Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-07-07
Repent. the voice celestial cries,
Nor lOlger dare delay:
The wretch that scorns the mandate dies
And meets the fiery dQv


But analyze the publicans prayer a step
further. and find that he expected no relief
except through Gods mercy Why did not
he say am an honorable man. When ! get
so taxes. pay them right over TO the gov
eminent. give full permission to anybody
to audit my accounts appeal to Thy jus
tice, o God He made no such plea. He
threw himself fat on Gods mercy.
Have you any idea that a man by breaking
or the scales Of the leprosy can change the
disease? Have you any idea that you can by
changing your life change your heart that
you can purchase your way TO heaven?
Come. try it. Come bring all the bread you
ever gave to the hungry. all the medicine
you ever gave to the sick. all the kind words
you have ever uttered. all the kind deeds
that have ever distinguished you. Add them
all up into the tremendous aggregate of
good words and works. and then you will see
Paul sharpen his knife as he cuts that spirit
of self satisfaction as he cries. by the deeds
OF the law there shall no flesh be justified
Well. say thousand men in this audience,
il am not to get anything in the way Of
peace from God in good works how am 10
be saved? By mercy. Here / stand to tell
the story; mercy, mercy. long suffering
mercy; sovereign mercy infinite mercy.
omnipotent mercy, everlasting mercy. Why,
1t seems in the Bible as II all language were
exhausted. as IL II were stretched until II
broke, as II all expression were struck dead
at the feet of prophet and apostle and evan-
gelfst when II tries to describe Gods mercy.
On. says some one, that is only adding to
my crime II / come and confess before God
and seek His mercy. No. no. The muir
derer has come. and while he was washing
the blood OF his victim from his hands.
looked into the face OF God and cried for
r,ar md bfc aou1 has harp tyhito In Gods
pardoning love. And the soul that has
wandered of in the streets and down to the
very gates OF hell has come back to her
Fathers house. throwing her arms around
His neck, and been saved by the mercy that
saved Mary Magdalen.
But says some one. you arethrowing open
that door OF mercy too wide No. | will
throw it open wider. ! will take the re-
sponsibility OF saying that II all this audi
ence instead OF being gathered in semi
circle, were placed side by side. in one lonc
line, they could all march right through that
wide open gate OF mercy. whatsoever
whatsoever. Oh. this mercy ofGod-there
Is no line long enough TO fathom II there is
no ladder long enough 10 scale Il there *
no arithmetic facile enough 10 calculate Il
no angels wing can fly across H.
Heavenly harpers, aided by choirs with
feet like the sun, cannot compass that
harmony OF mercy. mercy. III SOUNDS IN tne
rumbling Of the celestial gate. hear It In
the Ginning OF the celestial towers. see 1t
flashing in the uplifted AMI downeast
coronets OF the saved. I hear II in the
laundering tread OF the hammered hosts
around about the throne. and then II comes
from the harps and crowns and thrones and
processiors to sit down, unexpressed. on
throne overlapping all heaven the throne
Of mercy,