The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1888-06-13

after its construction. The building was
done. The day for opening arrived.
In the coliseum were the Emperor and
the Greek architect. The Empror rose
amid the plaudits of vast assembly,
and said; sWe have gathered here
to-day to open this coliseum, and to
honor the Greek architect. It is great
day for the Roman Empire. Let this
building be prosperous, and let honor
be put upon the Greek architect. Oh,
we must have festival to-day. Bring
out those Christians and let us have
them put to death at the mouth of the
lions The Christians we're put into the
centre of the amphitheatre. 1t was to
be great celebration IN their destruc
ton.
"Ihen the lions, hungry and three
fourths starved, were let Out from their
dens in the side of the amphitheatre, and
they came forth with mighty spring to
destroy and rend the Christians, and all
the galleries shouted: sHuzza, huzza!
Long live the Emperor! Then the Greek
architect arose in one of the galleries and
shouted until in the vast assemblage al
heard him: 4 too am Christian' and
they seized him in their fury, and flung
him to the wild beasts, until his body,
bleeding and dead, was tumbled over and
over again in the dust of the amphi-
theatre you, in vast assemblage, all of
whom hated.
"Could you have done that for Christ?
Gould Christ, have said: lam Christ
ian or, 4 want to be a Christian?
Would you have had the ten thousandth
part of the enthusiasm and the courage
of the Greek architect? Nay, I ask you
another question: Would you in an as
semblage where they are neatly ali Christ
ians-in an assemblage, vast multitude
of whom love Christ and are willing to
live, and if need be, to die for Him
would you dare to say: 4 am Christ
ian, or, 4 want to bea Christian Would
you say in the presence Of the friends Of
Christ, as much as the Greek architect
said in the presence of the enemies of
Christ? Oh? Are there not multitudes
here this morning who are ready to say:
LET the world look on, let all the gal
leries OF earth and heaven and hell look
on, I take Christ this day. Come ap-
plause or abuse, come sickness or health,
come life or death, Christ now, Christ
forever
care you for Christ, are you against
Him? The destinies of eternity tremble
in the balance. It seems as if the last
day had come and we were gathered for
the reckoning. Behold, He cometh with
clouds, and every eye shall see Him. ,
What 1 say to one L ssy to all. What
are you going to do for Christ? What
are you bearing Tor Christ?
"When the Scottish chieftains wanted
to raise an army they would make q
wooden cross, and then set it on fire, and
carry it with other crosses they had
through the mountains, through the
highlands and among the people, and
as they waved the cross the people would
gather TO the standard and fight for
Scotland. So to-day I come out with
the cross of the Son of God. It is a
flaming cross-faming with suffering,
flaming with triumph, flaming with glory.
I carry it out among all the people.
Who will be on the Lords side? Who
will gather to the standard of Emmanuel?
A cross, cross, a cross! 'Whosoever
doth not bear his cross and come after
Me cannot, cannot be My disciple.