The Holt County sentinel., 1897-01-29
Death-Bed Repentance.

10 Central Christian Advocate.
In looking for proof text to sustain
the hope Of death-bed conversions, the
nearest that can come to it 10 the case
of the thief upon the cross TO whom
Jesus said: 'Verily, l say unto thee
to day shaIt thou be with me 10 Para
disc" The parable Of the vineyard il
brought into requisition oftimes to sus
tain the belief that the Scriptures offer
the full and free pardon VI sics on the
death bed, il the subject manifesto q
desire for the same, but these Scrip
lures do not SO teach .Oy the direct To-
tentlon Of Jesus, and We do not believe
that they can retain their original pur
pose and receive this Interpretation. 10
receive the recognition and blessing of
the thief on the cross, or the call at the
eleventh hour, ones circumstances and
conditions must be similar to theirs. In
deed, man who has practiced tbieving
during q long business career, and who
finally dies upon a bed Of down, request
ing sumo godIy people to sing and pray
for him, hardly duplicates the male
factor on the cross. Such one reminds
us Of those who play the widow act in
their offerings; but who are neither
widows nor poor. The thief on the cross
had probably never heard about Jesus,
at least had never met Him before. On
the cross be beheld him for the first
time. Amid his own agony be saw the
got.iIke manner 10 which Jesus bore
the cruclfixion and His forgiveness OF
those who crncitied and mocksd Him,
and there and then through his hrst
view Of Jesus be trusted in him. The
sincerity OF faith could hardly have q
seyerer test than this,-Chrlst crucItied,
the crowds mocking Him, and bis fell
low thief cursing him! One alone ac-
cepted His mercy. All such dying SID
ners can safely call upon Jesus for saliva
ton.
The eleventh hour workers ip the
whey ard, who received the same wage,
as those who began early, were seeking
work. The market place was the mart
TO which employers came to lind work.
men, and those VINO really wanted en-
pioyment went there and waited until
the employers greeted them with the
why stand ye here all day
idle?" Because no man hath hired
u.s." was the honest answer. As soon as
they were offered work they went with
out asking any questions. They did not
shirk until the eleventh hour nor refuse
to respond to the call to work; they went
to that n-st invitation, and they received
their wages. There is nothing in com.
mon with these in the parable and those
who calculate, as il it were an economi-
cal plan, to serve the Devil through
life and iu the hour of death give the
Lord an opportunity TO saye them.
The whole burden OF Scripture in
vitatIon is to those who are in life, and
not to those who are dyicg: Come let
US reason together. saith the Lord"
Who does not know that the approach
Of death has a paralyzing effect upon
our reasoning faculties? Christ says, Il
have come that ye might have life" To
sll his followers he promised blessings
tor this life. some thirty and some sixty
'old, and eternal life follows the receiv-
ng of the gift OF divine blessings in
his life.
There are Scripture evidences that
makes the hope Of the eleventh hour
,en,tent precarious. The foolish virgins
cried when 1t was too late. Judas re-
vented 10 sort Of way, but 90 peace
;ame TO his agonizing soul.
We are satisfied that the cause OF
has been impeded 10 its
,rogress, and the salvation OF many |
souls lmperiled. by the free AMI glowing
prospects ministers aud Christian work
rs sometimes hold out to the eleventh |
lour penitents. "As mortal men can
NOW nothing of the reality Of such late
md ante morte.u confessions they had
,etier not assume anything which shall
lold out the promise to all that il they
profess religious life at DEATH" that
fter they haye lived life OF sin delib-
rately and against the importunities
4 the Son of God, they will fare as we'll
Is il they had served God. They had
,etter leave them to the Judge Of all
be earth. who is both just and merci-
ul.
1t is solemn farce and travesty upon |
ur holy Christianity on funeral
occasions to canonize those whC have
lyed selfish, worldly, or wicked livee.
FOR example, when murderer has de-
lied bis guilt and has exhausted every
'ossible means to escape justice, when
he cunning arts OF the criminal lawyer
ave failed, and the appeal to higher
ourts. to pardon boards, to governors,
as not secured release from the death
entence, and during all these months
10 has not only been liar, but has
iven no evidence Ut interest in his
pirltual welfare; now at the last mo-
,ent, when he feels the RalIows is inev-
.able, he confesses his horrible crime
nd Processes repentance, and usually
here are sentimental preachers and
ysterlcal women who wish to rejoice
nth him, and the fatted calf is killed
,r the prodlgal's return. DAILY reports
re sent out to the world of interviews
nth the condemned. or his spiritual
dvisers, as TO his religious ecstasy aid
eaveuIy JOY in anticipation Of his ap
reaching advent to glory. and from the
,affold he invites bis hearers and