Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-21

thff1 ny int nost 0boet, ana they re-
ceived II. IL came 10 them with as-
surance. Has the Gospel come to Us with
this assurance?
I'm London persons arrested for crime
are put into what Is called the House Of
Detention. The innocent man feels very
uneasy there for fear he may through
some mistake be sent to the House OF
Correction. Very many Christians are In
g. hour, OF detention. not feeling sure
that they are saved In the present, and
worried about their future
John says we know that we have
eternal life. he pever says we think we
have, or we guess we have, but we know.
I'm the North especially we have class
OF people that call themselves agnostics.
The Latin for this is ignoramus. and the
English is ignorance. Ordinary PEOPLE
don't know what the Greek word agnostic
means. The man who has been saved, and
knows whereof he speaks Is more than
a match fo- the agnostic. The believing
man has assurance-he knows he has
eternal life. IL know that my Redeemer
liveth." All the saints In the Old and New
Testament had this assurance. They were
believing believers. So many to-day IN
this age say they hope they may be saved
and are struggling for II. What a differ
enoe between them and the believers OF
old times.
"Why are we hindered from having this
asSuranceI' Dr. Needham asked. lone
thing IS. we don't believe this doctrine.
We link II with fanaticism; call II pre-
sumption. You are not prcsumptuous II
you believe BY faith the Israelites passed
through the Red sea. That was not pre-
sumption. But the Egyptians assaying to
90 80 were drowned. That was presump-
lion. 1t IS those that try to mimic Chris
tianity that are presumptuous and fall
Another thing. We don't believe In the
power of Jesus Christ TO save. 1t was
the blood alone on the door-post that saved
Israel Of old in the land OF Egypt. Jus1
so il is, the blood of Jesus Christ alone,
that he shed for our sins. not his own.
This viii save us 10 the uttermost.
He that believeth hath the witness: he
has a record--a testimony In his own
heart. This testimony is brought to US by
the Spirit OF God-from the Word OF God.
We must believe God in spite of our
senses. You see the sun going down appa-
rently in the ocean, but you know bet
ter. although your eyes can see that II
seems 10 be going down into the sea. Be
lleye Gods Word at any cost Any body
in "DOubting Castle" is TO be pitied.
Groaning in their misery. with no as
surance. beaten and bruised by giant de-
spair But we can open IL even as Chris
tian did with the GOLDEN key of promise.
We must keep on the Kings highway,
and turn away from by-path meadow.
THE KINGDOM OPEN.
God opens the Kingdom of Heaven TO
all believers. and invites us to come In.
The work OF atonement was finished when
The blood of Jesus Christ was shed He
is the door. Whonsoever Will may come.
1t IS not right for us TO be miserable ana
unhappy IL is a libel on our Christianity.
"WhOsoever believeth not maketh Goa
"A liar" the evangelist continued. DO L
ever doubt? Yes, l do. l often doubt my
own sincerely, but not my salvation. Be
lieve all that the Bible says. Believe
every word Of it. even though the hea-
yons fall Then you shall have assurance
Il did have doubts the first year after
my conversion. 1 lived in the south OF
ireland. and my spiritual state was
one of feeling. After our meetings were
over l lost all emotion, and had no as
surance. but one night when In this
state. emotions all gone. feeling all gone,
Satan tempting me. then the thought
came what does the Word say? Then 1
got the light and read the promise. In
stantly doubts vanished and peace re-
turned"
At the close of the service Dr. Need
ham asked all those to rise who had this
assurance Of full salvation. Many arose
at this invitation. After this he invited
those to rise that wished to have this as
surance. At this invitation people rose
all over the house. He also invited thoss
to rise who wanted to be Christians.
Several rose in answer 10 this request.
The evangelist announced that at the
prayer-meeting this morning at 7 O'Clock
special prayer will be offered that the
businessmen Of the city may be more
fully consecrated to Gods service.
MIR. Bliss on Blind BartiInaeus.
Mr.. Bliss preached at Old-Market Hall
last night to packed audience, and the
largest number of converts yet made arose
I'm response to his invitation. \ number
Of young men were among those who ac-
ccptcd Christ.
To those who haze read the report OF
the Pollard Brecknridge trial the text
taken by the preacher VIII seem peculiarly
appropriate. He spoke on the life OF
blind Bartemaeus preferred 10 by Miss Pol
lard as Blind Barnabas') from Mark, X:
A. to 81.
Mr. Bliss said that Notwithstanding that
Bartimaeus was a beggar, he had sue
ceeded in gaining the attention OF the
Heavenly King. This. he argued, was
proof conclusive that even the lowlest
Of US could secure an audience with God.
We must beg spiritually, he said. He re-
ferred 10 the opposition and the jeers and
taunts which would be thrown at one
who reformed and confessed Christ.
But" he continued. 'if man perseveres
in his loyalty to Christ he Will most as
suredlv live these down. and become q
shining example OF Christianity"
In closing the evangelist spoke Of the
lost opportunity. and urged upon his
hearers one and all, TO forsake their SIN
ful lives and live only for Christ. His
final appeal was eloquent, and when he
called for those who placed their trust in
God TO rise. fully one half of the audience
arose.
Revs. J. S. Hunter and J. L. Cannon
offered prayer.
BY request Mr.. Cannon was put upon
the witness stand and cross questioned
by air Bliss as to the obstacles which
arise i'm the human mind 10 protesting
Christianity. This was .dther a antique
proceeding. and was listened TO with
much interest Mr.. Cannon made an
excellent witness, and made his answers
in a direct and concise form. His les
timonv was conclusive in behalt OF
christianity. and tended to move any
lingering doubts that might exist as 10
90 Lagnu1inp "A Christian.