Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-03-28
RELIGIOUS.
SPECIAL SERyICEs YESTERDAY.

AT the Kew Jerusalem ana MetuCOlSt
Churches.
Two very interesting services were held
by the New Jerusalem society (Sweden-
Yesterday. Rev. ]. z. Bowers, minister
morning he preached on the text. Fear
not, little tlock,'' and in the evening on
"Deathbed repentance will it save the
sinner?" The latter being a subject of
more than usual Importance, a brief synop-
sis will doubtless be of interest, and prob
ably of value, to our readers.
The question IS often asked" Mr..
Bowers began, after reading a few scrip
"Will death bed conversions save the
40 years in wickedness and vice in an
instant be changed from demon of dark
ness into an angel of light? There is no
Persons get good gradually. Repentance
may be brief; conversion may be sudden
but true repentance and actual conversion
are by gradual development. Like the
stree that is planted by the rivers of
water" conversion is ikeDed by the
psalmist. First the acorn, then the blade,
the twig and finally the oak-''the king Of
the Forest 1t is the seed of the truth,
watered and nOurished by Divine love and
affection, until it shines forth in all its true
lovelincss, seen and admired by men.
Deathbcd conversion may save q man.
but only on certain conditions. Man is
saved by regeneration, and between the
two there is Il vast difference. The condi-
tion is whether it is real or not. If actual
or real, certainly he will 90 to tho place
God has provided for all those who love
Him.
In proof of the senuineness of ante NOR
TEN conversion, lie gave several illustra-
tions where men have come to die have
feared death, but all of a sudden an
nounced their willingness to die, and peo-
pie called them converted. But the climax
of the disease was reached; the man raj
lied, improved, and finally got we'll again,
and in 4 short time was back to his old
vices. Ii that man had dled, even when
he prOGessed conversion, tlcre can be no
doubt of his non adm,ttance through the
pearly gates of heaven.
Nine hundred and ninety nine out of a
thousand death-bed conversions are the
out growth OF fear, not love. They profess
faith, but faith without works is dead. We
cannot judge if such conversions are real,
but if real, they are but the beginning Of a
preparation for heaven, which continues
after death in that intermediate state-
that land of departed spirits where mans
ruling character is judged, aud if that con-
version is real and actual, ministering
angels instruct him and prepare him for the
eternal heaven. Ii no. real they are in
like manner prepared for hell. The God
who is ruler of all makes devils and inhab.
itants of hell as comfortable as possible.
Catholics have perverted this idea Of the
intermediate state by their purgatory.
He spoke of the conversion of murderers
with hands yet rceking with the blood Of
their victims, who cling to the false theory
OF faith and faith alone, and closed with an
earnest appeal to be ready when the sum-
mons comes. 1t is better not to wait, for
the call may come ''as a thief in the night y
but when it does come may you, like
Simeon of old, say, "Now lettest Thou Thy
servant depart in peace" and attended by
ministering angels passed through deaths
dark vale and up into the mount--the place
that God has prepared for all that love
Him.
Rev. Bowers is man of fine appear
ance and has a commanding voice. Though
not particularly eloquent nor ornate, his
discourse abuunded III food for thought
combining both the logical and interesting
qualities Of Il successful preacher.