The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-10-10
THE GREAT QUESTION"
DR.. Payne's Sermon at the Presbyter-
ian Church Last Night.

threa tening clouds there was large
crowd at the Presbyterian church last
night to hear DIR. Payne's sermon on
'"The Great Question"
His text was taken from the 22nd
verse of the 27th. chapter of Matthew:
What shall do then with Jesus which
is called Christ"
Among other things DR.. Payne said
in the course of his discourse:
''It was in the palace of the govern
or in the city of Jerusalem. The ruler
was called to pronounce sentence on
man already condemned. That was
a strange spectacle-the Lord of Glory,
the Ruler of the Universe, the Son OF
God standing there bound before the
Judgment seat of a wicked Roman
governor. Oh, such a spectacle!
1--WE have another strange thing to
be seen. This ruler backed by all the
power of the Roman Empire, skilled
in the law. witnesses declaring the
man guilty and clamoring for his con-
emnation-backed by all this Pilot,
the Judge, the mighty ruler, turns and
asks of the nsaltitude what he shall
do. And yet Pontius Pilot has many
followers-men who have sacrificed
principle to sail with the current of
popular opinion.
"Just as Christ was presented at the
bar of Pilot just so is he pr sented at
the bar of every human soul and the
same question with its momcntous inn
portance is presented: What shall /
do with Jesus?' 1t must be decided, it
cannot be avoided.
This is the most important question
that Pilot was ever called on to decide.
No other case ever had like Importance
to him and the world: What then shall
/ do with Jesusl' And to every mortal
to-day it is the most momentous ques-
ton that can possibly demand con-
sideration. The veal or woe of every
soul depends upon it. You cannot
escape it. You must face it. 1t is by
far the most important question ever
asked: What shall | do then with
Jesus which is called Christ
This question is unavoidable, Pilot
made the most ingenious effort / ever
read of to escape it, but he could not
do it He tried to compromise it. He
tried to put it off on Herod. He tried
TO get them to choose to let Jesus go
rather than have Barabbas turned
loose. but he could not get rid of the
}
even now knocking at your heart and
entrea1ing YOU to receive him and you
must go into eternity with this ques-
ton decided.
ssThe question had to be decided at
once-it could not be put off. Pilot
couldn't delay.The mob was clamoring
outside for Jesus blood. Pilot wanted
to daily and put it off but they
would not. So you must now decide.
He that belieyeth not is condemned
already Tonight You viii leave this
church having either accepted or re-
jected Jesus. It's a present issue and
You can't defer it until tomorrow.
There is no jnstifable excuse.
Its a personal question. Pilot tried
to put it on Herod, but the people
would not. They called on him TO de-
eide: His blood be upon us He
couldn't put it off on anybody else.
Neither can You. Everyone must de-
eide for himself, Christ is a personal
savior and you must accept or reject
him. Your father can not decide it
for you, your mothers heart burdened
and bleeding can't do it. She can take
you to God in prayer but you must
decide it. 1t is for you TO say: we will
not have this man reign or it is with
you to say: My God and my Redeemer.'
Not only is it important, unayoida-
BILE. personal and present, but it is an
eternal question. On it's decision de-
ponds your everlasting existence. True
repentance never comes too late, late
repentance is seldom true The diff
ference between the two thieves that
! hung ON the cross was their decision
of that question: What then shall / do
with Jesus?' One of them said Lord,
remember me when thou contest into
thy kingdom, while the other went
down into a silent, ignoble grave to
eternal death. 1t is determinate, an
everlasting question with an eternal
significance. 1t decides the fate of
every mortal.
What will decide your destiny viii
not be your great achievements, your
grand deeds, but it will be your deci-
sion of this question. 1t is Jesus that
can save you and Jesus only. There is
none other name, given among men
whereby we must be saved. He begs
you to be saved How can you reject
him, how can you turn away ?" 50 -