The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1896-08-29
TALMAGE's SERMON.
The Famous Preacher Conducts the
Trial Against Sin.
An Eloquent Presentation of the Case
Against the Cuiprit and . Plea for
Msrcy-A Graphis Word
Picture.

Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage delivere,
the following sermon before his Wash
ington congregation, taking for hi
text:
We have nm advocate with the Father, 10
sus Christ the righteous John, H.. l.
Standing in a court room, you say t.
yourself: "At this bar crime has Otter
been arraigned; at this witness stanC
the oath has often been taken; at tn,
| Jurors bench the verdict has sheer
rendered; at this judges desk sentenc,
has been pronounced" But have e
tell you to-day of a trial higher thar
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 l 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-
vocatcs.
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.
This lawsuit before us also charges
you with the breaking Of a solemn con-
tract Many time did we promise to
be the Lords We got down on our
knees and said: 20, Lord l am thine
now and forever" Did You keep tho
promise? Have you stood up to the
contract? / SO back to your first COM
muuion. You remember it as well MS
II it were yesterday. You know how
the vision of the Cross rose before
you. You remember how from the
head and the bands and the side and
che feet there came bleeding forth
these two words: Remember Me-"
You recall how the cup of communion
trembled in your hand when you first
took it; and as in a seasheu you may
hear. or think you hear. the roaring
of the surf even after the shell has
been taken from the beach, SO you
fitted the cup of communion and you
heard in it the surging of the great
ocean of a savior's agony; and you
came forth from that communion serv-
ice with face shining as though you
had been on the Mount of Transfigura-
ton; and the very air seemed tremu-
lous with the love of Jesus, and the
birds were brighter and sweeter-
voiced than ever before, and you said
down 10 the very depths of your soul:
Lord, Thou knowest all things;
Thou knowest that L love Thee"
Have you kept the bargain, o, Chris
tian man? Have you not sometimes
faltered when you ought to have been
true? Have you not been proud when
you ought to have been humble?
Have you not played the coward when
you ought to have been the hero?
charge 1t upon you and charge it
upon myself-we have broken the con-
tract
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
20 on. The witnesses will be called,
and we shall (have the matter decided
In the name of God now make proc
lamatioD: Oyer! Oyer! Oyer; who
soever hath nything 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
Christian character. You know that
there arc people around you who per-
petually banquet on the frailties of
Gods children. You may know, il
you have lived in the country, that
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
60 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
against this Christian sou, on trial
What do you knew about this Chris
tian man? oh" says the World, Il
know great deal about him. lie
talks about putting his treasures in
Heaven, but he Ii tho sharpest man in
trade ever knew. He seems to
want us to believe that he is a child of