The Brookhaven leader., 1889-08-01

How many there are VINO resolve on O
better life and say: "When shall l
aw6ke;" But seized on by their old hab-
its cry: "I will try it once more; l will
seek it yet agaiu!" Years ago there were
some Princeton students who were skat-
ing, and the ice was very thin, and some
one warned the company back from the
air hole, and finally warned them en-
tirely to leave the place. But one young
man with bravadO, after all the rest had
stopped, cried out: Zone round more ~
He swept around and went down, and
was brought oHt corpse. My friends,
there are thousands and tens of thou
sands Of men losing their souls In that
way. 1t is the one round more.
Ihave also to say that if man wants
to return from evil practices society re-
pulses him. Desiring to reform, he
says: "Now ! will shake off my old as
sOciates, and | will fad Christian COM
panionship." And he appears at the
charch door some Sabbath day, and the
usher greets him with a look, as much as
to say: "Why, you here? You are the
last man l ever expected to see at church
Come, take this seat right down by the
dOor!" Instead Of saying: "Good morn
ing; am glad you are here. Come;
=
the pulpit" Well, the prodigal, not yet
discouraged, enters the prayer meeting,
and some Christian man, with more zeal
than common sense, says:
"Glad to see you. The dying thief was
saved, and suppose there is mercy for
youw The young man, disgusted, chilled,
throws himself back on his dignity, re-
solved he never will enter the house of
God again. Perhaps not quite fully dis
couraged about reformation, he sides up
by some highly y.respectable man he used
to know going down the street. and imme-
diately the respectable man has an err
rand down some other street. Well, the
prodigal, wishing to return, takes some
member of "a Christian association by the
hand or tries to. This Christian young
man looks at him, looks at the faded APP
parel and marks OF dissipation, and in
stead Of giving him warm grip Of the
hand offers him the tip end of the long
fingers of the left hand, which is equal TO
striking Il man in the face.
Oh, how few Christian people under
stand how much force and Gospel there is
in a good, honest Misunderstanding! Some
times, when you have felt the need of en-
Couragement, and some Christian man
has taken You heartily by the
hand, have you not felt that
thrilling through every fiber of
your body, mind and soul, an encourage
ment that was Just what you needed?
YoE do not know any thing at all about this
unless you know when a man tries to re-
turn home from evil courses of conduct
he runs against Tepulsions innumer-
able. We say Of some man, he lives a
block or two from the church, or half a
mile from the church. There are people
in our crowded cities who live a thousand
mites from the church. Vast deserts of
Indifference between them and the house
of God. The fact is we must keep our
respectability, though thousands and tens
OF thousands perish Christ sat with
publicans and sinners. But if there
comes to the house Of God man with
marks of dissipatiau upon him, people
throw up their hands in horror as much
as TO say: isn't it shOcking?" How these
dainty, fastidious Christians in all our
churches are going TO get into Heaven l
don't know, unless they have an
especial train of ears, cushioned and up
holStercd, each one a car to himself?
They can not go with the great herd of
puhlicans and sinners. Oh, We who curl
your lip OF scorn at the fallen, tell you
the same influences instead of sitting to-
day amid the cultured and the refined and
Christian, you would have been a crouch
ing wretch in stable or ditch, covered
with filth and abomination! 1t is not be-
cause you are naturally any better, but
because the mercy of God has protected
you. Who are you that, brought up in
Christian circles, and watched by Chris
tian parontage, you should bo so hard on
the fallen?
| think men also are often hndered
from return by the fact that churches are
too anxious about their membership and
too anxious about their denomination,
and they rush out when they see man
about to give up his sin and return to
God, and ask him how lie is going to be
baptized, whether by sprinkling or by
immersion, and what kind of q church
he is going to join. Oh, my friends! 1t
is poor time to talk about Presbyterian
catecnism and Episcopal liturgies,
and Methodist love feasts, and
baptisteries to a man that is COM
ing out Of the darkness Of sin
into the glorious light OF tho Cos
pei. Why, 1t reminds Us of man drown
ing In the sea, and life boat puts out for
him, and the man in the boat says to the
man out Of the boat: Now if | get you
ashore are you going to live in my
street?" First get linn ashore and then
talk about the non essentials of religion.
Who cares what church he Joins il he
only joins Christ and starts FOR Heaven?
Oh, you ought to have, my brother, an
illuminated face and hearty grip for
every one that tries to turn from his evil
way. Take hold of the same book with
him, though his designations shake the
book, rene nbering that he that convert
eth a sinner from the error of his ways
shall save soul from death and hide q
multitude OF sins.
Now, | have shown these obstacles be-
cause | want you to understand | know all
the difficulties in tie way; but am now to
tell you how Hannibal may scale the Alps
and how the ghackle5 may be unrivetel
and how the paths of virtue forsaken may
be regGined. First of all, my brother,
throw yourself on God. Go to Him
frankly and earnestly and tell Him these
habits you have, ard ask Him, if there is
any help in all the resources of Omlipo-
tent love, TO give it to you. Do not go
with a long rigmar0le people call prayer,
made up of ''obs" and "ahs" and "for-
ever and forever amens!" Go 20 God and
cry for help! help! help! and If yon can
not cry for help, just look and live. / re-
member in tho war l was at Antietam,
and | went into the hospitals after
the battle, and | said to man:
"Where are you hUrt:" He made no
answer, but held up his arm, swol-
Ian aud SnliDfarc1 cav yElaro he ,v,oc