The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-01-12

chance. G0G has spread banquet
OF his grace before us. For 365 days
of every year since we knew the differ
ence between our right hand and our
left he has invited us by
his providence and by his spirit.
Suppose we decline all these
offers Of all this kindness. Now the
banquet is spread in larger place, in
the heavenly palace. Invitations are
sent out, but no invitation is sent to
us. Why? Because we declined all
those other banquets. Will God be
to blame? Will we have any right to
rap on the door of heaven and say: Il
ought not to be shut out Of this place;
give me another chance?" Twelve
gates of salvation standing wide for
free admission all our life and then
when the u gates close we rush on
the bosses of Jehovah's buckler. say
ing, "Give me another chancel
A ship is to sail for Hamburg.
You want to go to Germany by that
line. You see the advertisement OF
the steamers sailing. You see it for
two weeks. You see it in the morn
ing papers and you see it in the even
ing papers. You see it placarded OH
the walls. Circulars are thrown into
your Office telling you all about that
steamer. One day you come down on
the wharf, and the steamer has swung
out into the stream You say: 'Oh,
that ism fair. Come back: swing up
a-ain to the docks. Throw the plank
ashore that l may come on board. 1t
ism fair l want to go to Germany
by that steamer. Give me another
chance. Here is magnificent offer
for heaven. 1t has been anchored
within our sight year after year, and
year after year, and year after year.
and all the benign voices Of earth and
heaven have urged us to get on board,
since it may sail at any moment.
Suppose we let that opportunity sail
away, and then we look out and say:
"Send back that opportunity. L
want to take it. 1t isn't treating me
fairly. Give me another chance.
Why, my brother, you might as we'll
20 out and stand on the Highlands of
Navesink three days after the Majes-
tic has gone out and shout: Captain,
come back. [ want to go to Liverpool
on the Majestic. Come back over the
sea and through the Narrows and up
to the docks. Give me another
chance. You might as well do that
as, after the last opportunity Of heav-
en- has sped away, try to get it
back again. Just think of it. 1t
came on me yesterday in my study
with overwhelming impressivcness.
Just thipl of it. All heaven offered
us gratuity for u whole lifetime, and
and yet we wanting to rush against
God, saying: "Give me another
chance" There ought to be, there
will be no such thing as posthumous
opportunity.
You see common sense agrees with
my text in saying that IF the tree
fall toward the south or toward the
north. in the place where the tree fall
eth there it shall be-" You see this
idea lifts this world from an unim-
portant way station to platform Of
stupendous issues and makes all
eternity whirl around this hour. oh,
my soul, oh, my SOUL Only one trial,
and all the preparations for that trial
to be made in this world or never
made at all. Oh, my soul. oh, my
soul You see this piles up all the
emphasis and all the climaxes and all
the destinies into this life. No other
chance. Oh, how that intensi6es the
value ano the importance of this
chance. Alexander and his army
used to come around city, and they
would kindlc great light, with the
understanding that as long as that
light was burning the city might sur
render and all would be we'll. but if
they let that light 20 out then the
battering rams would swing against
the walls and there would come disas-
ter and demolition. Oh, my friends:
all you and need to do to prepare for
eternal safety is just to surrender to
the King and Conquerer, Christ. Sur
render hearts. surrender life, suren-
der everything. The great light keeps
burning, light kindlcd by the wood Of
the cross. light flaming up against the
dark night of our sin and sorrow. Oh,
let us surrender before the light goes
ont and with it our last opportunity