The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1896-08-26
VOL. XVI.

blotch CT sin herself, she will go tat
Ting, tattling, tattling all the years Of
her life about the inconsistencies Of
others, having no idea that she is incon-
sistept herself. God save the world from
the gossip, female and male! I think
the males are the worst! Now the char
lot of Christ's salvation goes on through
the world; but it is our inconsistencies,
nv brethren, that block up the wheels,
while oil along the line there ought 10
have been cast nothing but palm
branches, and the shout should have
been lifted, "Hosanna to the Son Of
Davidv;
Now you have heard the indictment
read. Are you ready to plead guilty or
not guilty? Perhaps you are not re~dy
vet to plead. Then the trial will 60 on.
The witnesses will be called, and we
shall have the matter decided. In the
name of Cod now make proclamation:
Oyez! Oyezl Oyez! whosoever hath any
thing to offer in this trial in which God
is the plaintiff and the Christian soul
the defendant. let him now step forth
and give testimony in this solemn trial.
Call the Witnesses.
The first witness call upon the stand
in behalf of the prosecution is the
world-all critical and observant OF
Christian character. You know that
there are people around you who per-
petually banquet Oh the frailties OF
Gods children. You may know, If you
have lived in the country, that a crow
cares for nothing SO much as carrlon.
There are those who imagine that out
of the faults of Christians they can
make bridge of boats across the stream
Of DEATH and they are going to try it.
But alas for the mistake! When they
get midstream away will 60 the bridge
and down will go their souls to perdi-
tion. o world of the greedy eye and
the hard heart, come on the stand now
and testify in behalf of the prosecution
against this Christian soul on trial.
What do you know about this Christian
man? "Oh," says the world, Il know
a great deal about him. He talks about
putting his treasures in heaven, but he
is the sharpest man in trade l ever
knew. He seems to want us to believe
that he is a child of God, but he is just
full of imperfections do not know
but l am great deal better than he is
now. Oftentimes he is very earthly, and
he talks so little about Christ and so
much about himself. am very glad to
testify that this is bad man.
Stop, O world with the greedy eye
and hard heart. fear you are too ,uuch
interested in this trial to give impartial
evidence. Let all those who hear the
testimony of this witness know that
there is All old family quarrel between
these two parties. There always has
been variance between the world and
the church, and while the world on the
witness stand today has told a great
deal of truth about this Christian man,
you must take it all with much allow
ance, remembering that they still keep
the old grudge good. o world of the
greedy eye and the hard heart, that will
do; you may sit down.
The second witness call in this case
is conscience. Who art thou, O cen
science? What is your business? Where
were You born? What are you doing
here? "Oh," says conscience, Il was
born in heaven. came down to be-
friend this man. have lived with him.
I have instructed him. l have warned
him. ! showed him the right and the
wrong, advising him to take the one
and eschew the other. I have kiEdled
great light in his soul. With whip
of scorpions have scourged his wicked
ness, and I have tried to cheer him
when doing right, and yet l am COM
PEELED to testify on the stand today that
he has sometimes rejected my mission.
Oh, how many cups Of life have 1
pressed to his lips that he dashed down,
and how often has he stood with his
hard heel on the bleeding heart Of the
Son of God! 1t pains me very much
that I have to testify against this Chris
tian man, and yet 1 must, in behalf of
him who will in no wise clear the
guilty, say that this Christian man has
done wrong. He has been worldly. He
has been neglectful. He has done a
thousand things he ought not to have
done and left undone thousand things
he ought to have done" That will do,
conscience. You can sit down.
Important Testimony.
The third witness call in the case is
all angel of God. Bright and shining
one, what doest thou here? What hast
thou to say against this man on trial?
"Oh,' says the angel, II have been
messenger to him. I have guarded him.
I have watched him. With this wing
have defended him, and oftentimes,
when he knew it not, led him into
green pastures and beside the still wa
tiers. I snatched from him the poisoned
chalices. When bad spirits came upon
him 10 destroy him, fought them back
with infinite fierceness, and yet | have
to testify today that he had rejected my
mission. He has not done as he ought
to have DONE Though came from the
sky, he drove NE back. Though with
this wing I defended him and though
with this voice l wooed him. I have to
announce his multiplied imperfecticns.
dare not keep back the testimony, for
then I shoulj not dare to appear again
amongst the sinless ones before the
great white throne
There is only one more witness to be
called On behalf Of the prosecution, and
that is the great, the holy, the august,
the omnipotent Spirit of God. We bow
down before him. Holy Spirit, knowest
thou this man? "Oh, yes" says the
Holy One, 81 know him. have striven
with him 10000 times, and, though
sometimes he did seem to repent, he fell
back again as often from bis first estate.
Ten thousand times 10000 has no
grieyed me, although the Bible warned
him, saying: 'Grieve Lot the Holy
Ghost. Quench not the Spirit. Yes, he
L.. lx;ro,, ,oo b.cl- Tb(n1oi, I am the