings trouble and
sorrow.
'"That is what believe" said Mr.. Moody,
and he passed on.
Soon afterward Mr.. Sankey asked young
lady sitting next to Mr.. Barnum whether
she thought her acorks would save her. She
replied she thought good works would count
some toward her salvation.
Sankey-Thcre is where You are mistaken.
Ii your works were piled as high as this
church they would be of no service to you.
Here is my Bible Just show me, if you can,
where works are ever counted as of any
avail.
| "'Every man shall be rewarded according
to his works. - said Mr.. Barnum.
Sankey-''He that helieyeth not is con-
demned Already
Barnum-'.And this is the condemnation,
that light hath entered into the world and
men choose darkness rather than light
Sankey-Do You believe all sinners will
be saved?
Barnum-Dare you pray that any
Stall be damned?
Sankey-I pray that all may repent and
be saved.
Barnun-Do the angels rejoice over the
salvation of that very last lost sheep that
you sing so sweet about in the ''Nnety and
Nine?"
Sankey-Of course they do.
Barnum-Well, if you and the angels and
all good people pray for the ultimate repen
lance and salvation from sin of all sinners.
will rot their prayers be answered? Do
you not spray in faith'' without ''doubt-
ing as you are commanded?
Here another gentleman asked Mr.. Bar
knua1 if he did not believe anybody would
go to hell.
Barnum-Not to a hell of endless tor
ments, sir, for no such hell ever existed
St. Paul in all his epistles and preaching
never used the word ''hell'' in his life, so
far as the New Testament tcstifies, and yet
ST. Paul said he had mot failed to declare
the whole counsel OF God;'' and that she
had kept back nothing that was profitable
to men. There will be no childless mothers
in the paradise of God, Death and hell are
to be finally destroyed; every knee must
bend, and every tongue confess. Christ
will put all things under His feet, and He
has promised to draw all men unto Him.
He will render up all to God, and God will
be all in ALL The way of the transgressor
is hard AMI those who persist in ''riotous
living will be brought to the husks and
the swine, but the Good Father, whose
mercy endureth forever and extends over
all His works, will wait with open arms until
that last wandering, bruised and battered
sheep, Slowly, tremblingly wends it way
back to the fold-and then the poor mother
who had so long prayed and wept for the
lsreturn of her WayWard son will iOin all
other re- united families and the choir Of
holy angels liz singing anthems of praise
and thanksgiving to God, the Savior of the
world (notia part of the world for at last
overcoming evil with good and establish
ing everlasting righteousness.
At this point the gentleman who accom- :
panied Mr.. Barnum reminded him that it
was time TO go.-Hartford Times.