The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1891-01-23
AN IMPERIAL WORD.
Como Stands at the Front and Rear
Gates of the Bible.
~ bcckons, u Trays. IL wecps and II De-
stroys-scrmon ny Rev. 7. de-
witt Talmage, 20.

vi Nus sermon last Sunday: tome
Gen. VI, Is. Come. 4" Rev. xvii, IL.
Imperial, tender and all persuasive IL
this word Come" Six hundred anC
seventy-eight times IL is found in tn,
Scriptures. IL stands at the front gat,
of the Bible, as In my first text, invit
ing antediluvians into Noah's Ark, ant
1t stands at the other gate Of the Bible
as In my second text, inviting the post
diluvians into the ark of saviour,
mercy.
Come" is only a word Of four let
tiers, hut il is the queen of words, ant
nearly the entire nation of English va
cabulary bows TO its sceptcr. II is an
ocean into which empties ten thousand
rivers of meaning. Other words drive,
but this bcckons. All moods Of feeling
hath that word Come" Sometimes II
weeps and sometimes Il laughs. Soinc.
times IT prays, sometimes 1, tcmptS and
sometimes it DESTROYS II sounds from
the door of the church and from the
seraglios Of sin, from the gates Of Ilcav-
en- and the gates of hell. II is conhu-
ent and accrcscent of all power. IL is
the heiress of most of the past and the
almoner of most of the future Gomez
You may pronounce il so that all the
Heavens will be heard ia It's cadcuces,
or pronounce II so that all the woes of
time and eternity shall rcverberatc in its
one syllable. II Is on tho lip of saint
and profiigate IL is the mightiest of
solitants either for good or bad
frA-Iav ,xafsrk nj ha,,l L.,
the planks, and set sail On that great
word, although am sure viii not be
able to reach the further shore. will
let down the fathoming line into this
sea and try TO measure It's depths, and.
though tie together all the cables and
cordage have on board, ] will not be
able 10 touch bottom All the powcv of
the Christian religion is in that word
Some" The dictatorial and com
mandatory in religion is of no avail
The imperative mood is not the appro-
pirate mood when we would have poo
pie savingly Impressed They may be
coaxed, but they can not be driven. Our
hearts are like our homes; at n friendly
knock the door win lie opened, but an
attempt 10 force open Qua door would
land the assailant in prison. Our the
illogical scminaries, which keep young
men three years in their curriculum be-
fore launching them into the ministry,
will do well IL in so short a time they
can teach the candidates for the holy
Office how 20 say with right emphasis
and intonation and power that one
=.
such efficiency in Christian work. and
that woman who has such power to per
suade people TO quit the wrong and be-
gin the right, went through a series of
losses, bereavements, prosecutions and
the trials of twenty or thirty years be
fore they could make it a triumph of
e ace every time they uttered the word
Come
You must remember that in many
cases our Come has mightier
Come" to conquer before il
has any effect at all Just give me the
accurate census, the statistics. OF how
many are down in fraud. in drunken
ness, in gambling, in impurity O. in
vice of any sort, and viii give you the
accurate census, or statistics OF how
many have been slain by the word
Come, b" Come and click winc-glaSses
With me at this ivory bar" Come and
see what we can win at this gaming
able Come enter with me this
doubtful speculation Come with me
md read those iDfidel tracts on Chris
ianity." Come with me 10 place of
rad amusement. Come with me in
ray bout through underground New
forh." IL in this city there are 20. 900
who are down in moral character, then
20, 900 fell under the power of
he word come" | was reading Of a
wife whose husband had been over
thrown by strong drink, and she went
20 the saloon where he was ruined, and
,he said: "Give me back my husband"
And the barkeeper pointing To a
Mandolin and battered man browsing In
he corner of the bar room, said There
ne is. Jim wake up; here's your wife
,ome for you" And the woman said:
Do you call that my husband? What
have you been doing with him? Is that
he manly brow? Is that the clear eyeP
Is that the noble heart that ! married?
What vile drug have you give him that
You have turned him into fiend? Tuke
your tiger claws of OF him. Uncoil
hose serpent folds Of evil habits that
ire crushing him. Give me back my
husband the one with whom stood at
he altar ten years ago, Give him back
~ me-" Victim was he, as millions of
,thers have been, of the word Come"
Now we want all the world over 10
harness this word for good rs others
rave harncssed 1t for evil, and II viii
iraw the Ave continents and the seas
them: yea, II will draw the
whole world back 10 the God from
whom II has wandered. II is that WOO
ng and persuasive word that will lead
men to give mp their sins, Was skepti-
ism ever brought into love of truth by
an ebullition Of hot words against ind
lelityp Was ever the blasphemer
stopped in his oaths By denunciation Of
Was ever a drunkard
weaned from his cups by the temper
ance lecturers mimicry of staggering
step or hiccough? No II was: Come
with me TO church to-day and hear our
singing" "Comc and let me introduce
rou 10 Christian man whom you will
DC sure to admirer Come with me into
associations that are cheerful and good
and inspiring;" Come with me into
Joy such as You never before expert
nnced."
With that word which has done so
much for others approach You to-day.
Are you all right with God2 mo" you
say, 81 think not; ! am sometimes
when think of Him; fear
Will not be ready to meet Him in the
asst day; my heart IL not right with
iod.' Come, then, and have 1t made
light Through the Christ who died TO
ave you Come! What is the use in
Waiting? The longer you wait the
urther off you are and the deeper you
ire down. Strike cut for Heaven! You
that few years ago steam
n called the Princess Alice with
'rowd OF excursionists aboard, sank
n the Thames, and there was an awful
acrifce of life, A boatman from the
hore put out for the rescue, and he had
big boat, and he got II SO full IL would
lot hold another person, and as he laid
Iold Of the oars to pull for the shore,
eaying hundreds helpless and drown
l4as. 4tsi.. IL n L. al