Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-20

ono the most atheistic. / invite him Into
tho kingdom Of God with just as much
heartiness as those who have for 80 year,
boon under tho toaohing Of the gospel and
believed it all When was living In Phil.
ndelphia, u gentleman told mo of o SEEM
In which ho was participant. In Callow.
hill street, In Philadelphia, there had been
a powerful meeting going on for some
time, and many wero converted, and
among Others one Of the prominent mem.
bcrs of the worst clubhouse In that city.
Tho next night tho leader Of that club.
house. the president Of It, resolved that he
would endeavor to get his cofnrade away.
Ho came to tho door, and before he entered
ho heard Christian song, and under its
power his soul was agitated. He won't In
and asked for prayer. Before no came out
he was subject OF converting mercy.
Tho next night another comrado went to
reclaim the two who had been lost to their
sinful circle. He went, and under tho
power of the Holy Ghost became u changed
man, and the work went on until they
were all saved and the infamous club.
house disbnnded. Oh, 1t ista mighty gos.
pol! Though you came here = child Of sin,
you can go away child of grace You
can go away singing:
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved q wretch like me!
once was lost, but now am found
Was blind, but now see.
Faith Defined.
Oh give up your sinsl Most Of your
lifo is already gone. Your children are
going on the Same wrong road. Why do
you not stop? This day is salvation como
to thy house." Why not this moment look
up into tho face Of Christ and say:
Just as I am. without one plea
But that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bid st me como to thee
o Lamb Of God, come, / come!
God is going to save you. You are go.
ing to be among the shining ones. After
the tolls Of life are over you are going up
to the everlasting rest. You are going up
to join your loved ones, departed parents
and departed children. "Oh, my God, I"
says some man, chow can l come to thee!
am so far off. Who will help mep am
SO weakp 1t seems such great under.
taking" Oh, my brother, 1t is a great
undertaking 1t is so sreat you cannot
accomplish 1t, but Christ chn do the work,
He will correct your heart, and no will
correct your life. oh" you say, ~ will
stop profanity" That will not save you.
"Oh," you shy, II will stop Sabbath
breaking" That will not save you. There
is only one door into the kingdom of God,
and that is faith; only one ship that sails
for heaven, and that is faith. Faith tho
first step, tho second step, the hundredth
step, the thousandth step, tho last step.
BY faith wo enter tho kingdom. BY faith
We keep In. In faith we die. Heaven q
reward of faith. The earthquake shook
down the Philippian dungeon. The jailer
said, "What shall / dor" Some Of you
would say, Better get out Of the place be-
fore tho walls crush you" What did tho
apostle say? believe OH the Lord jesus
Christ, and thou shalt be saved" "Ah, :"
you say, there's tho rub!". What is faith?
Suppose you were thirsty, and l offered
you this glass Of water, and you believed
meant to give it to you, and you came
up and took it. You exercise faith. You
believe 1 mean to keep my promise. Christ
offers you tho water Of everlasting life.
You tnko it, That Is faith.
Enter into tho kingdom of God. Enter
now. Tho door of life is set wide open.
plead with you by the bloody sweat OF
Gethsemano and tho death groan Of Col
gotha, by cross and crown, by Pilates
courtroom and Joseph's sepuloher, by
harps and chains, by kingdoms of light
and realms Of darkness, by the trumpet Of
the archangel that shall wake the dead
and by the throne of the Lord God AL
mighty and the Lamb thnt you attend
now to the things Of eternity. Oh, what
IA sad thing 1t will be If, having como so
near heaven, we miss 1t! Oh, to have
come within sight Of the shining pima
Giles Of the city and not have entered Oh,
-. ~
mighty throng enter, and we not Joining
them Angels of God, fly this way Good
news for you. Tell thos story among the
redeemed on high. II thsre DO one there
especially longing for our salvation, let
that one know 1t now. We put down our
sorrows. Glory DO to God for such hope,
for such pardon, for such u joy, for such
"a heaven, for such a Christ