The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-10-03

hands-the church architecture and the
church surroundings saying to the people,
"Come In and be at home" Instead Of that.
Think all these surroundings often compel
the people to stay out. Now, let US all re-
pent of our sins and begin on the other track
and by our heartiness Of affection and
warmth of manner and imploration OF the
spirit Of God compel the people to come In.
How shall we lead sinners to accept the
Lords tnvitation2 think We must certain
" begin by holy life. We must be better
men, better women, before we can compel
the people 10 come into the kingdom OF
Jesus Christ. There are fine essays being
written In this day about science and re-
igion. tell you the best argument In be-
half OF our holy Christianity. 1t Is a good
man. a good woman, a life all consecrated
to Christ No infdel can answer It. On.
let us by holy example compel the people
to come in!
read OF minister OF the gospel who was
very fond Of climbing among the Swiss
mountains. One day he was climbing among
very dangerous places and thought himself
all alone when he heard q voice beneath him
say "Father. look out for the safe path /
am following" And he looked back. and he
saw that he was climbing not only for him
self, but climbing for his boy. Oh, let Us be
sure and take the safe path! Our children
arc following our partners In business are
following ; our neighbors are following;
great multitude stepping right on 10 our
steps. Oh, be sure and take the right path
Exhibit Christian example, and so by your
godly walk compel the people to come In. =.
think there Is work also In the way Of
kindly admonition. do not believe there ts
person In this house who, II approached
In kindly and brotherly manner, would
refuse to listen. II you are rebufed, It Is
because you lack In tact and common sense.
But. oh, how much effective work there is
In the way ofkipdly admonition! There are
thousands of men oil around about you who
have never had one personal invitation to
the cross. Give that one invitation, and you
would be surprised at the alacrtty with
which they would accept It.
have q friend, Christian physician,
who one day became very anxious about the
salvation OF brother physician, and 80 he
left his Office, went down to his mans Office
and said, "Is the doctor in?" s'No," replied
the young % man waiting Ssis 49, doctor sss
he comes In, tell him called and give him
nv Christian love-. This worldly doctor
came home after awhile, and the message
was given to him, and he said within him
self, "What does he mean By leaving his
Christian love for me2" And he became
very much awakened and stirred In spirit,
and he said after awhile, "Why, that man
must mean my SOUL" and he went into his
back Office, knelt down and began to pray,
Then he took his hat and went out to the
Office Of this Christian physician and said,
"What can do to be saved2" and the two
doctors knelt in the Office and commended
their souls to God. All the means used IN
that case was only the voice OF one good
man, saying, "Glve my Christian love to the
DOCTOR" The voice OF kindly admonition.
Have you uttered 1t to-day2 VIII you utter
It tomorrow? VIII you utter 1t now? Com
pei them to come In.
think there Is great work also to be
done In the way of prayer. II we had faith
enough to-day, we could go before God and
ask for the salvation of all the people In our
churches, and they would all be saved there
and then without single exception. There
might be professional men there, political
men there, worldly men there, men who had
not heard the gospel for twenty years, men
who are prejudiced against the preachers,
men who are prejudiced against the music,
men;who are prejudiced against the church,
men who are prejudiced against God-I do
not care-they might be brought In by fer
vent prayer-you would compel them to
come IN.
Oh, for such an earnest prayer! People
of God, lay hold Of tho horns Of the altar
now and supplicate the salvation of all those
who sit in the same pew with you-yea, the
OF all who sit In your churches.
I tell you to-day, my friends of great sal
vation. Do you understand what 1t Is 10
have Saviour? He took your place. He
bore your sins. He wept your sorrows. He
Is here now to save your soul. A soldier,
worn out in his country's service, took to the
violin as mode Of earning his living. he
was found In the street of Vienna playing
his violin, but after awhile his hand became
feeble and tremulous and he could no more
make music. One day, while he sat there
weeping, a man passed along and said:
me your violin."' And he took the mans
violin and began to discourse most exquisite
music, and the people gathered around In
larger and larger multitudes, and the aged
man held his hat, and the coin poured In un-
til the hat was full.
"Now," said the man who was playing the
violin. ''put that coin In your pockets" The
coin was put in the old mans pockets.
Then he held his hat again, and the violin
ist played more sweetly than ever and played
untilsome OF the people wept and some shout
ed. And again the hat was filled with coin.
Then the violinist dropped the inftrument
and passed of, and the whisper went, "Who
Is it, who Is it," and some one just entering
the crowd said. "Why, that Is Bucher, the
great violinist, known all through the realm.
Yes, that Is the great v1olinist." The fact
was, he had just taken that mans place,
and assumed his poverty, and borne his bur-
den, and played his music, and earned his
livelihood, and made sacrifice Tor the poor
old man. So the Lord Jesus Christ comes
down, and He finds US In our spiritual PEN
ury, and across the broken strings OF His
own broken heart he strikes strain of in
finite music which wins the attention OF
earth and heaven. He takes our poverty.
He plays our music. he weeps our sorrow.
He dies our death. a sacrifice for you, q
sacrifice for me.
Oh, will you accept this sacrifice now2 I
do not single out this and that man and this
and that woman. But I say all may come.
The sacrifice is so great all may be saved.
Does 1t not seem to you as If heaven was
very near? 7 can feel its breath on my
cheek. God Is near. Christ is near. The
Holy Spirit is near. Ministering angels are
near, your glorihed kindred in heaven near,
your Christian father near, your glorlfled
mother near, your departed children near.
Your redemption is Near.
Rice PLANTING In Janar