The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-09-09
Do you not begin to tremble at the thought
Of nnndonnnnkinno

Do you not begin to tremble at the thought
of condemnation?
We have now come to the most interesting
part of thfs great trial. The evidence all In.
The advocates speak. The profession OF an
advocate is full Of responsibility. In Eng
land and the United States there have arisen
men who In this calling have been honored
by their race and thrown contempt upon
those who in the profession have bean guilty
of great many meannesses. That profess
sion will be honorable as long az 1t has at.
tached to it such names as Mansfield, and
Marshall. and Story, and Kent, and South
ard, and William Writ. The court room mas
sometimes been the scene Of very marvellous
and thrilling things. Some Of you remem-
Der the famous Glrard will case, where one
of our advocates pleaded the cause OF the
Bible and Christianity In mastery Anglo
Saxon. every paragraph athunderbolt.
But Turn from the recital OF this memoir
able occasion 70 grander trial, and have
to tell you that in this trial of the Chri:.ian.
for the life OF his soul the advocates are
mtghtier, wiser and more eloquent. The
evidence all being in. severe and stern
Justice rises on behalf Of the prosecution to
make his plea. With the Bible open in his
hand, he reads the law, stern and inflexible.
and the penalty: "The soul that sinneth,
1t shall die" Then he says: 20, Thou
Judge and Lawgiver, this Is Thine own
statute, and oil the evidence in earth and
heaven agree that the man has sinned
against these enactments. Now let the
sword leap from its scabbard. Shall man
go through the very flames Of Sinai un-
singed2 Let the law be executed. Let
Judgment be pronounced. Let him die.
demand that he die!"
O. Christian, does 1t not look very dark for
thee? Who will plead on thy side In 80 for.
lorn q causAr Sometimes man will be
brought into court OF law, and he will
have no friends and no money, and tho
Judge will look over the bar and say: "Is
there any one who will volunteer to take
this mans case and defend him2" And some
young mau rises up and says: II will be
his COUNSEL" perhaps starting on from that
very point to a great and brilliant career.
Now, in this matter Of the soul, as you have
nothing to pay for counsel, do you think
that any one will volunteer? Yes, yes: see
One rising. He Is young man, only thirty.
three years Of age. I see His countenance
suffussd with tears and covered with blood.
and all the galleries OF heaven are thrilled
with the spectacle. Thanks be unto God,
1--WE have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous"
Oh. Christian soul, your case begins to
look better. think. perhaps, after all, you
may not have to die. The best Advocate in
the universe has taken your side. No one
was ever so qualified to defend you. He
knows all the law, all its demands. all its
penalties. He Is always ready. No new
turn Of the case can surprise Him, and He
will plead for you for nothing as earnestly
as though you brought q world Of treasure
to His feet. Besides that. He has under
taken the case Of thousands who were as
tor.orn as you, and He has never lost case.
.t1kt T tn1r hnf
after all, there may be 8 ome chance for you,
for the great Advocate rises to make His
plea. He says: II admit all that has been
proved against My client. admit all these
sins. ny, more; but look at that wounded
hand Of Mine api look at that other wound
ed hand, aud Mt My right foot and at My lett
foot BY all these wounds I plead for his
clearance. Count all the drops of My tears.
Count all the drops OF My blood. By the
humiliation OF Bethlehem, by the sweat OF
Gethsemane. by the sufferings Of the cross,
demand that he go free. On this arm he
hath leaned; to this heart he hath flown; IN
My tears he hath washed; on My righteous
ness he hath depended. Let him 90 free.
am the ranscm. Let hin, escape the lash; ]
took the scoursings. Let the cup pass from
him; drank 1t to the dreSs. Put on him
the crown of life, for have worn the crown
OF thorns. Over against my throne OF shame
set his throne of triumph"
Well, the counsel on both sides have
spoken, and there is only one more thing
now remaining, and that Is the awarding OF
the judgment. If you have ever been in a
court room you know the silence and SOL
emnity when the verdict Is about to be rem
dered. or the judgment about to be given.
About this soul on trlal-shall 1t be saved or
shall it be lost? Attention! above. around,
beneath. All the universe cries: "Hear!
hear!'
The Judge rises and gives this decision,
never to be changed, never to be revoked:
"There Is, therefore, now no condemnation
to them who are in Christ Jesus"
But. my friends thera Is coming day OF
trial in which not only the saint but the sin.
ner must appear. That day Of trial will
come very suddenly. The farmer will be at
the plow, the merchant will be In the count
ing room, the woodman wils be ringing his
ax on the hickories, the weaver will have
his foot on the treadle, the manufacturer
will be walking amid the buzz Of looms and
sol may % at the bar blending the law, the
minister may be in the pulpit pleading the
gospel, the drunkard may be reeling amid
his cups AMI the blasphemer with the oath
caught between his teeth.
Lo! The sun hides. Night comes down
at mid noon. The stars appear at noon to-
day. The earth shudders and throbs. There
an earthquake opens and city sinks as q
crocodile would crunch child. Mountains
roll in their sockets and send down their
granite cliffs In avalanche of rock. Rivers
pause In their chase for the sea, and ocean,
appearing, cries to the flying Alps and Him
alaya. Beasts below and moan and snuff up
the darkness. Clouds fly like focks OF
swift eagles. Great thunders beat and boom
and burst. Stars shoot and fall. The Al
mighty rising on His throne, declares that
time shall be no longer, and the archangels
trump repeats 1t till all the living hear, and
the continents Of dead spring to their feet,
crying: "Time shall be no longer!" Oh, on
on that day will you be ready
I have shown you bow we'll the Christian
will get of in his trial. Will you get off as
we'll in your trlal2 Will Christ plead on your
side or against your On, what will you do
in the last great assize, II your conscience is
against you, and the world is against you,
and the angels OF heaven are against you,
and the Holy Spirit is against you. and the
Lord God Almighty is against your Better
this day secure an Advocate.