The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1896-08-21
Suppose we let that opportuniiy sail away.

Suppose we let that opportunity sail away.
and then We look out and say: '.Send back
that opportunity; want to take It; it isn't
treating mo fairly. Give me another chance"
Why, my brother, you might rs we'll go out
and stand on tho Highlands ut the Nuvesink
three days after the Majestic has gone out.
and shout: "Captain, como back; l want to
so to Liverpool on the Majestic. Como back
over tho sea aud through tho Narrows and
up to the docks. Give mo another chance"
You might rs we'll do that as after the last
opportunity OF heaven has sped away, try to
get it back again. Just think OF it! 1t came
on me yesterday in my study with over
whelming impressiveness. Just think o; it.
All heaven offered us rs n gratuity for n
whole lifetime, and yet wo wanting 10 rush
against God, saying: "Give me another
chance!" There ought to be, there will be,
no such thing rs posthumous opportunity.
You SEQ common. sense agrees with my text
in saying tina. 'if tho tree fall toward the
south, or toward the north, IN the place
where tho tree falleth, there IL shall be-"
You see this idea lifts this world from an uu-
important way-station to n platform OF stu
pendous issues, and makes all eternity whirl
around this hour. Oh, my soul. my soul!
Only one trial, asd all the preparation for
that trial to be- made in this world or never
made mt all. Oh my soul, my SOUL You SEQ
this piles up all the emphasis and all tho
clmnxes and all the destinies into this life.
No other chance. Oh. how that inteusiles
the value and the importauc" OF this chance
Alexander and his army used to como
around city and they would kiudle great
light with tho understanding that ~ long
as that light was burning tho city might sur
render aud all would be we'll, but il they
let that light 90 out. then tho battering rams
would swing against the walls and there
would come disaster and demolition.
oh, my friends, all you and | need to
10 to prepare for eternal safety is just
to surrender to tho King aud Con-
queror Christ Surrender hearts, sur
render life, surrender everything. The
great light keeps burning light kindled
by the wood Of tho cross, light flaming up
against tho dark night OF our sin and sor-
row. Oh. let us surrender before tho light
goes out, and with IT our last opportunity
OF making our peace with God through our
Lord Jesus Christ. Oh. my brother talk
about another chance; this is tho supernal
chance. In the timo OF Edward H.. atthe
battle OF MUSselDurSh. n private soldier saw
the Earl Of HuntleY hai lost his helmet
Tho private soldier took Off his helmet and
went up 10 the Earl Of Huntlny aud put tn"
private soldier uncovered. he was soon
slain, while his commander rode in
safety through and out tho battle. But il
is different in our case. Instead OF private
Offering helmet to ln earl, it is the King
unworthy subject, the King dying that we
might live! Oh, tell it 10 tho points Of the
compass, tell it to day and night, tell It to
earth and heayen, tell it to all the centuries
and all tho millenniums that God has given
~ ~ magnificent ehanti y tbs world and
dream. am in the burnlsher Judgment
hall or the last day. The great white throne
is lifted. but the Judge has not yet taken 1t.
While we are waiting for His arrival hear
the immortnls in convccsation, "What are
YOU waiting !or?,' says a soul that went up
from NadhSIS ar to n soul that went up
from America. The latter responds: IL was
in Amrrica forty years ago, and / heard the
gospel pr tachcd, and haI plenty OF Bibles
in M house. and from tho time that knott
ut my mothers knee in prayer until my last
hour, had great opportunities: but did
not improve them, and am hcce oday wait
ing foranother chance. "Strange. strange"
says IN" soul just come M from Madagascar.
Strange; why. | never heard thr gospel call
hut on"" IN all my lilo. and l accepted 1t.
and don't want another chance" "Whnt
are you WAITING, for?" says one who on earth
had very feeble intellect to one who had
great brain and whose voice was Silvcry, ana
who had sceptcrs oC power. The latter re-
piled: 81 had great power on earth. l
must admit. AMI ] mastered languages
and l mustered libraries. aud colleges con-
ferrad upon mo learned titles. and my
name was IL synonym for cloGucncc and
power; but somehow | neglected the mat
tiers 0I my soul AMI l mVSt confess TO
you | am here to-day waitin. for another
chance" Now, the ground trcmh!cs with
the alvancn:; chariot. Tho great folding
doors % the buroiSrch hail Of judgment are
thrown open. "Stani back, cry the rlshers.
land let tho Julg" Of quick and dead
pass through Hn takes the throne.
IL" LOOKS OF upon the throngS of ma
tionS como to the last Judgment, come
To tho Only judgment. and one fash
from The throne reveals each mans his
tory to himself. and reveals il To All tho
others. And then tho Judge SAYS: "D-
vide AMI the FURNISHED walls echo it. ''Di-
vide" and the guides angelic answer. "Di-
! vide and tn" immOr:als are rushing this
way and that. until there il an aisle betNyrrn
! them. Il great aisle; AM then a vacuum,
! widening AMI Widening. until the JUd.."
! looks to onr side ofthnt vacuum, and ad-
dresses the throne and says: "Let him that
| is righteous be righteous sill. and let him
| that Is holy bc holy still" Ani then turn
| ing to the thronS on the other si.e Of
| the vacuum, He SAYS: 'Lot him that
! is unjust bc unjust still. and let him
| that is nuhy be filthy still" Ana then
! He stretches ont both hands. one toward the
| thrnng on each side The vacuum, and says:
| 1T the tree fall toward the south. or toward
! the north. i'll tn" piaHo where the tree fulleth
| there it shall bc,' And then / hear some
| thing jar with great sound. 1t il tho clos
| ing OF the Book OF Judgment The Judge
asccnds the stairs behind the throne. The
| Hall Of TIL" last ASSizs is cleared and shut
The High Court OF Eternity adjourned for
| ever.