Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-08-28

no such thing a. posthumous Opportunity.
You see common. sense agrees with my text
IN saying thA. ''if the tire. fall toward the
south, or toward the north. In the Mace
where the tree fAlleth. there il shall be-"
You see this idea lifts this world from an IN
important way-stati0n 10 a platform % stu
pendous issues, and makes al, eternity whirl
around this hour; Oh, my soul! my soul
Only one trial, aud all the preparation for
that trial TO be made in this world. or never
made az all. oh, my souli my soul! You see
this piles up all the emphasis and all the
climRxes and all the destinies into this life.
No other chance. Oh. how tina. iBtensiHes
the value and the importance Of this ehauee.
Alexander and his army used 10 come
around a city and they would kindle a great
light with the understanding that AS Ion.
as that light was burning the city might sur
render, and all would be well. hut IL they
let that light 20 out. then the battering rams
would swing against the walls AMI there
would come disaster and demolition
oh, my friends, all you ant ! need to
do TO prepare for eternal safety Is lust
TO surrender TO the King aud Con-
queror, Christ. Surrender hearts, sur
render life, surrender everything. The
great light keeps burning. light Hudled
by the wood Of the cross, light flaming up
against the dark night OF our sin and sOr-
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 the supernal
chance. In the time of Edward IL, al the
battle Of Musselburgh. a private soldier saw
the Earl OF HuntleY had lost his helmet.
The private soldier took off his helmet and
went up to the Earl of Huntley and put the
helmet on his head. Now, the head Of the
private soldier uncovered, he was soon
slain, while, his commander rode in
safety through and out OF the battle. But il
Is different in our case. Instead OF a private
offering helmet to an earl, it Is the King
of heaven and earth Offering a crown to an
unworthy subject the King dying that we
might live! Oh, tell il to the points OF the
compass, tell it TO day and night, tell II to
earth and heaven, tel il to all the centuries
and all the mllenniums that God has given
us a magnificent chance in this world and
that we need no other chance in another!
dream. / am in the burnisher Judgment
hall on the last dav. The great white throne
is lifted, but the Judge has not yet taken II.
While we are waiting for His arrival I hear
the immortals in conversation. "What are
you waiting ior?' says soul that went up
from Madagascar to n soul that went up
from America. The latter responds: 81 was
In America forty years ago. and heard the
gospel preached and had plenty Of Bibles
in my house. aud from the time that | knelt
at my mothers knee in prayer until my last
hour, | had great opportunities; but did
not improve them, and am here to-day watt
ing for another chance. "Strange, strange"
SAYS the soul just come up from Madagascar.
"Strange; why. never heard the gospel call
but once IN all my life and I accepted it,.
and l don't want another chance" "What
are you waiting for2' says one who on earth
had very feeble intellect to one who had
great brain and whose voice was silvery and
who had scepters OF power. The latter re-
piled; az had great power on earth. |
must admit, and l mastered languages
and | mastered libraries, and colleges con-
ferrei upon me learned titles. and my
name was "a synonym for eloluence and
power; but somehow l neglected the mat
tiers Of my soul and ! must confess 10
you l am here to-day waiting for another
chance" Now, the ground trembles With
+ the advancing chariot The great folding
/ doors OF the FURNISHED hail OF judgment are
thrown open. "Stand back, cry the ushers
land let the Judge Of quick and dead
pass through He takes the throne
He looks off upon the throngs OF ma
lions come TO the last judgment, come
to the only Judgment, and one flash
from the throne reveals each mans his
others. Aud then the Judge says: "Dl'
vide" and the FURNISHED walls echo It, "Di
vide!' and the guides angelic answer, "Di
vide' and the immortals are rushing thii
way and that. until there II an aisle between
them, great aisle; and then a vacuum
widening and widening, until the Judgt
looks to one side otthat vacuum, and ad
dresses the throne and says: LET him tina
is righteous be righteous still, and let hin
that is holy be holy still" And then, turn
ing to the throng on the other side o
the vacuum, He says; "Let him tina
is unjust be unjust still, and let hin
,h"t 20 RIthy ha hlthy sttlI" And thei
! He stretches ont both hands, one tuwatl Ill,
throng on each side the vacuum, and says
"If the tree fall toward the south or towart
the north, in the place where the tree ialleth
there it shall bel" And then l hear some
thing jar with great sound. 1t is the clos
ing OF the Book of Judgment The Judg
ascends the stairs behind the throne. TIL
Hall Of the last Assize is cleared and shut
The High Court OF Eternity adjourned for
ever.