The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-17

arm to me, to hobble along with in the way of
life. Thank God for the church. amen.
Thank God for the church [Amenl, and to-day
sympathy with the old coored man
down South, who, when the preach
er came around his appointment and
opened the doors of his church, odd Uncle Ben,
who had been faithful old Christian man in
the church for forty years. old Uncle Ben
walked up and joined the church The next
time the preacher came and opened the door
again, old Uncle Ben walked right up and joined
the church again The next round the preacher
opened the doors again, and Uncle Ben joined
again. Then the preacher said, Uncle Ben,
tell me why it is you join the church every time
the door is opened9' Why he says. BOSS, it
done this poor old niger SO much good
the first time he joined that he has never lost q
chance since. He has joined every time he had
a chance" And / feel that way in my heart
Other men may live out of the church, other
men may die out of the church. but if they were
to turn me out TO morrow would join the first
chance l got; and if they got to where they
would not open the doors where was, would
slip in and hear every prayer that was offered
and hear every sermon that was preached.
Brother, God being my helper, 1 am going to
take every chance for the good world. intend
that whatever will help man, / want that as
my portion forever Amen.
Brother listen; the church is blessing to
thousands blessing to thousands. l have
heard the vaporngs of infidels and read their
literature when ought not to have read it. A
man never gets over having read bad piece OF
literature. Mark the expression. In one lecture
of Mr.. Ingersoll you will have poison injected
into your veins that you will regret tae balance
of your life--the balance of your life. have
said 1t good many times-suppose we had an
infidel city; that it founded, and incor-
porated. and houses built, and men invited TO go
to it. Here are Improvements for everybody that
will come, but having it in the constitution and
bylaws of that city that no preacher shall ever
open his mouth ir this city. No Bible shall ever
come within the circle of this city's incorporation,
and no church shall ever be built and no prayers
ever offered here. You may build city as mag
nificent as Chicago and say, LET every man
that will take the oath, and say that will swear
to prosecute those who violate the constitution
and the bylaws of this city," 1 will venture to
say that not Only no Christians would 60 to that
city, but there is not an infidei in America that
would make that city his home. Not one single
one. [Applause.l have noticed this much
that infidels love to live under the
shadow OF churches. / have found that
out. I have found out that infide men like
good Christian women to raise their children for
them. have found out that infdels will not go
off in communities and stay together. l have
found out that infidels love to live in land OF
Bibles, preachers, prayers and sacrifices have
found that out. And / will tell you all to-day,
my brother, the church is blessing to the world
and If every preacher and church was driven out
and demolished in this city tomorrow and all
the Bibles burned up, if you wanted to demolish
this city. you need to just bring that state of
things about Thank God for the church. And
l want to see every man and woman come into
the church. aud want to live to see the day
when every man in. the world belongs to the
church. and that I am the meanest man in the
church. and want to be just as good as God
can help me to be: That is just the way feel
about it. l wish l was the meanest man in the
world to-day l wish every body was better than
| am, and want to be just good God and
His good Spirit can help me to be- That's the
way feel about it. The spirit and the bride
all her voice. and the language of the
church is, "Come thou and 60 with
us and we villa DO thee good" Tha:
is what the Lord told as to say to you.
man in this country that thinks the preachers
against them. There is many a man that
thinks the church is against him. Brother, if
we are. we are out of line with Gods order of
things Jesus tells the church, "Let your light
so shine that others outside will see your good
works, and fall in line with YOU" He SAYS to
the world, Come thou, and 20 with US, and we
will do thee good" want to say then, if was
the worst man in the house, 1 would say, "Open
the door of some Christian church. and take a
poor lost fellow in, and help him to heaven"
If had one Thousand hands would give them
all to the church of God If had one thousand
tongues they should all talk for the church of
Christ. If had one thousand feet they should
come and go with us, and we will do thee good.
The church never damaged any man. Every
man that came into theschurch aud lived accord
ing to the promise he made the church when he
came in, stands up to-day to testify that the
church of God has been blessing to him. You
cay would come in If God loved me. Well,
brother, God loves the meanest old sinner in In
dianapolis as much as he loves any preacher.
Our Father loves us all We are His children,
and He loves us with His great loving heart He
caxxc thn YirIr and hu ri do
Come, and let him that heareth say
come. Thank God man can go to preaching
before he is converted. Did you know that2
Let him who heareth say come. DO you get the
idea thereY Wherever you hear the gospel as it
comes into your ear and passes out of your
mouth, you say TO the next man to you, Come,
come" admire that man who confessing that
he is wrong, says, 81 wish was right" l like
a man that comes out and SAYS II am sinner"
but saws, "Say. boys, let us serve God the bal
ance of our days, and do right and 60 to heaven"
I like that sort Of sinner. havs
seen them rise up in in a great con
and marched on the wrong side all my life but,
boys, join with me, and off with our cal ridge
boxes and lay down that old musket, and never
fire that old gun again On the devils side l
march with my hands thrown up Is -nieht and
say: "Oh, God. surrender to Christ"
Let him that heareth say come. If you hear
the call of God not only come yourself, but turn
to every man in hearing and say come We get
this figure from the caravan crossing the desert:
The water is out and the whole
caravan is perishing Now they send
one man On ahead-in Ave minutes an
other-then another-and another. They
keep just within haliooing distance of one
other When the head man finds an oasis he
cries back, ''Water comet" and the next man
catches up the words. and passes them on. and
down the line, until it is shouted into the ears of
the caravan, and they ALL with accelerated
speed make their way to the oasis. God shouted
it from his throne above the angels caught it
up and brought it to the earth, and the preach
passed it to the church, and the church to
the world and, brethren, let us pass
it down the line, until we shout the
blessed word right at the gates of hell
(Amen. Pass it down-the water of life. Come,
We furnishing ones drink and never he dry again
Let him who heareth say, Come" If you
have ever heard the gospel, GO speak it into some
one elses ear. A father has just heard the Cos