The Opelousas courier., 1890-07-05
REV. SAM JONES.
Beginning his sermon Mr.. Jones

beglnnlng MS sermon VII. done
said:
/ invite your prayerful attention to
the 18th verse Of the 9th chapter Of
Zachariah: Turn you to the strong
hold, ye prisoners Of ~hope;even to-day
do I declare that I will render double
unto thee:
I believe in the Christianity of re-
ward; [ believe in the Christianity of
dividends; I believe in the Christian
ity that takes care of a man in this
world and gives him everlasting life
in the world to come. [ believe in d
Christianity of manhood, of human
ity. I believe in a Christianity that
produces character in its highest and
best expression, l believe in a Chris
tianity that gives c%ontentment and
gives joy in the Holy Ghost; and
this is no chimerical, dreamy utter
ance. Even today do [ declare that
I will render double unto three"
I believe the greatest bulWarks be-
tween man and Christianity is that SO
many ~people-that to be a Christian
has to disrobe and dismantle humanity
of all that is enjoyable and pleasant
and ~peaceable. A great many think
if I give up this world / get so little
in its steads IF [ give up the ball
room and the wine cup and all that,
what dol get in return?
When it goes to bargain-making, if
l give up all this, what do [ get in
return? Now listen what the Chris
tian says: Even today do [ declare
I will render double unto thee
Christian, it not only pays for the
other world, but it pays for this
world. I repeat with all the empha-
sis, is to 60 right and get the man
hood now and forever, is to do wrong
Il wrong the devil into that. !
scarcely ever see that verse but what
I think of the incident relating to
me
He was running a revival meeting
in one of the towns where he was pas
tor, and he noticed a young man Is
or 20 years old coming up before the
alter. He noticed that the young man
was not converted. The fellow in line
WITH him stepped up to his side ant
said: "Young man, you seem to be
in earnest. You have been to the al
ter several times. Have you been
converted, tell me candidly?' Well,
to be candid with you, I I'M a clerk
down town in a grocery house where
they sell provisions, and n line Of
their business is to sell liquor by the
quart and galIJll and every time
come up to be prsyed for those quart
cups come up before M and [ cannot
pray to God and repent" Give up
your elerkship. THAT l am willing
to do, but I have a widowed mother
and four orphan sisters. l get so a
month, and it supports my mother and
: sisters. / would give it up in a min
t ute if no one would suffer but my,
self" But young man give up you
!, position, and God says seek
He said: II cannot be religion
: and sell liquor" He never told :
i bigger truth in his life. I'll tell y"
K another thing. l get out f""
. characters right here. There is on
. who makes it, another one sells ii
another one rents a house to sell II III
Q and another dies drinking it. If ii:
devil gets one and dom get them aI'
there is no justice in it, and you bar
" ea- HJa community in the Un't'
States that will rent their houses FIJI
le saloon. Rent out his business house
d for the devil to blow the town u
u with. Say Amen. (response Amer
I'll tell you another thing; :
preacher that will house that sort {
N q man in his church, is not much bet
e ter than the man (Amen.) A fellow
or like that can't get along with me ts'
in minutes and a half. I'd get him GU
ID Of NV church. I would, | would.
he belongs to Lees army, aud o1
c. dered a mill here in Pennsylvania a
% is making powder for soldiers to X:
rebels. Look here, old coon, if yo
: are here tonight, get out! get out
Why amt you preachers been shoe
"a ing them that way? (We have.) TO
ut bless you! put in more powder or sh'
~ one or the other, and l say to you
I'd will stick Ere to anything in the Worl
I've got before | would rent IT OF
., for that damnable purpose. You Ii
10 the church or get that thing out
3 !. YOUR house, brother. You may be
clever man and no doubt you are. b'
ay you are an old fraud as a Christian.
rs amt going to apologize for that eth,
let That amt an historical mistake. I
mt that boy the old en4loyer said:
re hate to give ySSotdt p. You are Il
il best clerk We have got, but / cam
u give up that business, There is mo
pe money in that than all the balance.
= Bust the young man gave up his pos
1T ton; cam to the church that mig
zen and was happily converted befo
,ns God. and went home happy in the To-
Of Of God. Next morning, at the brea
are fast table, he received word to call
di-
~ YHyt - ~ tx