The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-02-21
OUR SUNDAY COLUMN.
Original and Otherwise, Pre-
pared by Mark.

In this mornings Sunday column ]
want to talk with the goddess old men
of Roanoke. There are many aged sin
ners in this city whose sands of life are
nearly run. They will soon step into
the grave, and before they descend to
the gates of eternal death, want them
TO listen for moment to the warning
voice of one who cares for their souls
Old age with some is beautiful. THE
hoary head is crown of glory when
found in tho way of righteousness" bu t
all old age is not beautiful. There are
many who change the though tlessness
and charm of youth only for the world
illness and hardness of age and the de-
formity and ugliness of sin. There are
many old people who instead of becom-
ing purer and nobler as they advance
in life, only acquire new vices and
gather to themselves darker shades of
character. The profanity and god
lessness that in youth were the
bursting forth of passion, as they
have grown older have become the
temper and habit of their minds As
strength and manliness are TO early
life, so is plety to old age. I know OF
no sadder spectacle than goddess old
man. In all that is noblest and truest
his life is failure, and his death does
not come as respite from duty and
labor, but as discharge from an office
which he has unworthily held. and a
recalling Of opportunities which he has
failed to improve.
Past days and years rush involun-
tor 1ty III
him only load of sorrow. There is
no cheering ray of light. He is pass
ing on TO an eternity for which he has
made no preparation. The future rises
to view as he nears the margin Of the
cold, dark river, and nothing is heard
but the bowling of the storm proclaim
ing no safety to the soul. The vanities
and pleasures Of the world have
been experienced, but they are
gone now and there is moth
ing to supply their place. This is
sadly descriptive of the condition of
many goddess old people in Roanoke. l
wish could catch the ear OF some of
the hardened old sinners and get them
TO listen to me. 1t is always under very
discouraging circumstances that the
aged sinner is approached on the sub
jcct of religion. Can the Ethiopian
NA"hSo hio ohiii' VI luc leopard MS
spots? then may We also do good that
are accustomed to evil" Old man, it
may be that you are of those with re-
spoct to whom God has said. "Ephraim
is joined to idols, let him alone" 1t
may be you are one of those miserable.
iorsaken beings, whose conscience have
become scared with n hot iron, and
from whom God has forever withdrawn
the strivings of His spirit. 1t may be
you have already passed over
That mysterious bourn
l;y which our path is crossed
Beyond which God himself hail sworn
Ihat lie who Poes is lost
If 1 knew this to be true
In your case, old man, would still be
Interested in you. l would scatter
flowers in your path to the grave, for
There would terminate ali your lows and
Danish all your hopes But while |
nave no assurance that your case is
hopeless, l have grave fears. And
why? because there are so few con.
versions in old age. 81 have been
twenty years in the ministry of the
Gospel" says DR.. Bedell, land do not
believe | could enumerate three per-
sons over fifty years of age who have
asked the solemn question, What shall
40 to be saved?'" This is the testimony
"a 90 'hihiSecrS Oh inc tIOSpel. Tho
most important ten years of human life
Is from five to fifteen years of age. Tho
vast majority of those who pass the ago
of twenty irreligious are never con.
verted at all. DIR. Spencer declares
that out of two hundred and thirty. five
nopetul converts in his church., one
hundred and thirty-eight were
uhuer twenty years, and only
Tour had passed their fiftietR
year year DR.. I. L. Cuyler says:
nave been permitted, during nv
ministry, to receive nearly one thou
sand persons into the church on comics.
SION OF their faith, and not ono dozen of
Ihnse nad outgrown their fftieth year
| ala. indeed, ones baptize veteran OF
, eiighty'hve, but the case was so remark
ae That it excited the talk and wonder
per town Such latc repentances are
;h liko what the blunt dying
called 'finging tho fag end of
LIE" into the face of tho Almighty
Erulses, has lived forty. flfty, sixty
lever so years in wilful imp@nitence
( ChliplainHnst the Father. Son and
tions' and has a long and dark nm.
pay requir..nt His open, pubic. Of.
perfect SAITH, soc-ct sins are IT,
arlco 20 COM. Gods conntn.nc.
Christian & Old man Who has
TIs TYrEs. 10