The Russellville Democrat., 1885-12-10
Christian people and show them how

usls s-z hz DROWN cHEHIcAL O.. BALTIMORE. m. Christian people and show them how this town by streets and blocks is drifting to hell every day.
 Now, am going to stick to the truth while 1 am here, and 1 say to every man and to every influence in this town unfriendly to Christ and untriendly to the Bible to fight back. l ao not look for anything else. 1 want to say right now that l like to sec things moving up, and if you can say anything verse about me than 1 can Of you Ian Is, and l will beat you to the tank in that line, may be. Laughter. Pick every naw you can in every sermon, and if I cannot pick more flaws in your life than you do in my sermons 1 will yield the feather to you. 1 say to you now we propose to get your eyes open so that you can see yourselves. That IS the first sigh. you ought to look at. Then look at St. Paul. When he went to the City of Athens so wholly given up to ldolatry it stirred his heart within him. Ihave heard Christian people say that they had no feeling, no enthusiasm, no religious fervor, but never since 1 joined Christ's Church have 1 been devoid of relig- ious fervor and enthusiasm. The man who goes about like corpse, with no feeling, no enthusiasm, that man is either dead to all intents and purposes, or he has closed his eyes to what is going on about him. When that great man visited the City of Athens, so wholly given up to idola- try, it stirred his heart within him. And he went over to Mars Hill, pointed to an inscription ito an un- known God' and preached that grand sermon generated in hls soul as he walked through the streets of the city and saw that it was wholly given up to idolatry; and l tell you tonight, when we see ourselves and our city and our surroundings as they are, there is hope. for us.
 SEEING THE GROSS.
 There is just one thing more I want you to do--that is, to see the cross. It is the hope of the world. It IS the balm of Gilead. It has the power to save. Oh, my brother, that fourteen years ago and few days l, poor, wrctched, ruined, lost sinner, walked up to see my father die. Oh, how loved that father, and how broke his heart. I have wished e thousand times that had my father back just one hour that might lean my head on his bosom and hear him speak the words of kindness and advice he has spoken to me Tn the past. As stood by his dying couch he took my hand in his bony hand, and heavenly smile rested on his face just before he passed out of this world. He dfd not die; he did not die. His faculties were as bright and his hopes as buoyant in the very agonies of death as they ever had been. As l took his bony hand he said: aMy poor, wayward, Goddess boy! You have almost broken my heart, and you have given me so much trouble! Won't you tell your dying father, now, that you will. meet him in the good world2" l stood there for moment conyulsed from head to foot. 1 said "Yes, father, 1 will meet you in the good world" turned away from that dying couch, and every step have made from that time to this has been to the good world. And mean, with the grace of God, to keep my promise, left that bed wretched sinner, and looked to God. 1 looked up there and
 saw one hanging on the tree
 In agonies of blood.
 He fixed his languid eyes on me,
 As near his cross 1 stood.
 Sure, never, p ny latest breath
 Can l forget thas losk;
 He seemed o charge me with his
 death
 Though not word he spoke.
 My concience felt and owned the guilt
 And plunged me in despair;
 saw my sins hie blood had spilled
 And helped tc nail him there.
 A second lock he gave, which said:
 "l freely all forgive,
 My blood is shed to ransom thee,
 die that you may live"
 Blessed CRrIst, live forever te