National Republican., 1886-12-20


The court room has sometimes been the scene
of very marvellous and thrilling things. Some
OF, you remember the famous Girard win case,
OF the Bibe S "a and SH cSTstanity IN mastery AnSo
Saxon, every paragraph q tnunderbolt.
Some of you have read of the famous trial in
Westminster HAL Hal Of H., Warren Hastings g the
quered India by splendid talents, by courage
by bribes. by gigantic dishonesty. The whole
world had rung with applause or condemna-
of the most famous audiences ever gathered
Foreign ministers and princes sat there. Peers
marched in clad in ermine and gold. Mighty
men and women from all lands looked down
splendor, and amid an excitement such as has
seldom been seen in any court room, Edmund
Burke advanced in speech which will last as
long as the English language concluding with
this burning charge, which made Warren
Hastings cringe and cover II impeach him
in the name of the commons house of parlia-
ment, whose trust he has betrayed. impeach
him in the name of the English nation, whose
ancient honor he has sulled impeach him
in the name OF the people of India, whose
bshh nS no S aaa
name OF human nature, in the name Of both
sexes, In the name OF every age and rank |
impeaoh him as the common enemy and OPP
But turn nom the recital OF those memora-
BILE occasions TO grauder trial, and have to
tell you that in this trial OF the Christian for
u
being in, justice rises on behalf of the prosecu.
tion to make his plea. With the Bible open 10
his an he the ss5p S and sS
1t shall die" Then he says: 80 Thou, Judge
and Lawgiyer, this Is Thine own statute. aui
all the eyidencein earth and heaven agrees
in stating that this man has sinned against all
these enactments. Now let the sword leap
from its scabbard Shall man go through
the very flames OF sinia unsinged Let the
Let him die. demand that he die"
o Christian. does 1t not look very dark for
thee? Who will plead on thy side in SO for
lern a cause? Sometimes man Will be
brought into a court OF law, and he will have
no friends and no money, and the Judge will
look over the bar and say: "ls there anyone
who will volunteer TO take this mans case
and defend himY' and some young man rises
up and says: ~ will be his counsel" perhaps
starting on from that very point to great and
brilliant career. Now, in this matter of the
soul, as you have nothing to pay for counsel,
do you think that any one win volunteer?
only 33 years OF age. see His, countenance
suhused with tears and covered with blood,
and all the galleries, Of heaven are thrilled
I'VE have an advocate with the Father, Jesus
Christ the, righteous"
o Christian soul, your case begins to look
better. think, perhaps, after all you may not
have to die. The best advocate in ali the
universe has taken your side. No one was ever
so qualified to defend man as this advocate Is
qualified TO defend you. ;, He knows all the
always ready. No new turn of the case can
surprise Him, and He will plead for you for
nothing as earnestly as though you brought a
world of treasures to His feet, Besides that He
has undertaken the care OF thousands who
were as forlorn as you, aud He has never lost
a case. Courage, o Christian soul think
that er AL there may be fG
plea. He says: ~ admit all that has been
proved against my client. / admit all
these sins dpyS %9Fe o9 mine but and S0S
at that other wounded hand, and at my right
foot and at my len foot BY all these wounds l
plead for his clearance, Count all the drops of
my GHSnt al Eae dSoPs Of my
of Gethsemane, by the sulierings of the cross, |
demand that he go free; On this arm he hath
leaned TO this heart he hath flown; in my
tears he hath washed on my Righteousness he
hath depended. Let him go free am the
ransom. Let him escape the lash /; | took the
tcouIgngs. Let the cur pass from him !
drank II to the dregs. Put on him the crown
Of life, for have worn the crown of thorns.
over against my cross of shame set his throne
OF triumph"
Wen, The counsel on both sides have spoken,
and there is only one more thing now remain
ing, and that In the awarding of the judgment.
If you have ever been In a court room you
know the silence and the solemnity when the
verdict is about TO be rendered orthe Judgment
about 10 be given, About this soul on trial.
shall 1t be saved or shall II be lost Attention !
above, around, beneath. All the universe
cries, "Hear hearW
The Judge rises and gives this decision, never
to be changed, never 20 be revoked: "Thore Is
therefore now no condemnation to them who
are in Christ Jesus"
"The soul that on Jesus hath leaned for Tepose
] will not, will not desert to his foes;
That soul, though all hell should endelYOr to
shake,
III never, no never, no never, fOrsake."
But, my friends, there is coming q day OF
trial in which not only the saint, but the sin
ner must appear. That day OF trial will come