The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-10-04

ties, and D0lder Dlut1S Vlne-Wreatneu, ana
grapes so ripe that if the hills be touched,
they would bleed their rich life away into
the bowls of Bngen and Hockheimer.
Here and there, there are streams of water
melting into the river, like smaller joys
swallowed in the bosom of great gadness.
And when night begins to throw its black
mantle over the shoulder of the hills, and
you are approaching Decentralization at
Mayence, the lights along the shore fairly
bewitch the scene with their beauty, giving
one a thrill that he feels but once, yet that
lasts him forever. So this river of Gods
word is not a straight stream, but wind
ing spiendor-at every turn new wonders
to attract, still ripper vintage pressing to
the brink, and crowded with castles of
strength (Stolzenfels and Johannisberger are
nothing compared with the strong tower
into which the righteous run and are saved),
and our Decentralization at last, i'll the even
ing, amidst the lights that CLEAN from the
shore of heaven. The trouble is that the
vast majority of Eible voyagers stop at
Cobentz, where the chief glores begin.
The sea of Gods word is not like Gen
neseret, twelve miles by six, but boundless;
and i'll any one direction you can sail on
forever. Why, then contine yourself to a
short PSALM or to II few verses of an epis-
tie! The largest fish are not near the
shore. Hoist all sail to the winds of heav-
en-. Take hold of both oars, and pull away.
BE like some of the whalers that went out
gone for two or three years. Yea. calcu-
late on lifetime voyage. You do not
want to land until you land in heaven. Sail
away, oh We mariners for eternity! Launch
out into the deep.
The text is appropriate to all Christians
OF shallow experience. doubts and fears
have in our day been almost elected to the
parliament of Christian graces. Some con-
slider it bad sign not to have any doubts
Doubts and fears are not signs OF health
but testers and carbunceS. You have
valuable house or farm. 1t is suggested
that the title is not good. You employ coun-
sci. You have the deeds examined. You
search the records for mortgages, Judg-
ments. and liens. You are not satisfied
until you have Il certificate, signed by the
great seal of the state assuring you That
the title is good Yet how many leave their
title to heaven an undecided matter! Why
do you not go to the records and lind out!
Give yourself no rest. day or night, uhtli
you can read your title clear to mansions
in the skies.
Christian character Is to come up to
higher standards We have now to hunt
through our library to find one Robert
MCheyne, or one Edward Payson or one
Harlan Page The time will come when
he will find half dozen of them sitting
in the same seat with us. The grace OF
God can make a great deal better men th'th
those | have mentioned. Christians seem
afraid they will get heterodox by going too
far. They do not believe in Christian per-
lection. There is no danger of your being
perfect for some time yet. L VIII Keep
watch, and give you notice In time, II you
your theology. One-half of You Christians
are simply stuck in the mud. Why not cut
loose from everything but God! Gave not
to him that formal petition made up OF
"Os"-'O Lord"' this, and 80 Lord!
that When people are cold, and have
70 tn cd
ers with "O's!' and Forever and ever,
Amer" md things to fill up. Tell God
what yea want. with the feeling that he is
ready to gre it, and believe that you will
old prayer you have been making these
ter years. 1t is high time that you out
grew it. Throw it aside with your old
leds5ers, and your old hats, and your old
shoes Take review of your present
wants, OF your present sins. and or your
present blessings. With sharp blade cut
away your past half-and-half Christian
life, and with new determination, and new
plains, and new expectations, launch out
into the deep
The text is appropriate, to all who are en-
God has been fishing along the shore. We
set our net in a good, calm place, and in
sight Of Il fine chapel, and we go down
every Sunday to see if the fish have been
wise enough to come into our net. We
his hook and line. He throws his line from
the bridge; no fish He sits down on a
log: no fish. He stands in the sunlight
and casts the line; but no fish. He goes up
by the milldam, and stands behind the bank,
where the fish cannot see him, and he has
hardly dropped the hook before the cork
goes under. The fish come t. him as fast
as he can throw them aShU-e. In other
words, in our Christian work. why do we
not 90 where the fish are? 1t is not so easy
to catch souls in church, for they know
that we are trying to take them. If you
can throw your line out into the world.
where they are not expecting you, they win
be captured. Is it fair to take men by such
strategem? Yes. 1 would like to cheat
five thousand souls into the kingdom
The whole policy of the church of God
is to be changed, instead of chiefly looking
after the few who have become Christians,
our chief effort will be for these outside.
If after man is converted he cannot take
care Of himself, l am not going to take
care Of him. If he thinks that | am going
him out of an elegant spoon, and watch
him so that he does not get into Il draught
of wordliness, he is much mistaken. We
have in our churches q great mass of help
less. inane professors, who are doing moth
ing for themselves or for others. who want
us to stop and nurse them! They are SO
troubled with doubt as TO whether they
are Christians or not. The doubt is set
tied. They are not ChrlStanS The best
we can do with these fish is to throw fem
back into the stream, and go after them
again with the gospel net.
go into all the world and preach the
gospel" says Christ; into the factory, the
engine house, the clubroom, into tn houses
of the sick, into the dark lane, mo the
damp cellar, into the cold garrett, into the
dismal prison. Let every man, woman,
and child know that Jesus died. and that
the gates of heaven are wide open. With
the Bible in one pocket. end the hymn
book in another pocket. and y loaf of bread
under your arm, launch out into the great
deep of this worlds wretchedness.
The text is appropriate to all the I'M
forgiven Every sinnr would com to
God if he thought that he might come
just as he is. People talk as though the
pardon of God were Il narrow river, like
the kennebec or the Thames, and that
their sin draws too much water TO
enter il. No; it is not II river, nor a
bay, but n sea. | should like to per-
sllade you to launch out into the great
deep of Gods mercy, l am Il merchant
| have bought Il cargo of spices in India
! have. through bill of exchange, paid for
the whole cargo. You are Il ship captain.
give you the orders, and say
"Bring me those spices" You land in
India. You go to the trader and say:
Here are the ORDERS" and you find every
thing all right You do not stop to pay
the money yourself. 1t is not your business
to pay it, The arrangements were made