Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-06-22
DANGER OF REPRESENTATION.

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all that, but must put it off little
longer" Do you know there were many
who came just as near as you are to the
kingdom Of God and never entered itP /
was at East Hampton and went into the
cemetery to look around, and In that
cemetery there are twelve graves side by
side-the graves of sailors. This crew, some
years ago, in a ship went into the breakers
at Amagansett, about three miles away
My brother, then preaching at East Hamp-
ton, had been at the burial. These men Of
the crew came very near being saved. g :
The people from AmaGansett saw the
vessel, and they shot rockets, and they sent
ropes from the shore, and these poor fell
lows got into the boat, and they pulled
nightly for the shore, but just before they
got to the shore the rope snapped and the
boat capsized and they were lost, their
bodies afterward washed up on the beach.
Oh, what solemn day it was-I have
been told OF it by my brother-when these
twelve men lay at the foot of the pulpit
and he read over them the funeral service
They came very near shore-within shout
ing distance of the shore-yet did not ar
rive on solid land. There are some men
who come almost to the shore of Gods
mercy, but not quite, not quite. To be
only almost saved is not to be saved at all
| Twill tell you Of two prodigals, the one
that got back and the other that did not
get back. In Virginia there is a very pros
porous and beautiful home in many re-
spects. A young man wandered off from
that home. He wandered very far into sin.
| They heard Of him often, but he was al
ways on the wrong track. He would not
90 home, At the door of that beautiful
home one night there was a great cutlery.
The young man of the house ran down and
opened the door to see what was the mat
ter 1t was midnight. The rest of the
family were asleep There were the wife
and the children of this prodigal young
man. The fact was he had come home and
| driven them out. He said: "Out of this
house. Away with these children; l will
dash their brains out. Out into the
stormp
The mother gathered them up and fled.
The next morning the brother, the young
man who had stayed at home, went out to
find this prodigal brother and son, and he
came where he was, and saw the young
man wandering up and down in front of
the place where he had been staying, and
the young man who had kept his integrity
said to the older brother. Here, what does
oil this meanf What is the matter with
you? Why do you act in this wayW The
prodigal looked at him and said: "Who am
II Who do you take me to be?" He said,
you are my brother" "No, am not; !
am brute. Have you seen anything of
my wife and children2 Are they dead?
drove them out last night in the storm !
am brute. John, do you think there is
any help for me2 Do you think will ever
get over this life of dissipation" He said,
Brother, there is just one thing that will
stop this" The prodigal ran his finger
across his throat and said: "That will stop
it, and I'll stop it before night. Obi my
brain; | can stand it no longer" That
prodigal never got home. But will tell
you of prodigal that did get home.
TWO RAN AWAY, BUT ONE RETURNED.
In England two young men started from
their fathers house and went down to
Portsmouth. The father could not pursue
his children; for some reason he could not
leave home, and so he wrote letter down
to Mr.. Griffin, saying; "Mr. Griffin, wish
you would go and see my two sons. They
have arrived In Portsmouth, and they are
going to take ship and going away from
home. wish you would persuade them
persuade them back. He persuaded one to
go. He went with very easy persuasion
because he was very homesick already
The other young man said; 81 will not go
have had enough of home. I'll never 90
home" "Well," said Mr.. Griffin, "then if
you won't 60 home I'll get you respectable
position on n respectable ship" mo you
WON'T" said the prodigal; mo you won't
am going as a common sailor; that will
plague my father most, and what will do
most to tantalize and worry him will please
me best"
Years passed on, and Mr.. Griffin was
seated in his study one day when a mes
sage came to him that there was young
man in irons on ship at the dock-a
young man condemned to death-who
wished to see this clergyman. Mr.. Griffin
went down to the dock and went on ship
board. The young man said to him, "You
don't know me, do your" NO" he said,
~ don't know you" "Why, don't you re
member that young man you tried to per.
suade to go home, and he wouldn't go?'
ooh, yes" said Mr.. Griffin. Are you that
man~ Eyes, l am that man." said the
other. II would like to have you pray for
me. | have committed murder, and must
die, but l don't want to go out of this
world until some one prays for me. You
are my fathers friend, and would like to
have you pray for me"
Mr.. Griffin went from judicial authority
to judicial authority to get the young
mans pardon. He slept not night nor day.
He went from influential person to infiu-
entail person until some way he got that
young mans pardon. He came down on
the dock, and as he arrived on the dock
with the pardon the father came. He had
beard that his son, under II disguised name,
had been committing crime and was going
to be put to death. So Mr.. Griffin and the
father went on the ships deck, and at the
very moment Mr.. Griffin offered the pardon
to the young man, the old father threw his
arms around the sons neck and the son
said: Father, have done very wrong and
am verysorry. wish Lad never broken
your heart. am very sorry" "Ohl" said
the father, don't mention it, it don't
make any difference now. 1t is all over.
forgive you, my son." and he kissed him
and kissed him and kissed him.
Today offer you the pardon Of the gos-
pel-full pardon, free pardon. | do not
care what your sin has been, Though you
say you have committed "a crime against
God, against your own soul, against your
fellowman, against your family, against
the day of judgment, against the cross of
Christ-whatever your crime has been,
here is pardon, full pardon, and the very
moment that you take that pardon your
heavenly father throws his arms around
about you and says: MY son, | forgive
you. 1t is all right. You are as much in
my favor now as If you had never sinned."
OF there is joy on earth and joy in heaven.
Who will take the fathers embraceP