Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-12-11

Christ saw the race perishing He cried:
die not"
My hand is free now, because Christ's was
crushed. My brow is painless now, because
Christs was torn My soul escapes, because
Christs was bound. gain heaven, because
Christ for me endured the horrors of hell
When the Swiss were many years ago con-
tending against their enemies they saw these
enemies standing in solid phalanx and knew
not how to break their ranks; butone of their
heroes rushed out in front of his regiment
and shouted: 'Make way for libertyr" The
weapons Of the enemy were plunged into his
heart, but while they were Staying him Of
course their ranks were broken, and through
that gap in the ranks the Swiss marched to
victory. Christ saw all the powers of dark
ness assailing men. He cried out: "Mdke
way for the redemption Of the world" Ali
the weapons of Internal wrath struck Him,
but as they struck Him our race marched
out free.
To this middle cross, my dying hearers
look, that your souls may live. showed you
the right-hand cross in order that you might
see what an awful thing it is to be unbeliev-
ing. showed you the left-hand cross that
you might see what it is to repent Now |
show you the middle cross that you may see
what Christ has done to save your soul.
Poets have sung its praise. and sculptors
uittc lbO3I1DUBu 10 commemorate III IN mar
BILE, and martyrs have chung to it in the fire.
and Christians dying quietly in their beds
have leaned their heads against IL. This
hour may all our souls embrace it with an &C.
stacy of affection. Lay hold of that cross. o
sinner. Everything else will fail you. Withouta
strong grip of that you perish, Put your
hand on that and you are safe, though a
world swing from beneath your feet. OH
that might engrave on your souls inefface-
ably the three crosses, and that if in your
waking moments you will not heed, then
that in your dream this coming night YOU
might see on the hill back of Jerusalem the
three spectacles-the right-hand cross, show
ing nnbelief dying without Christ-the left
hand. showing what it is to be pardoned-
while the central cross pours upon your soul
the sunburst of heaven as it says by all
these wounds plead for thy heart. Ihave
loved thee with an everlasting love Rivers
cannot quench it. The floods cannot drown
it," And while you look the rightrhand
cross will fade out of sight, and then the
left will be gone; nothing will remain
but the middle cross, and even that in
your dream will begin to change until it be-
comes throne, and the worn face Of Calva-
~ will become radiant with gladuess; and
instead Of the mad mob at the foot of the
cross will be multitude kneeling And you
and will be among them. But mol we will
not wait for such dream. In this our most
that middle cross sin, sorrow, life, death,
everything
We are slaves; Christ gives deliverance to
the captive. We are thirsty; Christ is the
river Of salvation to slake our thirst
We are hungry; Jesus says, II am the
bread Of life" We are condemned to
die; Christ says: "Save that man from GO
ing down to the pit; am the ransom" We
are tossed on a sea of troubles; Jesus comes
over it, saying: at is ], bs not afraid" We
are in darkness; Jesus says: II am the bright
and the morning star" We are sick; Jesus
is the balm of Gilead. We are dead; hear
the shrouds rend and che grave hillocks heave
as he cries: Il am tho resurrection and the
life; he that beleveth in Me, though he were
dead, yet shall he live" We want justification.
being justified by faith, we have peace
with God through our Lord Jesus Christ"
We want to exercise faith; believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved"
| want to get from under condemnation;
"There is now, therefore, no condemnation
to them who are in Christ Jesus" The
cross-he carried it The flames of hell-he
suffered them. The shame-he endured it.
The crown-he won it. Heights of heaven
sing it, and worlds of light to worlds of light
all round the heavens cry: ''Glory, gloryW
Let us go forth and gather the trophies for
Jesus. From Golconda mines we gather the
diamonds, from Ceylon banks we gather the
pearls, from all lands and Kingdoms we
gather precious stones, and we bring the
gliStering burdens and put them down at the
feet Of Jesus, and say: "All these are Thine.
Thou art worthy" We go forth again for
more trophies, and into one sheaf we gather
all the sceptres of the Caesars, and the Alex
anders, and the Cars, and the Sultans, of
all royalties and dominions, and then we
bring the sheaf of sceptres and put it down
at the feet of Jesus, and say: "Thou art
King OF kings, and these Thou hast con-
aueied." And then we go forth again to
gather more trophies, and we bid the
redeemed of all ages, the sons and daughters
of the Lord Almighty, to como, and the
hosts of heaven bring crown, and palm, and
sceptre, and here by these bleeding feet and
by this riven side, and by this wounded
heart, cry; Blessing, and honor, and glory,
everl"