The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-12-24
TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM
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they ought to care for them after we are
gone. ! think when we leave this world
we VIII all have aiuessage to give to some
eedy When That hour comes we will
want CHRIST we VIII want a diFiDe friend
TO stand by us, and TO say that all shall be
4 Wen III the future. When thou passest
through the waters | viii be with thee,
and through the rivers they shall not over
HOW thee. But you know very well that
IL we go out OF this world, my brother,
dark.
Who would want to go out of the world
like that when he can so in triumph indie.
scribable like Paul, saying II have
fought the good fight, have finished NV
course, / have kept the faith henceforth
there is laid up for me crown of right
eousness which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, viii give me. . Or that other BATTLE
shout 0 death, where is thy sting? o
grave, where is thy victory? Thanks be
unto God who giveth me the victory
1 through my Lord Jesus Christi
Well, there are good many men in
this house who say what you have de-
so far gone in sin that there is no hone
for me- Oh, my brothers there Won
make a great mistake. | stand here this
morning to declare that there is hope for
any man who wants to come to God. ssI,et
the wicked fOrSake his way, and the nm
| righteous man his thought, and let him
return unto the Lord, who will have mer-
cy, and unto our God, who viii abundant
ly pardon. = Come this morning. "Oh, y
you say, IF you knew my history You
wouldn't invite me-" do not care what
your history is; come to God to-day.
WhoS0eVer will. That whatsoever,
covers all cases Of wanderings of in
lqulty. 'WhosOeyer will, let him come. -
But, says some one in the house. II
have started in the line of iniquity and |
am going on; [ will risk the future: I
haven't much faith in Christianity | am
going to have an easy time in this world.
get all out OF I'll can, go into all kinds of
sin, taking the risk for the future" Oh.
VIII you not be diverted from that course
VIII you not now realize the fact that you
want God Oh, how much you need him
1t may take a great struggle to bring YOU
PACK, but come back you may and you
Will, TINS morning some of you will. MAY
God by his holy spirit move upon your
heart.
have sometimes heard people say it is
as easy for them to become Christians as
to turn their hands. Oh, what amisrepre-
sentation that is It. takes the blood. 1t is
the nightiest struggle in all the world
when man who has been doing wrong
tries to do right. 1t is a nlIghtier struggle
than would ask any man to go into I'M
less he lays hold ofth6 strong arm of God.
who viii help him and who will deliver
him.
Some years ago there was excursion
steamer some miles above Niagara Falls.
There were many on the excursions many
passengers, and the boat fioated on down
toward the rapids but the Captain ex-
pected to return in time to avoid all danger,
and they were laughing on the deck, when
one said to the Captain: Are you not
going too far down? He said mo. l
know what lam about. = After awhile he
told the engineer to turn and go up stream:
but the Captain found they were further
down the rapids than he thought for. He
cried to the engineer, PUT on more
steam 2, More steam was applied. But
still the steamer, with its freight Of life,
kept going on towards the rapids. The
Captain cried cut to the engineer Put
GU more steam.n More steam was APP
piled, but still the vessel made no Roadway
upstream. The Captain cried out, sPut
on more steam or we are lost !" The
said I'VE can't pat on any more
steam if we DO we'll bow the boat to
atoms. ''Pnt on more steam, cried the
captain. More steam was apphed, and the
vessel floated up and out into safety, aud
some tainted aud all Were thankful chat
God had rescued them from so great
peril. Oh, are there not some here To-
day who are floating on down towards the
rapids : aye, they are in the rapids going
on to the eternal plunge Put back In
Gods name put back. You say it takes q
greater struggle. You hold the oars with
both hands, and pull, pull pull, if need
be, until the blood starts. Pail for heav-
en-. Now or never.