The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1894-09-29

people, Come in and be at home" In
stead of that, l think all these SUI
roundings often compel the people t
stay out. Now, let us all repent Q
our sins and begin on the other track
and by our heartiness of affection, an,
warmth of manner, and imploration o
the Spirit of God, compel TIL
people to come in. How shall
we lead sinners to accept the Lord
invitation? / think we must certainl,
begin by a holy life. We must b
better men, better women, before w,
can compel the people to come in the
kingdom of Jesus Christ. There are
fine essays being written in this day
about science and religion. tell yor
the best argument in behalf of oul
holy Christianity: 1t is good man, a
good woman, a life all consecrated to
Christ. No infidel can answer it. Oh
let us by holy example compel the
people to come in!
think there is great work also to
be done in the way of prayer. If 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, with
out 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 were preju-
diced against the music, men who were
prejudiced against the church, men
who were prejudiced against the
preacher, men who were prejudiced
against God I do not care-thcy might
be brought IN by fervent prayer-you
would compel them to come in.
At the close of religious service,
and when the people had nearly all
left the building, pastor saw little
girl with her head bowed on the back
of the pew, and, passing down the
aisle, he said to himself: "The little
child has fallen asleep" So he tapped
her on the shoulder, and said:
1.-The service is over" She said:
Il know it is over: l am praying,
sir, l am praying" "Well," said
the minister, whatsoever we ask of
God, believing, We will receive" She
said: SIS that in the Bible?" EYES,"
he said, ''there is a promise of that
in the Bible" "Well," she said, ''let
me see it." So he turned over the
Bible until he came to the promise,
and she said: That's so, is it? Now,
0 Lord, bring my father to this church
tonight"
While she was praying her father
passed into the door of the church, and
came down by his child and said
What do you want of me?' When
hat child had begun to pray one hour
before for her father he was three miles
away, but by some strange impulse that
lie could not understand he fastened
20 the church, and there the twain
knelt, the fathers arm around the
,hild's neck, the child's arm around
he fathers neck, and there he entered
IN the road to Heaven. whatsoever
re ask of God, believing, We will re-
Give" That was an answer to the
hild's prayer. What did she 10! She
ompeled him to come in.
tell you to-day. my friends, of
reat salvation. Do you understand |
yhat it is to have Saviour? He took |
our place. He bore your sins He |
1ept your sorrows. He is here now to
ave your soul. A soldier, worn out in
is country's service, took to the violin
S mode of earning his living. He was
ound in the streets of Vienna, play
ng his violin; but after awhile his
and become feeble and tremulous, and
e could no more make music. One
ay, while he sat there weeping a man
assed along and said: my friend,
on are too old and too feeble, give me
our VIOLIN" and he took the mans
iolin and began to discourse most ex-
uisite music, and the people gathered
round in larger and larger multitudes,
nd the aged man held his hat, and
lie coin poured in and poured in until
lie hat was full. ''Now," said the man
no was playing the violin, put that
'in in your pockets" The coin was
ut in the old mans pockets. Then he
ED his hat again, and the violinist
ayed more sweetly than ever, and
aged until some of tho peo-
e wept and some shouted. And
gain the hat was filed with
lin. Then the violinist dropped
he instrument and passed off, and
he whisper went out: ''Who is it? who
it?" and some one just entering the
'owd said: ''Why, that is Butcher, the
reat violinist, known all through the
aim: yes. that is the great yiolinist. "
he fact was, he had just taken that
ans place, and assumed his poverty,
nd borne his burden, and played his
usic, and earned his livelihood, and
ade sacrifice for the poor old man.
, the Lord Jesus Christ comes down
Id He finds us in our spiritual penury,
nd across the broken strings of His