The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-04-16

CHRIST.
Every available foot of ground was oc-
cuped at Greene Memorial last night when
Mr.. Crittenton announced his text:
"Watchman. what of the night.' lisa.
21:1112
Some people, said he, want their pas
tors to preach pleasant things. They
don't want to hear Gods truth. God
warn the sinner, his blood will he re-
quired at our hands" Some of you PEG.
pie went home convicted last night
You thought on your ways and you know
you ought to give your heart to God.
God has been calling you. Watchman,
what of the night?'' Says the watch.
man, '"rhe morning cometh and also the
night
Friends, the morning of life and health
and opportunity is before you, the time
to come to your father We are all going
up the hill of life together. 1 see the
picture Of my life back there, little'boy,
memories of father, mother, brothers and
sisters. Now my hair is becoming silver.
L thought on my ways and gave my heart
to God. The tempter comes and slys,
There is no harm in running along with
the world.n
"Watchman, what of the night" The
morning couleth. The time to get ready
for the swelling OF the Jordan. Back
there, eighteen years ago. I see IL mur.
der scene. The young man, Saul, stand.
ing by watching the martyr Stephen
stoned to death. The heavens open
Stephen in trustful accents cries, Lord
Jesus, receive my SOUL" Saul is stop
ped by God. He hears n voice saying,
Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me.
1t is hard for thee to kick against the
pricks." He falls PROSTATE under the
power of God and cries out, "Lord, what
wilt thou have me to do?'' ''Arise and
go into Damascus and it shall he shown
thee what to do" People all over the
country are waiting for Paul's experience.
What God wants is obedience to His COM
mands.
Ananias one of Cod s faithful servants,
is waiting for orders. Go into the street
called Strait and instruct Brother Saul
Paul conferred not with flesh and blood,
but went into Arabia to commune with
God; then is instructed by Peter, just as
pastors and Christian workers get to.
gether and help one another by counsel
and advice, SO Peter tells Paul, who had
never seen Christ in the flesh, all about
Jesus and his wonderful works in and
about Jerusalem-how he denied him, how
tenderly and sympathetically Christ look.
ed mt him; how after his death and res
direction, when Peters heart was we'll
nigh broken, He sends by Mary the mes
sage of love to his disciples and Peter, be.
cause Peter needed it. Says Peter, ''Oh.
how wish that had been true to him. 81
oh, my brother. sister, He who PRAYED
on the cross, Father, forgive them. they
know not what they do" is calling YOU
who have denied Him these many, many
years to come tonight.
Peter repented, became filled with the
Holy Ghost and thousands were brought
into the kingdom under his preaching.
Paul now goes out into the world 10
preach Christ, new man. He stands in
the presence of Felix and proclaims the
Gospel. Felix says, $50 thy way this
time; 1 will send for thee ut some more
convenient season. but we never read
that the season ever came.
The last call comes to lis, friends. This
might be your last call tonight. Let us
call down through the centuries to Felix,
What of the night:n Hark, there comes
u reply, Its dark Oh, that had
given my heart to God when He called.
If I should be called hence to-day where
should spend eternity! What shall
do to be saved: Repent and he baptized.
Cease to do evil and learn to do good"
"Oh, to have no hope in Jesus, how dark
this would be-" Oh, we need him,
friends, when we come down to the
swelling OF the Jordan. How sweet to
be able to say, "When walk through
the valley of the shadow of death I fear
no evil; Thy roll and They staff thy COM
fort me-" Friends, God is calling to-
night. Prepare to meet thy God.
whatsoever will let him come"
Loved ones are slipping from us one by
one unsaved, and oh. the way is so dark,
so dark without Jesus. The blood OF
Jesus Christ cleanseth from sim with
out hope our feet are slipping" says the
psalmist. but my feet We're almost gone,
my steps had well-nigh slipped" I see
little Julia dying. She says, God, Julia
Is coming" My wife says, Good. bye
Charlie, we are going where they never
say goodbye I want to ASK G cd as
one who will soon pass over to the other
side, Father, what message would YOU
have me give this dying audience to-
night in Greene Memorial Church, April
III, 1872" Listen: the Father says, .Say
unto them, AS live, saith the Lord I
have no pleasure in the death of the
wicked, but that the wicked should turn
from his evil way and live.''
Turn We, turn We, for why will We die
with the IIord?'
AT this point it seemed to the writer
that an awful solemnity possessed the
great audience, and in very truth it
seemed that God was calling for the last
time to some souls, and as Mr.. Crittenton,
dismissed the audience with the re-
quest that they go out quietly and
thoughtfully, talking, If at all, over spir-
itual matters, the conviction was forced