Democratic messenger., 1889-06-01
y Of human nature. There Is an element


Of your science Of man that the anthr0po.
logist never has had the courage yet to
touch and the Bible, In all the ms and
outs Of the most forceful style. sets forth
our natural pollution and represents in.
iquiiy afa frigh,fal thing, as an exhaus.
ting thing, as a loathsome thing. II is not
mere bemiring Of the feet, II Is not a
mere bcfouling Of the hands; II Is going
down, head and ears under. head and ears
under, In ditch, until our clothes abh0r
us.
My brethren. shall we stay down where
sin thrusts us: ! shall not, II you do.
We cannot afford to. have to-day To
tell you that there Is something purcr
than snow water, something more pun
gent than alkali, and that Is the blood Of
Jesus Christ that cleanseth from all sin.
Ay! the river OF salvation. bright, crystal.
line and heaven-born, rushes through this
audience with billowy tide strong enough
to wash your sins completely and forever
away. Oh Jesus let the dam that holds
Il back now break, and the ilOads of sal.
vation roll over us.
Lot the water and the blood,
From the side and healing flood,
BE of sin the double cure.
Save from wrath and make inc pure.
Let us get down on both knees aud
bathe In the food Of mercy. Ay strike
out with both hands and try to swim TO
the other shore Of this river Of Gods grace.
To you is the word Of this salvation sent.
Take this largess Of the divine bounty.
Though you have gone down in the deep.
est ditch of libidinous desire and corrupt
behavior, though you have sworn blasphc-
mics until there is not one sinful word
left for you to speak, though you have
been submerged by the transgrcssions Of a
lifetime, though you are so far down in
your sin that no earthly help can touch
your casc-The Lord Jesus Christ bends
over you today, and offers you HIS right
hand. proposing TO lift you up, first max
ing you whittier than snow, and then rais.
ing you to g)ories that never die. BILLY"
said Christian boOtblack 10 another
when We come up 10 Heaven ii won't
make any difference that we've been boot
blacks here, for we shall get in, not some.
how or other, but, Billy, we shall get
straight through the gate" Oh! you
only knew how full and free and tender
is the offer of Christ, this day, you would
all take Him without one single exception
and if all the doors of this house weIe
locked save one, and you were compelled
10 make cgress by only one door, and |
stood there and questioned you, and the
Gospel of Christ had made the right i'm.
preston upon your heart to-day, you
would answer me as you went out. one
and all: "Jesus is mine. and am His -
Oh that this might bc the hour when you
would receive Him. II is not Gospel
merely for footpads and vagrants and buc-
cancers II is for the highly polished and
the educated as well. Except man he
born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of
God" Whatever may he your ass0cla.
tions, and whatever your worldly refine.
mcnts, must tell you, as before God !
expect 10 answer in the last day. that il
you are not charged by the grace of God
you are still down in The ditch Of sin, in
the ditch OF SORROW, IN the dt>ch Of con
dcmnation u ditch that emp, VS. into a
deeper ditch. the ditch of the Nbst. But
blessed lie God for the lifting, cleansing,
Iustrating power of Ills Gospel.
The voice of frcc grace cries, Escape Ia the
mountain:
For all that believe, Christ has opened n
fountain.
liallcluJah! ! to the Lamb who has bought us
our pardon:
Wen praise Him again when we pass over
Jordan.