The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-08-27
REV. 1AUMAGE'S SUNDAY SERMON
AN ELOQUENT DISCOURSE.
Subject. "The Great TriaI.w

g., 4.
Standing in acourt room, you say to your
selfi "At this bar crime has often been
arraigned; at this witness stand the oath has
often been taken; at this jurors bench the
verdict has been rendered.; at this judges
desk sentence has been pronounced" But
have 20 tell you to-day OF trial higher than
any oyer and Terniner or Circuit or Su-
preme or Chancery. II is the trial OF every
Christian man for the life OF his soul. This
trial is different from any other in the fact
that II is both civil and criminal.
The issues at stake are tremendous. and |
shall in my sermon show you. first, what are
the grounds OF complaint; then, who are tho
witnesses in the cause, and lastly, who are
the advocates
When trial Is called on the first thing ,s
to have the indictment read Stand up then,
o. Christian man. and hear the indictment
OF the court OF high heaven against thy soul
IL Is m indictment OF ten counts, for thou
hast directly or Indirectly broken all the ten
commandments. You know how Il thun-
dsred on Sinai and when God came down
now the mountain rocked and the smoke
assembled ns from a smoldering furnace. and
the darkness gathered thick, aud tho loud,
deep trumpet uttered the words: "The soul
that slnneth, II shall die" Are you guilty.
or not guiltyP Do not put in negative plea
too quick, for have 20 announce that 'inll
have sinned and come short OF the glory OF
God. There is more that doe,h good; no,
not one. whosoever shall keep the whole
law, yet offend in one point, he is guilty OF
ALL" Do not, therefore, be too husty in
pronouncing yourself not guilty.
The lawsuit before US also charges you
with the breaking of n solemn contract
Many time did we promise to be the Lords.
We gotdown on our knees and said 40.
Lord, am Thine now and forever" Did
you keep the promise? Have you stood up
TO the contract2 Have you not sometimes
Ialtered when you ought to have been true2
Have you not been proud when VOC ought
TO have been humble2 Have you not PLAYED
the coward when you ought to have been
tne heroT charge it upon You and charge
ltupon myself-we have broken the con-
tract.
still further; this lawsuit claims damages
at your hands. The greatest slander on the
the Christian religion Is an inconsistent pro-
lessor The Bible says religion Is one thing;
we. by our Inconsistency, say religion is
some other thing, and what is more deplora.
BILE about Il Is that people can see faults in
DINERS while they can not see any In them
selves. IL YOU shall at any time find some
miserable old gossip. with imperiectons
from the crown OF her head to the sole OF her
foot, perfect blotch OF sin herself. she will
go tdttllng, tattling, tattling, all the wears OF
her life about the Inconsistencies OF Others.
having no idea that she is inconsistent her
sell. God save the world from the gossip.
female and male! l think the males are the
worst
Now you have heard tho indictment read.
Are you ready to plead guilty or not guilty.
perhaps you are not ready yet 70 plead.
Then the trial will go on. The witnesses will
be called, and we shall have the matter de-
cided. In the name Cf God now make pro-
clamation: Oyez! OYe2l Oyez, whosver
hath anything to offer in this trial in which
God Is the plaintifr and the Christian soul
pf Int ht,,
give testimony in this solemn trial.
The first witness 1 call upon the stand In
behalf OF the prosecution is the world-all
critical and observant OF Christian char
acter. You know that thsre are people
around YOU who perpetually banquet on the
frailties of Gods children. You may know,
II you have lived In the country, that q crow
cares Tor nothing so much as carrlon. There
are those who imagine that out OF the faults
OF Christians they can make u bridge of
boats across the stream Of death, and they
are going to try IL; but, alas for the mistake,
'When they get mid-strsa m away will go tho
bridge and down will 90 their souls TO perli-
ton. o world OF the greedy eye and the
hard heart, come on the stand now and ties.
tty In behalf Of the prosecution against this
Christian soul on trial. What do YOU know
about this Christian man? "Oh," SAYS the
world, 81 know great deal about him. He
talks about putting his treasures In heaven,
put lie Is the sharpest mau in a trade | ever
knew. He seems 10 want us to believe that
he is a child Of God, but he Is Just full Of
imperlections. do not knew but | am
great deal better than he Is now. Often
times he Is very earthly, and hs talks so lit
tie about Christ and so much about himself
am very glad to testify that this is bad
man."
Stop, o World. with the greedy eye and
hard heart. fear you are too much inter-
ested In this trial to give impartial evidence.
Let all those who hear the testimony OF this
witness know that there is an old fau.dy
quarrel between these two parties. There
always has been variance between the
World and the Church, and while the World
on the witness stand to-day has told great
deal OF truth about this Christian man, You
must take II all with much allowance re-
membering that they still keep the old grndge
good. o. World of the greedy and the hard
heart, that will do; you must sit down.
The second Witness | call in this ease Is
Conscience. Who art thou. D Conscience
what Is your business? Where were YOU
Dornt What are you doing here? "Oh,"
says conscience. 81 was born in heaven
came down to bnfriend this man. have
lived with him. have instructed him. |
have warned him. i showed him the right
and the wrong, advising him TO take the one
and escheS the other. / have kindled
great light in his soul. With whip OF
scorpion have scourged his wlckedness and
have tried to cheer him when doing right:
and yet am compelled 10 testify on the
stand to-day that he mas sometimes rejected
my mission. oh, how many cups Of lifa
have l pressed to his lips that he dashed
down, and how often has he stood with his
hard heel on the bleeding heart of the Son
OF God! IL pai1s me very much that | have
TO testify against this Christian man, and
yet must, in behalf OF Him who will la no
wise clear the guilty. say that this Christian
man hua tnOa hug
He has been neglcctiul. He has done Il
thousand things he ought not TO have done.
ana lett undons a thousand things he ought
70 have done That will do. Conscience.
hou can sit down.
The third witness I call in the ease is an
angel OF God. Bright ami shining one. what |
doest thou here? What hast thou to say
against this man on trial? "Oh," saws tho !
angel, ~ have been messenger TO him. ( |
nave guarded him. / have washed him. With !
this wing have defended him, and often ,
times, when he knew II not, / led him into |
green Daginrag and hagfi.. stE A