The Winslow mail., 1898-06-11

flowing from the many wounds, every
CONFUSION with which the tortures of
crucifxion shake His frame seeming to
say, sit is for you that these pangs are
borne; it is for you that consent to
have all shames and crimes imputed to
me; it is to blot out the record of your
sinful transgressions that my blood is
shed, submit to all this agony and
contempt because have loved you with
an everlasting love-" Twice arraigned
before the High Priests; twice before
the Sanhedrim; twice before Plate; be-
fore Herod. Robed and crowned in
NJ ockery; smitten4 by the officers; ex-
D0I11 tQ eYerY form Of c0ntemPtVous
UUDUu ID July IIIhs ~ bIMIIAs IAl VI.
speech and personal abuse; with bound
hands delivered to the merciless mob
Six hours of the most acute suffering
man has ever known. Six hours, the
most momentOus IN the history OF the
world, and the tragedy is finished, as
the Incarnate Son of God bows his head
in death that you may live. And you
have not time to kneel in humble graf
itude at the throne OF God and ask this
mercy. You have not time to give the
hours that gold could buy to the gsr-
vice of Him who sacrificed His life for
you. You will have to find time to die,
and you will have to find time to stand
before the bar Of God, and to be judged.
There is another excuse. One that
ruins more characters, wrecks more
lives, lures more souls to hell than all
other excuses combined. When all 9th :
er excuses are forgot; when the trem-
bling soul on the very verge of yieidir G
to the kinder persuasion of conscience,
wavers for moment, that moment sa-
tan whispers, "Plenty Of time; plenty
of time;" and the despairiug cry of con-
science rises to the heights of heavens
throne.
"Plenty of timer How do you know
that? How long are you going to live?
Ten years? One year? One month?
One day? Why do you not answer? Be-
cause you cannot. And yet you say,
"Plenty of timer" How do you know
that even moments warning will be
given you, except the great warning that
death may come as thief in the night.
Mans life at the best is short. To-day
be well-to-morrow!
/ Not long since, while the pupils Of a
certain school we're sitting together the
question was asked all around, "What
would you do, if you knew that you
were to die within three days?" Among
the number was one of the most rug
ged fellows in the school. When the
question came to him be answered; ooh!
if [ knew that was to die within three
days, I should probably get ready
Within three days that young man was
dead. Being slightly indisposed he was
given, by mistake, that which threw him
into deep sleep from which he never
awakened. His life's book was closed
The three days that he would have spent
in preparation had gone. And if were
to ask that same question here tonight
there could be but one answer. If you
knew that you were to die within three
DAYS, you would devote the time to
prayerful preparation. How do you
know that you are not? Have you any
greater guarantee of life than others?
Others who, without a moments warn
| ing, have been summoned?
Not day passes but we read of an
untimely death, Warnings we fail to
heed. And then the angel of death, in
his swift flight, hovers for an instant
over the couch Of a loved one; so close
we can almost feel its breath And still
we hesitate; so near. and yet so faraway
it seems.
You think that you have few more
days, years perhaps, thaty can spend
in listless. selfish living Shining away
the golden hours that should be given
to God. Each morning opening to you
another day Of sin; each night bringing
to a close day woven with misspent
opportunities.
But there may come morning; may
hap, a bright, holy Sabbath morning;
when you will rise from your bed and
dressing, plan day of idle pleasure.
Long ago you have forgotten to kneel
by your bedside and ask Gods blessing
and guidance Leisurely you dress and
smile, as you think Of the days enjoy
ment after you have been through the
routine Of church. Smile, as you think
of the sinful act that will bring the
fieeting pleasure While unseen behind
you stands figure with outstretched
arms, It reaches forward to graspyou,