The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1889-05-02

that God in His infinite mercy sacrificed His dear
Son. He was given a mortal body that He might
suffer and die for you. all because atonement was
necessary. DO not be afraid of God do not think
that He is so far above that you cannot reach
Him. He will come down to you al you have to
do is to take Him into your heart. Go to Him
with your sins. whatever they may be, and He will
gladly receive you. His love is great all the
bined love that parents feel for their children.
not as drop in the ocean in comparison to the
love that God feels for sinners.
81 remember reading in a Chicago paper, not
long ago, of little girl who had been stolen from
her parents by depraved woman to be brought
up evil ways. The father of this little girl
a blacksmith and he locked up his shop and gave
all his time to hunting for his lost child. He was
a 1eshy man. but grief made him a skeleton, and
finally he lost his reason. and placed in
asylum. society for the prevention of cruelty
to children, discovered little girl who was being
treated badly by a woman, and had the in
vestgated and the child taken away. 1t was sur
missed that this little girl might be the missing
child, and it was taken to the asylum and con-
tronted with the crazed father. AS soon as the
father saw her he picI ed her up in his arms and
cried, My child my child!' His reason
stored This story illustrates the intensity of pa
rental love, and yet compared with Savours
love for it is a mere nothing
when you 60 Ack to your cells, go down
your knees and pray to God to help you. Some
loving father or mother may be praying for you in
a distant home: join your prayers with theirs and
God will hear you; and though YOU may be
fined for life here, eternal freedom will await you
in the hereafter.
ITO illustrate that it is never too late to seek
salvation, will relate the history of the greatest
criminal in Sweden many years ago. He
very noted and W cked crim nal, but event
ually convicted, and sentenced to be beheaded.
His appearance was inhuman; he looked like
fend The noted preacher, Rudberg asked to see
him, and found him chained to the stone floor in
the prison. He spoke to him and received an
swer. But the minister would not give up; he
visited him daily, read the Bible and pra: ed for
him. After a while he began to listen, and one
day he found him in tears He began to ask ques-
tions about Gods mercy. Then he went over
lifetime of crime. saying killed that one. and at
such time murdered this one confessing many
crimes he not accused of, and then asked;
can God forgive meT He was assured that God
would gladly forgive all if he would accept His
mercy. He became changed man, even in APP
pearance; the fiendish look gave way, and at the
request of the minister he released from his
chains and given the liberty of the prison. Chris
tan people who had become interested in him,
wanted to petition for pardon. but he said, No.
have many times forfeited my life. and it is just
that the sentence should be executed He laid
his head on the block with the full faith that God
had forgiven him.
MY friends, you have all read of the Prodigal
Son; do as he did. Like him. Arise and go unto
your Father. He is watching for you. and will
meet and embrace you. When you get back to
your cells and have eaten dinner, get your Bible
and hunt up the chapter about the Prodigal Son;
read it over carefully; and may God help and
bless you is my earnest prayer"
At the close of the sermon the entire audience,
English and Swedish, Joined in the singing of.
Nearer My God To Thee.
About $50 citizens were present. We received
the names of the following members of the Swed-
ish Mission who were present., nearly all Of whom
formed the choir: Andrew Nordstrom, Maria An
derson, Chas. w. F. Hgg. Lena Holm, Charles
Stahl, Carrie B. Oleson. Mathilda Wertlund Annie
Samuelson, Matte Johnson, Emily M. Peterson,
Chas. Nordquist, E. Aug. Skogsburgh, A. L. Skoog,
A. g. Sandquist A. Alterg Maria Samueson. P
Peterson. Olof Romo. Mrs. E. Muller, Miss Nor
tinson, Hannah Palmer, G. Theden and A. Nor
land.
Rnnanza FOR Old SOIAiars