Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1893-07-20
CONVERSION OF MATTHEW
ME LEFT ALI. ROSH: UP. AND
FOLLOWED JESUS.

ales, to a COmgre CATION r hat was |
Large Regardless of weather.
Despite the unauspicious weather last
evening the First Baptist church was
almost filled with those who were de- |
tcrmincd to hear Rev. DIR. Wharton, rain
or no rain. In fact. the Doctor told his
that there were about
three times as many in the house as he
expected to sec. Before the sermon DIR.
Wharton touchingly sang solo. Be
lieve and Keep on Believing" The con-
gregational singing was as good asever.
The songs sung at this ,neeting are from
"Windows of Heaven" a book of hymns
compiled by DIR. Wharton and revised by
MIR. Field, who leads the congregational
singing.
DR.. Wharton read as the first scripture
icsson Of tho evening part of the fifth
chapter of Luke. A number of requests
for prayer were sent up, which he read,
after which prayer was offered by Rev.
]. g. Adams.
DR.. Wharton's sermon was preached
from the text
Aud he left all. roc up. and followed him.
Luke 8 2S.
II used to think" began DIR. Wharton,
"tliat il could he converted like Paul
was. then would just be happy. But so
far as results go it would be just as well
to bc converted like Matthew. He left
all. rose up, and followed Him.
Matthew was publican. You all
know what a publican was. When por-
tions of this country had military COVER
nors there were collectors of revenue, and
you will remember that you could not
buy box of matches unless it had been
stamped. You could hardly sing with
out paying a revenue. The difference
bet wccn the Roman government and
the United States government was that
tho former "farmed out" the Offices
gave them to the highest bidder. 1t was
as il the cnilcctorship for this county
were put up and bid off by the man who
was willing to give the most money for
it. What county is this? He was told
'Buncombc'l. Well. well. i've heard OF
talking for buncombc' for Il long time,
and here l am at last. am glad to
know it. Hurrah, for old Buncomhc
You need not be surprised to see publ
cans and sinners classcd together. for a
publican was certainly Il sinner.
Matthew had his call. want to say
| don't believe there is a man or woman
here but has at some time had call
ISometimcs calls are made by Affections
Rev. A. {. Dixon told me that while he
was in Baltimore there came to the Sun
lday school little boy whose mother
Twas a worldly woman. The boy re
Iceived a lcaflct with a picture of shep
herd and sheep crossing a stream. The
little fellow ran home, gave it. to hi:
mother and asked her to read j. tC
him, which she did. The mother told Mr.
Dixon afterward that while she wa,
reading the thought came to her Il an
going to lose my child That night h,
became i'll, and in a few davs died. Al
he lay dying he put his little hands
kabout his mothers neck and Whispered
EMamma, won't you follow me over thu
kfiver, like the shepherd followed th'
lamb?' She promised she would. ant
she did. That was her call. You hav'
been sick unto death and said %, God
when | get up | will be a better man !?
But YOU have not obeyed your call. Al
though you may try to laugh it off ant
shake off your wife's or mothers en-
treaties, you say to yourself that you ar
not living as you ought.
II suppose some said of Matthew
He will do you no good. He is one @
the meancst men here Look at Pau
Some of Gods best servants were at on
time the best servants of the devil.
''If could get 100 men and women t.
weeping over the sins of Ashevile
would expect God to come with wonder
ful power. My friend, If you are in
business that is not right. give it up tc
night. IL you gamble, drink, or hav
any other habit that you do not wan
to meet God with, give it up. No ma
ter what the sin, say I'll leave it. Jcsu
Christ is an easy master. He does nc
ask us to give up anything that is nc
bad.
Matthew said Here l am Lord; II
poor sinner, but l will follow you.' +
Iconfessed publicly. You saw 1t maxi
me too conspicuous to confess in public
would like to know how conspicuo,
you have been in your work tor Il
devil. The woman who goes into Il
ball room and whirls round and 'rour
with mans arm about her waist sa.
1T makes me too conspicuous
Gods service there is no halfway bu
aess @ w V ea.ys ,n o,,t .nI nrt
God. would rather you wou
= come plain out and say I'm for t
devil and your enemy, than to nave y
lukewarm and one OF these iackaoais'e
CHRISTIANS linen can KNOW Wnat l
doing. a young man says my name
on the cnurcn DOCKS, Dut am not mu
OF christian. why don't you go
Brother Whte ana teii MIN 10 take yo