The Newtown bee., 1896-05-08

this first cross is that of hope. It was reprivve granted just before the drCp fell. It was q gles.m of sunlight before the dark night came or. l. was clear statement again of this thought; Jesus saves to the utteTtnost, anywhere, any when, whenever soul turns to Him. Jesus has never yet refused 8 soul and never will. Do believe in death bed repentance?
 "The dying thiet rejOiced to see
 That fountain Tn his day."
 and Jesus will accept a repentance, if it is real, even though it be made upon a death-bed. Of course, it is not the best way to come to Jesus; of course, it is not the noblest way; of course it is giving the flag end of life to God; of course, it Is throwing to God the taper after it is all burned out; of course, it is giving to God the wine of life after it has come down to the very dregs but, if the repentance is real, it saves. How en- couraging it ought to be to the minister, 1 to any Christian worker, to know that he eau go to the bedside of one who has but a few brief hours to live and tell him that the door of mercy is open even now No one need ever have message of despair on his lips. While one has the power to hear, the man of God may
 whisper, ''Come.' No matter how deep the dye of sin, no matter how long the time of delay, Jesus blood is sufficient for all. It is
 NEVER TOO LATE TO TURN FROM WICKED 1 WAYS AND LIVE.
 l need not tarry long with the cross on the other side. OD it hung the unrepen-
 tant thief, and he was truly representa-
 tive man. He represented the rulers who plotted the trial and crucifixion of Jesus, 1 he represented the eoldiers who buffeted 1 Him and put on Him the purple robe, he
 represented the people who railed on
 Him and wagged their heads. He repre-
 sented those of any race, of any age, who
 do not heed the gospel invitation, who l have heard the good news but will not l come. This man represented the multi
 tude who are pressing along the broad
 road of life they are not all so bad as he, 1 they have not all committed so great
 crimes as he did, they have not all come
 into such close personal contact with
 the Saviour as was granted to him, they have not all, with him, heard words ot pardon fall from Christ's lips: but he and they are alike in this-5hey have no
 faith, they feel no need of Saviour, and,
 though pardon may be had for the ask.
 ing, they will not ask. Into the future
 of the penitent the gospel record throws
 gleam, we see the gates of Paradise open and see him enter in but the future
 of the impenitent is blank, about it the
 gospel record is silent, and if there is any
 hope about it, no gleam is here revealed. What about those who die in their sins,
 who refuse all the gospel invitations here? what part do they have in the next
 world? do they have another chance The dying thief accepted the last chance
 which this life offered, but whether the l impenitent thief had another chance the gospel does not say. Postponement is hazardous, delay is foolhardy, trusting to chances in another world, over which the mantle of silence is cast, is like walk ! ing of a roof into the air.
 on either side one, and Jesus h the midst. We .are brought now to the central cross, and t ls well for us to com