Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-09-17
"THE LAST INVITATION.'
Mr.. Appeigate.P breaches a Good SER
man In the Christian Chanel

Mr.. Appeigate.Preaches Good SER
mon In the Christian Chapel.
The Last Invitation was tie subject
Of Mr.. Appelgates discourse in the Chris
tan chapel yesterday morning. His text
was taken from Revelations 22:17.
And the spirit of the bride say come; and let
him that heareth say come; and let him that is
athirst come. And whosoeyer viii. let him tsse
the water Of life freely.
The last words of Jesus, the preacher
said. have been spoken; the writer has
finished the record. The revelation of
God to man has been complete. and now
all men may read and know his will.
The last words of most great men have
been recorded and read with interest by
the world. We have listened tremblingly
to the last words family spoken by loved
ones, and ever cherished them in our
hearts. We do not need the recorders
pen to preserve their words for us, for
they are deeply craven on our hearts and
whether they be words of bitterness and
anguish or words of bright hope and
tender affection. they ever linger with us.
When the last words are words of faith,
hope and love, how fondly we cherish
them. The last words OF cody mother,
holding the hand of wayword son, ask
ing him to meet her in heaven, can never
be buried so deep in crime that they will
be lost; they will live iu his memory and
may haunt him IN felon's CELL If the
last words of friends and kindred be 20
deeply craven on our hearts aud so fondly
remembered, how much more the last
words of Jesus ought to be remembered
and cherished The last message spoken
by men and women is generally to those
who love them most, but the last message
OF Jesus was to sinner9. The last mes.
sage of loved ones is only for the few VIII
are most beloved: but the last message
of Jesus is for the world. 1t has been,
and is still being read by millions, and will
be read by millions yet unborn. This last
message reaches down from heaven, and
taking hold on the soul lifts it up to God
The last words of Jesus are an invitation
for sinners who have refused him. scorned
his love and trampled his mercy beneath
their feet, to come to him and be saved.
How earnestly the savior pleads in low
ing tones and tenderest pathos for the
sinner to come to him. | wonder how
the heart can resist his appeal. Some of
you will say, Il am not bad; am hon
est and truthful; l try to be kind and do
good to ALL" One does not need to be
very bad to be lost. A very good man
may go to eternal perdition--one unfor-
given sin will condemn YOU.
Standing on the banks of Niagara river
some years ago, | watched the waters as
they glIded smoothly along. Looking al
the smooth surface where | stood, one
who did not know would hardly believe
what was awaiting it below, As | fol.
lowed the river on down, | saw that the
water had quickened its pace and further
on it was seething. turbulent mass boil
| ing and foaming. Still further down
saw the water plunging down 100 fee
into that terrible abyss below. As pom
dered on these things. saw in them al
awful picture. In the smooth, placid
waters, SAW symbol of the thousands
who are good, engaged in the pleasure!
and enjoyments of this life seemingly I'M
conscious of the danger which lies fur
Their on below them. Christ has callet
and invited them. but they heard him not
friends warned them. but they heedeC
not the warning or only replied, there l
time enough yet and on they 90. How
I nftan in tho rpiIot nf . ha;
bark strikes hidden rock--death come
and finds them still needless of the warn
ings and refusing the invitation of Jesu
until it is too late; they pass into eter
nifty to the Judgment where the turbulen
waters of the rapids are only a fain
symbol of the distressed and turbulen
souls which in that great day shall stan
before the judge. The fearful leap whic
the waters take down that precipice /
but feeble illustration of that terribl
leap which those who refuse the invita-
ton of Jesus must take into that fesrf,
abyss "a hell of darkness and former
forever
Life is brittle thread that may sns
asunder at any moment. Hale an
hearty you may lie down at night and b.
fore morning the soul may take its fiigl
into eternity. Some of you may be niue
nearer the dark abyss than you thinl
From that awful gulf of DESPAIR jest
calls you and pleads with you in his la
message.
Time enough yet" is the whisper {
the devil 1t is thought born in hell
device of the demons to entrap al
seize the precious souls to crafty the
own selfish desires for vengeance-to ru
you and to rob heaven. John Milton
one of bis poems represents satan
seated upon his royal throne and aroul
him his chiefs who m he has call,
together to take counsel against Christ al
to plot against man. Satan asks no
they think Christ can be defeated ar
man secured for hell. One is for op,
war; another proposes to persuade t
people that Jesus is false; another,
aged chief. proposes to persuade the pc
pie to wait-to acknowledge that Jes
is the son of God-admit all he claims
but persuade the people that there is tin
enough yet. All these devices have be,
tried; prosecutions were waged a
thousands persisted beneath the sword,
the rack and at the stake. The W
failed and Jesus triumphed. The see
of intidelity were sown and grew; b
that soon failed. The last resort is nc
being tried. Your heart, your conscienC
your souls testify that Jesus loves "
and that he wants to save you. "
hear the invitation, but satan is whIspe
ing, thine enough yet" He knows th
if he can persuade you to wait lOl
enough, he will have you for himself.
Neglect is great sin and thousands {
being destroyed by it. They had hes
the invitation and refused it; they I
elected the great salvation; thereto
their house is left unto you desolat'
The ministry of Jesus and his spost
was ministry of invitations. The m
istry of the church is the same. The n
= testament is book of comes
About a half mile above the natU
bridge in Virginia, as you pass up
valley, there is sign board with thu
words, Come and drink" Near 1t
the right in niche in the rock is an :
derground stream of water called, 81
Lost river" For ages this water b
been eoursing Its way unseen until f
years ago niche was blasted in the II
and now there is always an invitation
come and drink" Just above. on
rock, is this inscription: "He who drir
here will come and drink again. and
it is; however far up the valley the tr'
W eler may go, he always returns by
way of the Lost river" to drink aga
For ages the river of life had been t1C
ing unseen and beyond the reach of m