The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-22


TO become Christian tomorrow, that
amounts to nothing at all. II resolve at
the service to-day to become a Christian,
that amounts 30 nothing az all. II res
solve after go home to-day to yield my
heart TO God that amounts to nothing at
all. The only kind of resolution that
amounts TO anything is the resolution that is
Immediately put into execution. There is
a man who had the typhoid fever. He
said: so, If could get over this terrible
distress; il this fever should depart, II |
could be restored to health, would all
the rest OF my life serve God" The fever
departed. He got well enough to walk
around the block He got well enough to
attend TO business. He is we'll to-day-as
well as he ever was. Where is the broken
vow? There is man who said long ago:
''lf could live to the year 1899, by that
time will have my business matters all
arranged, aud will have time to attend to
religion, and l will be good. thorough,
consecrated Christian. The year 1892 has
come. January. February, March, April,
May, June, July-fullY half OF the year
gone. Where is your broken vow4 "Om
says some man, an attend to that when
can get my character hxed up, when can
get over my evil habits; arm now given 20
strong drink" or, says the man, 81 am
given to unoleanliness," or says
~
dishonesty. When get over my
present habits, then I'll be a thorough
Christian" My brother, you will get worse
and worse until Christ takes you In hand.
"Not the righteous, sinners Jesus came to
CALI
o. but you say: "Iagree with you on all
that, but must put 1t off little longer"
Do you know there were many who came
just as near as you are to the Kingdom of
uva aS
Hampton, Long Island and went into the
cemetery TO look around, and in that ceme-
terry 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 Hampton,
had been at the burial These men OF the
crew came very near being saved. The
people from Amagansett saw the vessel, aud
they shot rockets. and they sent ropes
from the shore ard these poor
fellows 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 aud they were lost, their
bodies afterward washed upon the beach.
Ol what a solemn day IL 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 shouting
distance OF the shore, yet did not arrive 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 to be lost.
will tell you OF two prodigala, the ono
that got back and the other that did not
get back. In Richmond, Va, there 10 a
very prosperous and beautiful home 10 many
respects. A young man wandered OF from
that home. He wandered very far into sin.
They heard Of him often but he was always
on the wrong track. de would not go home.
At the door Of that beautiful home one
night there was great outcry. The young
man Of the house ran down and opened the
door to see what was the matter. 1t was
midnight. The rest of the family were
asleep. There were the wife aHd 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 STORM" The
mother gathered them up and fed. The
next morning the brother, a young man
who had stayed at home, went out 10 find
this prodigal brother and son, and he came
where he was and saw the young man wan
deriug up and down In front of the place
where he had been staying, and the young
man who had kept bis integrity said to the
older brother: Here, what does this meant
What is the matter with youi Why do you
act in this wayp The prodigal looked at
him and said: ''Who am II Whom
do you take me TO bew He SAID:
"You are my brother" "No, am
not. l am a brute. Have you seen
anything Of my wife aud chtldreui Are
they deadi drove them out last night in
the storm. / am brute. John, do you
think there is any help for me. Do you
think will ever get over this life Of dissipG
tioni' He said: "John there 10 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 ID before
night. o. my brain; 1 can stand 1t no
longer" That prodIgal never got home.
BuE ] will tell you Of prodigal that did
get home
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: MIR. Griffin, wish
you would 60 and sec 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
back" Mr.. Griffin went, and he tried to
persuade them back. He persuaded one to
go. He went with very easy persuasion,
because he was very homeslck already. The
other young man said, II will not go. have
had enough of home. I'll never 60 home.n
'Well, said Mr.. Griffin, then IL you won't
20 home I'll get you a respectable position on
a respectable ship" "No, you WON'T said
the prodigal; mo, you won't. am going
as common sailor; that will plague my
father most, and what will do most to
tantalize and worry MIN will please me
best"
Years passed on aud Mr.. Griffin was
seated in his study one day when a mes
sage came to him saying there was young
man in irons on ship at the dock-R young
man condemned to death-who wished 60
see this clergyman. MIR. Griffin went down
TO the dock and went on shipboard. The
young man said to him: "You don't know
me, do youg" mo-" be said, II don't know
you" "Why. don't you remember that
young man you tried 10 persuade 10 go home
and he wouldn't gof' 90! yee." said Mr..
Griffin, "are you that manF "Yes, am
that man" said the other. "I would like
to have you pray for me. have committed
murder and must die, but 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
10 judicial authority to get the young mans
went from influential person 20 influential
person until in 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 hesrd
that his son. under a disguised name, had
been committing crime and was going 70 be
a. "A a 81. 80.