The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-08-28
SIN ON TRIAL.
Rov. DIR. Talmage Appears sor the
Prosecution,
And Having Made His Case Against the
Accused, Presents an Eloquent
Plea for Mercy to the
All-Wise Judge.

II
Dewitt Talmage was delivered before
his Washington congregation, being
based on the text:
We have an advocate with the Father, Je
sus Christ the righteous John. H., |.
Standing in court room, you say tt
yourself: ''At this bar crime has otter
been arraigned; at this witness stanC
the oath has often been taken; at the
Jurors bench the verdict has 'been
rendered; at this judges desk sentence
has been pronounced" But have to
tell you to-day of a trial higher than
any oyer and terminer or circuit OF
supreme or chancery. 1t is the trial
of every Christian man for the life OF
his soul. This trial is different from
any other in the fact that it is both
civil and criminal.
The issues at stake are tremendous,
and i shall in my sermon show you'
first, what are the grounds OF COM
plant; then, who are the witnesses in
the cause, and, lastly. who are the ad-
yocates.
When a trial is called on the first
thing is to have the indictment read.
Stand up then, O, Christian man, and
hear the indictment of the court OF
High Heaven against thy soul. 1t is
an indictment Of ten counts, for thou
hast directly or indirectly broken all
the ten commandments You know
how it Numbered on Sinai and when
God came down how the mountain
rocked and the smoke assembled as
from smoldering furnace, and the
darkness gathered thick, and the loud,
deep trumpet uttered the words: "The
soul that sinneth, it shall die" Are
you guilty, or not guilty? Do not put
in a negative plea too quick, for l
have to announce that ''all have sinned
and come short of the glory of God.
There is none that doeth 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 hasty in pronouncing yourself not
guilty.
Now, you have heard the Indictment,
read Are you ready to plead guilty
or not guilty? Perhaps you are not
ready to plead. Then the trial will
go on. The witnesses will be called,
and we shall have the matter decided.
In the name of God now make proc
lamation: Oyer! Oyer! Oyez; who
soever hath anything to offer in this
trial in which God is the plaintiff and
the Christians soul the defendant, let
him now step forth and give testimony
In this solemn trial.
The FIRST witness call upon to stand
In behalf of the prosecution is the
World-all critical and observant of
character You know that
there are people around you who per-
petually banquet on the frailties of
Gods children. You may know. if
you have lived in the country, that a
crow cares for nothing so much as
carrion. There are those who mag
inc that out of the faults of Christians
they can make bridge of boats across
the stream of death, and they are go
ing to try it; but, alas for the mistake!
When they get midstream away will
go the bridge and down will go their
souls to perdition. o world of
the greedy eye and the hard
heart, come on the stand now and tes-
tify in behalf of the prosecution
a gainst this Christian soul on trial.
What do you know about this Chris
tian man? "Oh," says the World, Il
know great deal about him. He
talks about putting his treasures in
Heaven, but he is the sharpest man in
Ha 10
want us to believe that he is child of
God, but he is just full of imperfec-
lions. | do not know but am great
deal better than he is now. Often
times he is very earthly, and he talks
so little about Christ and SO much
about himself. am very glad to tes-
tify that this is bad man."
Stop, o World with the greedy eye
and hard heart. l fear you are too
much interested in this trial to give
impartial evidence. Let all those who
hear the testimony of this witness
know that there is an old family quar-
lrel between these two parties. There
always has been a variance between
bhe 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 it
all with much allowance, remember
ing that they will keep the old grudge
good. o World of the greedy eye and
hard heart, that will do; you may sit
down.
The second witness / call in this
case is Conscience. Who art thou, o
Conscience? What is your business?
Where were you born? What are you
doing here? oh" says Conscience.
II was born in Heaven. came down
to befriend this man. have lived
~ IL. hava ;nefructad him