The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-02-09
BARNUM AND SANKEY.

BARNUM AND SANKEY.
THE sHowMAN's VIEWS OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
We are indebted to the Hartford Comm
Ercniag Post, for the following: At the
meeting in the South Baptist church Thurs
day night, Mr.. Moody approached Mr.. P. I.
Barnum with the usual question:
care you a Christian?"
" l think a man is very unwisc who don't
believe in Christ and the principles
of Christianity" replied Mr.. Barnum.
Moody-You believe that is the only true
road to salvation?
Barnum-Yes, believe no man can be
saved from sin cxceptby turning away from
it dnd practising the prccepts of Christ, and
nobody can cheat the Almighty. The full
iilment of His laws brings peace, while the
infringement of them brings trouble and
sorrow.
"That is what believe" said Mr.. Moody,
and he passed on.
Soon arterward Mr.. sankcy asked young
lady sitting next to Mr.. Barnum whether she
thought her 1corkS would save her. She re-
piled she she thought good works would
count some toward her salvation.
Sankoy-There is where you are mis-
taken. Ifyour works We're piled as high as
this church they would be of no service to
you. Here is my Bibe Just show me, if
you can, where works are ever cornted as of
any avail.
"'Every man shall be rewarded according
to his Words" said Mr.. Barnum.
Sankcy;-"He that believeth not is con-
demncd already"
Barnum-" And thisis 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 shall
be damned?
salikey-I pray that all may repent and
be saved.
Barnum-Do the angels rejoice over tile
salvation of that very last lost sheep that
you sing SO sweetly about in Ninety and
NiheY
Sankcy-Of course they do.
Barnum-Well, if you and the angels and
all good people pray for the ultimate repen-
tance and salvation from SIN of all sinners,
will not their prayers be answered? Do
you not "pray in faith" without "doubting,"
as you are commanded?
Here another gentleman asked Mr.. Bar
mum if he did not believe anybody would
go to hell.
Barnum-Not to hell of endless torments,
sir.-for no such hell ever existed. St. Paul
in all his epistlcs and preaching never used
the word "helP in life, so far as the New
Testament testifies, and yet St. Paul said he
had "not failed to declare the whole counsel
of God" and that che has keep back nothing
that was profitable" to men. There will be
no chiidlsss 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. lie will render up all to
God, and God will be all in all. The way
of the transgressor is hard: and those who
persist in "rotous living will be brought to
the husl,s and the swine, but the Good
Father, whose mercy endureth forever and
extends over all His works, will wait with
open arms until thatlast wandering, bruised
and battered sheep, slowly, tremblingly
winds its way back to the iold-and then
the poor mother who HAD so long prayed
and wept for the return of her wayward son
will join all other reunited families and the
choir of holy angels in singing anthems of
praise and thanksgiving to God, the Saviour
of the world mot a part of the world), for at
last overcoming evilwith goodand establish
ing everlasting righteousness.
At this point the gentleman who accom-
panied Mr.. Barnum reminded him that it
was time to 60.