Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-06-04

inst he has begun q new life, that while
he wants to be faithful in his worldly
duties, he Is living for another world,
and he ought to advise ell those who are
mis- associates, so fsr as he can influence
them, to begin with him the Christian
life. Could you do thst, my brother?
"Oh, mol" you say, "not just that. /
think religion Is religion and
BUSINESS Is BUSINESS,
and |. would be impossible fer me TO re-
commend the Christian religion in pisces
OF worldly business Just as I feared.
There is q second cross offered you and
you cannot carry it. Christ lifted 6
mountain for you; you cannot lift sn
ounce for Him.
There is some one whose Cross will be
to present religion in the home circle.
Would you dare to kneel down and pray
II your brother and sister were looking
ct you? Could you ask blessing st the
tea table? Could you take the Bible and
gather Jour family around you and read
OF Christ and heaven and your immortal
soul? Gould you then kneel and pray for
blessing on your household? "O!" you
say, "noE exactly that. couldn't quite
do that, because have very quick tenn
per, snd ii professed religion and tried
to talk religion in my household, and then
otter that should lose my temper they
would soon st me and say: You are 8
pretty Christian" So you are coWed
down and II cir SARCASM keeps you out of
heaven aud sway from Christ, when IN
der God you ought to take your whole
family. into the kingdom. Carist lifted
mountain, lifted world for you; you
cannot lift an ounce for Him. SIC how
it Is; you, want to be favorable 10 re-
ligion, you want to support Christian
institutions, you like to be associated
with those who lcvz Jesus Christ; out as
to taking positive step on this subject,
you carnot-you cannot, End my text,
like gs'e Of q hundred boSt cars you
swsy from peace on earth and glory in
heaven.
There are hundreds OF men and women
here brave enough in other things in life
who sim ply for the lack of manliless and
womanliness stay away from God. They
dare say:-' "Forever aud forever, Lord
Jesus, l axe Thee. Thou hast redeemed
me By Thy blood, here is my immortai
spirit. Listen, all my friends. Listen
ali the world" They are lurking around
shout the kingdom Of God-they are
lurking around about II, expecting to
crawl in some time when nobody is look
ing, forgetful Of the tremendous words of
my text: "Whosoever doth not bear his
cross, and come AFTER Me, cannot De My
disciple"
An officer of neigh5oring church told
me that he WAS In store in New York
Just happened in-where there were
many clerks, and gentleman came in
and said to q young man stand
ing behind the counter: care
you the young man that aEose the
other night in the Brooklyn tabernacle
and asked for prsyers?" Without any
flush OF cheek he replied: az am. l
haven't always done right, and have
been quite bad; but since l arose for
prayers l think I an better than l was. 4"
Il Vas only his way OF announcing thst
he had stsrted for the higher life. G ID
will not cast out s man who is brave
enough 10 take step ahead like that.
tell you these things this morning be-
Cause, my dear friends, l want 10 show
you how light tue cross is that We have
to csrry compared with that which Christ
carried for US. You have not had the
d4sh torn Il for Cl.ist's sake in carrying
your Cross. He tainted dead awsy under
His cross. You hsve not carried the
Cross until it fetched the blood. Under
His there wss 3 pool OF carnage that
FLASHED the horses fetlocks. You have
friends to sympathize with you in carry
.og the cross; Clrist trod the Wlne-press
Of Gods wrath alone, alone! The cross
that you ard ough. to carry represents
only few days or few years Of trial.
The cross that Christ carried for US had
compressed into it the ag.nies Of eter-
nifty.
There has some one come here to-day
whom you have not observed. He did
not come through the front door; he did
not come down any OF these aisles; YET 1
know he is here He is from the East,
the far East. BE comes with blis.ered
foot, and with broken heart, and cheeks
red not with health but with blood from
the temples. take hold Of His cost and
l say: at does not seem to fit Thee"
"No," He says, sit is not mine; 1t is
borrowed; 1t does not belong to me now.
For my vesture did they csst lots" And
say to Him: Chime eyes sre red as
though from loss Of sleep" He says ::
"Yes, the Son OF man, nsd not where 70
lay His head" An touch the log "a
His back and say: "Why earliest Tsou
this ?" "Ah," He says, "that is 8. gross
carry for thee and for the sins of the
whole world. That is 8 cross. Fall into
line, march on with me In this procession,
take your smaller crosses and your
lighter burdens, and Join me il this
march to Heaven" And
WE JOINED THAT PROCESSION
with our smaller crosses and our lighter
burdens, snd Christ looks back and He
sees some are haltipg because they can
not endure the shame, or bear the bur-
den, and with voice which has in it
majesty and omnipoteDce, He cries until
all the earth trembles: "Whosoever
doth not bear his cross snd come after
Me cannot be My disciple"
o! my brethren, my sisters-ior l do
not speak professionally, speak as s
brother would speak to brother or SIS
ter-my brother, can you not bear 8
cross II at last you can wear q crown?
Come now, let US divide eff. Who is on
the Lords side? Who is ready to turn
his back upon the Lsmb Of God thst
taketh away the sin Of the world?
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