The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-08-06

tons can go in, fourteen hundred million
abreast. II get into that ark we must go
through the side door-the pierced and bleeding
side of Christ. When the Roman soldiers thrust
the lance into that side they thought that they
only let out the blood; but no. they let the whole
human race in.
Oh what broad gospel this is! The cross has
been taken apart. The two pieces have been
taken apart and make the ports of the wide door
of salvation, through which the whole world
may pass. Mighty gospel! Broad gospel
Luther said it was worthy TO be carried a
mans knees from Rome to Jerusalem. l say
that 1t Is worthy to be carried all around the
world and around the heavens. Archemdes
said he could lift the whole world If he only had
u fulcrum and a lever. Eurekai have found It'll
Calvary is the fulcrum and Christ the lever!
That door swings both ways. 1t swings out
against our woes and sorrows, and swings in TO
the glorIes of heaven, One Lord, one taitn, one
baptism and one heaven. That is the common
platform which we all may stand. All one in
Christ Jesus. My father died at the age of
eighty-four, and he didn't know whether he was
a sublapsarian or a supralapsaran. We are all
IN one great fold, one army of the living God.
IL swings both ways. 1t swings out to let rs in
and let the angels come forth TO celebrate the
victory. Oh, 1 am glad that have learned
TINS gospel The best friend man ever had is
the Lord Jesus Christ.
But notice that this door bad fastenings If
there had not been Noah and his family would
have persisted. l am glad that this door Of
which speak has fastenings. Oh, the safety of
this gospel! am so glad that when we enter
heaven none of our sins or sorrows can follow us
there. There is the once wealthy who is
uOW u paultF, DuG tl0f6 he Is III DQe ARK OF
mercy. The Lord shut him in and he says,
"What do care? God will take care of me-"
And there is the man who has had much do
nestle trouble, but he hears voice cOnsollng
him; "Whom the Lord loyeth he chasteneth,'
and to the thirstng soul is coming much
consolation and peace Why2 The Lord shut
him in. He sees che dove of peace bringing joy
and satisfaction to his soul. Our mtsfortunes and
trials may at last como up to the gate OF heaven
and knock No admission! lam so glad that
dont have to invite you this morning to 90 on
board of a shaky craft, but noble ship. Many
people were kept out OF the ark by the feeling
that there was plenty OF time. They wanted to
pay more attention TO their worldly affairs.
Meanwhile the storm was coming ana GOO was
putting pry under the mountains. just so
now people are out of the ark because they Keep
putting it off. That is the condition of probably
one Thousand people before me this morning,
and they are making a fatal mistake. Disasters,
sudden illness, accidents may come at any time
and then all is over. Dead and outside the ark
don't think that cowardice is characteristic
of my nature, but would not risk my soul out
side this ark of Gods mercy one minute. have
no doubt there are many people who don't go in
for fear of ridicule and derision. There is an,
more men kept out of heaven because they don't
want to be laughed at. But, OH my brother,
then, these carieaturists these scOfers at re-
ligion3 Oh, no; they laugh you out of
heaven, but they can't out of he'll. You must be
lifted so near TO heaven that You can in.
Religion must be made attractive. How did
Noah get into the ark7 By going in himself. l
tell you fathers, il you want your children to be
will follow you. Don't wait any longer.
Will the claug of the sepnlchral gate crush
your hopes3 Oh, come into the ark now; bring
your children with you. God bless the children;
what would this world be without theml We are
always talking about what we are doing for our
children; hut they are doing much more for us.
Are you taking them into The ark2 You are look |
ing after their worldly, but not their heavenly
comfort. Which one could you spare2 Not one |
Bring them in this day When you 20 home to- |
night vet mp family altar and your chill |
dren. You will he asked about 1t on the great
Aa,xr nr,gH 1oR.r
short one-"Lord be merciful to me. sinner" II
you have prodigal son, pay particular atten.
tion to him. If he has gone away from you, and
you think you have lost your influence, you can
bring him back and into the ark by prayer. You
haven't given him up, have yOuf God has not
given you up, although probably you were a
a prayer OF gittering generalltes, but a heart |
felt petition TO God, ana it will be answered. 1
am tired of religion as an abstractton give 1t to
us as glorious reality something to help us ev-
cry day. Let say to you sinners here before me
that your day of grace is fast passing away.
This may be your last day on earth. There is no |
time To waste. Come into the ark swing the |
door open 1t is as wide as the earth. 1t is wide
as the heart of loving and sympathetic God |
1 know that by experience. When I was child
/ was baptized, but that didn't save me. l went
to church and heard enough sermons to awake
I he dead, but that didn't save me- One night
God came to me in mercy, in love, and in peace,
aud he saved me. God is coming-the iudg-
ment, The Judgment is the cry that is being re-
peated from the mountains and the hills, and
the OCEANS and seas, and from all over the
world. Shall tell you how our family got into
the arRf My grandfather and grandmother once
went to great revival, and came home wishing
that they were Christians, and they became
Christians. One night when the young people
were about to go TO a grand party, their old
mother said to them: III am going to stay at
home and pray for you," and she did. They
went TO the party, but they did not enjoy them
selves, and when they came home they fell on
their knees and began TO pray. One Of their
girls said: David is in the barn asking for
mercy" Who was Davidl My sainted father.
Another son was in another building his
knees, and he, too, was saved My father told
that story of salvation to my mother, and she
became a Christian. The next Sunday my
grandfather told that story in the village church,
and $50 souls saved. That Is how my
of God, myself being the last | believe ali my
children are in the ark. / have one son in
heaven. / know he Is SAFE The death angel
came at moments warning, but my boy had
already prepared himself years before. Come
into the ark, says The voice OF sympathetic
God, and you will be saved.