Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-07-07

How was affected when some one told me
In regard to that accident on Long Island
sound, when one poor woman came and got
her hand on a raft as she tried to save her
self, but those who were on the raft thought
there was no room for her. and one man
came and most cruelty beat and bruised her
hands until she fell of. Oh. | bless God that
this liieboat Of the gospel has room enough
for the sixteen hundred millions Of the race
room for one room for ALL AM yet there
is room
push this analysis OF .be pI5licln's
prayer a step further and find that he did
not expect any mercy except by pleading for
it, He did not fold his hands together as
some do. saving III I'm to be saved. I'll
be saved. II I'm TO be lost, I'll be lost. AMI
there is nothing for me to do. lie knew
what was worth having vac worth asking
for hence this earnest cry OF the text, GOD
be merciful TO me. sinnerm
IL was an earnest prayer, and II Is charac-
teristic OF all Bible prayers that they were
answered-the blind man. Lord, that may
receive my sight !" the leper, Lord, II Thou
wilt. Thou canst make me clean = sinking
Peter, Lord. save me !" the publican, Good
be merciful to me- a sinnerF But II you
come up with the tip Of your finger and tap
III TIE Etlt pl mercy II viii AvA OpfHs A'N
have got to have the earnestness OF the war
rior who defeated and pursued. dismounts
from his lathered steed and with gaunteted
fist pounds at the palace gate.
You have got to have the earnestness 81
toe man who. at midnight. in the fourth
story. has a sense ~ suffOcatiOn with the
house in flames. goes to the window AMI
shouts TO the firemen, "Help" Oh. unior-
given soul. II you were in full earnest [
might have TO command silence in the audi
tory. for your prayers would drown the yO.ce
az the speaker. and we would have to pause
in the great service. It IS because YOU do
not realize your sin before God That you are
not this moment crying, "lIercy. mercy,
mercy"
This prayer Of the publican was also an
humble prayer. The pharisee looked up the
publican looked down. You cannot be saved
rs q metaphysician or rs a rhetorician you
cannot be saved as a scholar you cannot be
saved as an artist you cannot be saved as
an official. II you are ever saved at all, it
will be as sinner. God be merciful 10 me,
a sinner :"
Another characteristic Of the prayer Of the
publican was. it had ring OF confidence.
It was not cry Of despair. He knew he was
going to get what he asked for. He wanted
mercy; he asked for it, expecting it. And
do you tell ne. o man. that God has pro-
vided this salvation and is not going to let
you have it?
II man build a bridge across a river,
will he not let people 20 over it? II ply
stefan gives a prescription TO a sick man,
will he not let him take it2 Ii an architect
puts mp building. will he not let people in
It? II God provides salvation, will He not
let YOU have it, oh. If there be n pharisee
mere. man who says / am all right my
past life has been right. / don't want the
pardon Ofthe gospel. for | have no sin to
parton. let me say that while that man Is in
that mood there is no peace for him. there Is
no pardon. no salvation. and the probability
j. he will 20 down and spend eternity with
the lost pharisee Of the text.
Bat il there be here one VINO says / want
TO bc better. / want to quit my sins, my life
has been very imperfect life. how many
things have [ said that | should not have
said. how many things / have done | should
not have done. | want to change my life,
want to begin now. let me say TO such asOul.
God is waiting. God i ready and you are
neac the kingdom. or rather you have en-
tered it. for no man says ] am determined 10
serve God and surrender the sins OF my life
here. now. ! consecrate myself to the Lord
Jesus Christ who died 10 redeem me mo man
from the depth Of his soul says that but he is
already Christian.
Ny uncle the Rev. Samuel X. Talmage. OF
Augusta. Ga. was passing along the strccts
Of Augusta one day. and he saw a man.
black man. step from the sidewalk out into
the street take his hat of and bow very
slowly My uncle was not a man who de-
mnnded obs aqliousncss. and he said. "What
30 Won DO that fory' oh says the man.
"ma,sa. the other night | was going along
tine street. and | hadaburden on my shoulder.
and was sick. and / was hungry and ! came
10 the door ~ your church. and you were
preaching about God be merciful 70 me,
a sinner and stood there at the door long
enough To- hear you say that If man could
utter that prayer from the depth OK his soul
God would pardon him and finally take him
10 heaven. Then / put eny burden on my
shoulder. ana / started home. l got to my
home and sat down. and ! said. God be
mor,ilul 10 me- "a sinner hlIt it got darker
md darker. and then, massl. | got down on
my knees. and ! said. cod be- merciful
b. me. a sinner" and the burden got
heavier. and it got darker and darker.
knew not what 10 90. Then J got down
on my face ami ! cried, God be- merci-
mi 10 me- sinner" and away OF saw
light coming. and IL came nearer and nearer
and nearer until all WAS bright in my heart.
and [ rose. 7 Am happy nOw-the burden
i III Elu' iIl -ltA w iAN 'eAi II 'fft
meet YOU in the street | would get clear OF
the sidewalk. ami / would bow down and
take my hat or before you. feel that l owe
more to yon than to any other man. That Is
the reason bow before you.
Oh. are there not many now VINO can utter
this prayer. the prayer Of the black man. the
prayer OF the publican. God be merciiul 10
me. a sinner While | halt in the sermon.
will YOU not all utter it? do not say audi
blv. nuf utter it down in the depths OF yoIr
souls consciousness. Yes the sigh goes al
through the galleries il goes all through the
pew,. it goes all through these aisles. sign
after sigh Cod bee merctful to me, sinner
Have YOU al uttered it, No. there Is on"
soul thar has not uttered it, too proud to ut
ter t. too hard 10 utter it. Holy Spirit
descend upon that one heart. Yes. he begins
10 breathe il now No bowling Of the head
yet. mo- starting tear Yet. but the prayer Is
b"ginnnc il is born. God be mcrcliul 10
me-. "A sinner Have all uttered it? Then J
utter it myself, for no one in all the house
need. 20 utter it more than my own SOUL
Col bee n,crciiul 20 me- a sinner