Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-30

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appeals to the uncovered everywhere,
viz: "The Philipian Jailer." The text
selected was: "Sirs. what must l do TO
be sayed2" Acts $3.50.
Incarcerated in a Philippian peniten-
tiary. q place cold, and dark, and
damp. and lcathesome. and hideOus,
uniuumined save by the torch Of the
omcial who comes to see if they are
alive yet. are TWO ministers Of Christ,
their feet fast in instruments Of torture,
their shoulders dripping from the
stroke Of leathern thrOngs, theirmOuths
hot with Inflammation Of thirst, their
heads faint because they may not lie
down. In a comfortable room Of that
same building. and amid pleasant sur
rouudings. is a paid officer Of the gov
crnment who business 70 is TO supervise
the prison 10 is night and all is still
in The corridors of the dungeon save as
some murderer struggles with a hOrrid
dream. or q rUHian turns over in his
chains, or there is the cough OF dying
c0nsumpiye amid the darkness; but
suddenly.
CRASHi GO THE WALLS.
The TWO clergymen pass out free. The
iail-kecper. although familiar with the
darkness and the horrors lowering
around the dungeon. is startled beyond
an bounds. and dambeau Ia hand he
rushes through amid the falling walls,
shouting at the top of his voice, "Sirs,
what must I do 10 be saved?'
I stand now among those who are
asking the same question with more
OF less earuestness. and / aCcOst you in
this crisis of your soul with a message
ir0m heaven. There are those in this
audience who might be more skillful
here who can dive into deeper depths
OF science. or have larger knowledge;
there are in this audience those before
whom / would willingly bow as the
inferior 10 the superior; but / yield
TO no one i'm this assemblage In a de-
sire 10 have all the people saved by
the power of an OmnipOtent Gospel
] shall. proceed TO characterize the
question of the agitated jail-keeper
And first. ! characterize the question
as courteous. He might have rushed
In and said: Paul and Silas. you vag-
abOnds. are YOU tearing down this pris-
On? Aren't YOU satisfied with disturb
ing the peace Of the city by
YOUR INFAMOUS DOCTRINES?
And are YOU now going to destroy pub
lie property? Back with YOU 20 your
places. yea vaabonds." He said no
such thing. The word of four letters.
"Sirs. equivalent TO lords" recOgniz-
Cd the majesty and the honor Of their
mission. Sirs, If q man with a cap
tiOus spirit tries 20 find the way TO
heaven, ne will miss IT, II a man
comes out and prOnOunces all Chris
tians as hypOcrites and the religion Of
Jesus Christ as atfraud. and asks ir-
ritating questions about the mysterious
and the inscrutable, saying, Come
my wise man. explain this and explain
that if this be true how can that be
true'-nO such man finds the way to
heaven. The question of the text was
decent, courteous, gentlemanly, defer
entail Sirs'
Again. l characterize the text OF the
agitated jail-keeper by saying that it
was
A PRACTICAL QUESTION.
He did not ask why God let sin come
into the world. he did not ask how
Christ could be God and man in the
same person, he did not ask the doc
trine of the DEGREES explained or want
to know whom Cain married, or what
was the cause Of the earthquake. His
present and everlasting welfare was in
vClved in the question. and was not
that practical? But know multitudes
Of people who are bOthering themselves
about the nOn-essentials Of religion.
What would you think of a man who
should. while discussing the question
Of the light and heat Of the sun, spend
his time down In a coal cellar. when
b. might come out and feel the one and
see the other? Yes there are multi
Judes of men who in discussing the
chemistry of the Gospel. spend their
time down in the dungeon OF their un-
belief. when God all the while stands
telling them 20 come out into the noon
day light and warmth of the Sun OF
The question for YOU.
my brother, TO discuss. is whether Cal
vim or Arminius was right. not whether
"a handful OF water in holy baptism or
q baptlstery is the better. not whether
Iorordination and free agency can be
harm0nized.
THE PRACTICAL QUESTION
for YOU to discuss. and for me % dis
cuSs, is, Where will I spend eternity?"
Again, / remark: / characterize this
question Of the agitated jail-keeper as
one Of Incompatible importance. Men
are alike and I suppose ne had scores
OF questions on his mind but am cues
tons for this world are hushcd up. for
often. annihilated In this one ones
non of the text: What must DO 10
be saved % And have You my brother.
any question of importance COMPARED
with that question? lt is q question
or business. Your CONTROVERSIES tells
You that YOU win soon cease worldly
business. You know very well that You
VIII soon pass ont OF that partnership.
on know that beyond q certain point.
or all The millions Of dollars worth OF
goods sold YOU viii not handle a yard
oil cloth. or pound Of sugar. or a pen
nys worth. Auer that. IL o conflara-
ton should sweep an Washington 10
ashes. 10 would not touch YOU. and
would not damage YOU. II every cash
lar should abscond. and every bank
suspend payment and every insurance
company fail. 10 would no; affect YOU.
OIL HOW INSIGNIFICANT
is business this side Of the grave with
business The other side OF the grave
Ha'e Fou made any purchases for eter-
MY Have you any securities thar
VIII las, tOroVpro Are Won fobhfnc for