The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-09-15

to these sons of God, these heirs Of
Heaven.
IF Thou be the Son of Cod Was
there any ''if'' about it? Tell me,
thou star, that in robe of light did
run to point out His birthplace. Tell
me, thou sea, that didst put thy hand
over thy lip when He babe thee be
still. Tell me, ye dead who got up
to see him die. Tell me, thou sun
in midheaven, who for Him didst pull
down over thy face the veil of dark
ness. Tell me. ye lepers who were
cleansed, we dead who were raised,
is He the Son of God? Aye, aye, re-
spends the universe. The flowers
breathe IL; the stars chime IT.; the
redeemed celebrate it.; the angels rise
on their thrones to announce IL. And
vet on that miserable malefactor's
"if" how many shall be wrecked for
all eternity! That little IF" has
enough venom in its sting to cause
the end of the soul. No ''if'' about 1T.
l know it. Ecce Deus! / feel it thor
oughly-through every muscle of the
body, and through every faculty OF
my mind, and through every energy
of my soul. Living, will preach it;
dying, 1 will pillow my head upon
it's observation-disclosures the God.
Away, then, from this right hand
cross. The red berries of the forest
are apt to be poisonous, and around
this tree Of carnage grow the red, poi
sonous berries of which many have
for this RICH: hand cross, except it be
used as lever with which to upturn
the unbelief of the world.
Here from the right-hand cross i go
to the left-hand cross. Pass clear to
the other side. That victim also twists
himself upon the nails to look at the
center cross, yet not to scott 1T is 10
worship. He, too, would like to get
his hand loose, not to smite, but to de-
liver the sufferer of the middle
! cross. He cries to the railcr cursing
on the other side: "Silence! Between
us is innocence in agony. We suffer
| for our crimes. Silence!" Gather
| round this left-hand cross, o ye peo-
pie! BE not afraid. Bitter herbs are
| sometimes tonic for the body, and
| the bitter aloes that grow on this tree
| shall give strength and life to thy
soul. The left-hand cross is repent
ing cross. As men who have been
nearly drowned tell us that in one mo-
ment. while they We're under the wa.
ter, their whole life passed before
! them, so | suppose in one moment the
dying malefactor thought over all his
past lfe-of that night when he went
into an unguarded door and took al
the silver, the gold. the jewels, and as
the sleeper stirred he put n knife
through his heart; of that aay when
in the lonely pass, he met the way.
farer, and, regardless of the cries and
prayers and tears and struggles Of
his victim, he flung the manglet
corpse into the dust of the highway
or heaped upon it the stones.
He says: 81 am guilty wretch.
deserve this. There is no need of m.
cursing. That will not stop the pain
There is no need of blasphemin.
Christ. for He has done me no wrong
And vet | cannot die so. The torture
of my body are undone by the tor
lures of my soul. The past is a scent
of misdoing, the present u crucifxion
the future an everlasting undoing
Come back, thou hiding midday sun
Kiss my cheek with one bright ray o
comfort. What, no help from above
no help from beneath? Then | mus
turn to my companion in sorrow, TIL
One on the middle cross. ] have hear'
that He knows how to help maj
when he is in trouble. | have hear'
that He can cure the wounded. | hav
heard that He can pardon the sinner
Surely in all His wanderings up an,
down the earth He never saw on
more in need Of His forgiveness. vii
thou turn for the moment away fror
Thy own pangs to pity me? Lord,
is not to have my hands relieved o
my feet taken from the torturc--I ca
stand all this--but. oh, my sins, m
sins. my sins! They pierce me throug
and through. They tell me | must di
forever. They will push me out int
the darkness unless Thou wilt hel
me. I confess it all. Hear the CT
of the dying thief: Lord. remembe
me when Thou contest into Thy kinl
DOM I ask no great things. | see
for no throne in Heaven, no chario
to take me to the skies. but just thin
of me when this days horrors hay
passed. Think OF me little-of m
the one now hanging at Thy side
when the shout of Heavenly WELDON
takes Thee back into Thy glory. Tho
wilt not forget me, wilt thou? Lor'
remember me when Thou contest int
Thy Kingdom Only just remembt
me-"
This left hand cross was believin
cross. There was no guesswork in thu
prayer. no eff" in that supplicatioI
!. The left hand cross flung itself at II
foot OF the middle cross. expectin
: mercy. Faith is only just opening ii
! hand to take what Christ offers u
The work is all done the bridge
built strong enough for us all to wal
over. Tap not at the door OF God
mercy with the tip Of your fingers. bi
asa warrior with gauntleted fists {
: the castle gate. So with all the arouse
| 4 A