The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-06-12

anu an lHe men VINO read the Bible |
and believe only the parts that didn't
hurt their sensitive feelings, and the
young men who lived fast lives and
sowed wild oats because a wicked and
false public sentiment made them
think it was eXcusable and perhaps
necessary, and all the other men and
women who lived as they pleased. re-
gardless of God and eternity When
all these shall appear before the judg-
ment seat of Christ, he will behold
them all as one soul and with smile
OF gracious pardon will reach out his
almighty arm and sweep them all
alike into a heaven of eternal bliss.
there to reign with him in glory and
power, world without end!
But Is this what Christ taught the
world? Suppose what we have said is
true. 1t turns his whole life into a
splendid mockery. Foolishness and
absurdity could go no further than to
create life like his and to put into his
mouth such teachings as we have re-
ceived If at the judgment seat all souls,
regardless of their acts in this world.
are received on an equal footing and all
received into eternal life And where
is there any room in the teachings of
Christ for purgatory? Do we believe
that? Is it not the plain teaching that
after the judgment the destiny of souls
is fixed forever?
But what could man wish more?
VIII he not have opportunity enough to
accept the mercy Of God before that
time? Does he not have opportunity?
If any soul appears at last and at the
judgment complains that he did not
have fair chance, will that gracious
Judge condemn him If his complaint be
true? We know he will not. But the
facts of the judgment are these: At
that time, whenever it is, the souls of
men will be passed for their acts in the
earthly life, a verdict that will deter
mine their everlasting destiny, and
| that verdict will be just and it will be
| merciful. For the crucified one could
not do otherwise. But the men who
have despised and neglected and disbe-
lieved and confessed shall be separated
from him forever, and the men who
have confessed and believed and tried
| to live like him shall be in his presence
continually.
"There will be- division of souls. 1t
will not be based on wealth or position
or birth or education or genius, but ON
Christlikeness-on that divine and eter.
nal thing we call character. Every
] thing else shall go away into destruc
ton, into death. into punishment. into
banishment from God. And Danish
| x,;I h l1l ~
be hell not made by God. but by man
himself, who had an opportunity-nay,
a thousand opportunities-ever day of
his life to accept the bliss of heaven
and of his own selfish choice rejected
every one of them and went to his own
place.
| But some soul starts up and says:
| You are not preaching the gospel; you
are preaching fear. hell. torments. Is
this your boasted loveof GodY Yes; for
what am l preaching if not the love of
God when | say. God so loved the
world that he gave his only begotten
Son that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting
lifeY Is there no danger of perishing?
Why did Christ come then? Why did
he say the things he did? Why did he
speak of the condemnation of the wick
ed and unbelieving if that were not a
part of the gospel?
'"The gospel is glad tidings, but what
makes it glad tidings? Because Of the
danger we are in. What is salvation?
1t is the opposite of being lost. We
lcannot have one without the other. So
am preaching the gospel here today
when | say. We must all appear be-
fore the Judgment seat of Christ!
There will be no fear to us then if we
believe in him. if we have lived his life
here. if the things done in the body are
Igood. And. more than that. as long as
this earth life continues Gods mercy
is with US every moment.
at is possible some soul is here who
for years has lived selfishly within his
own little toys of pleasure He looks
back on a life of useiessness, of neglect
of all that Christ did for him. He this
day hears the voice of God. He listens,
he repents. be cries out, shifting on his
breast, God be merciful to me. a sin
nerr Then what will God do? Win he
cause he has wasted beautiful years
When he appears beforr the judgment
seat, will Christ say: 'Y.su repented too
late on earth. You cannot be saved
nowY
mo! Even If after 100 years of shame
and sin a soul with its outgoing breath
| In genuine repentance and faith in the
Son of God cries out for mercy that
lcry would be answered. and he would
be saved. What less of glory and pow
er such a soul may experience in the
realms of glory we may hot be aDIe to
. tell But he himself will be saved.
"Is not God merciful, then? Let no
man depart from this house of God
fearful or despairing. The earthly life
5 is full from beginning to close with
the love of an Almighty Father. Shall
! men complain because they cannot
) have all of this life and all of the 9th
er, too, in which to repent and be for
5 given? Now is the accepted time
/, now is the day of salvation. To-day
, if We will hear his voice harden not
: your hearts.
r "Men of Barton, you have heard the
! word of God proclaimed from this desE
: today. Young men, will you wait un
$ til you are old in sin and shame before
e you will repent and be saved? How
! do you know you will live to be ole
e men? And what a life to live, even il
S you were sure of a hundred years, t.
s pour out the dregs at last as an offer
q ing to Christ just to escape hell! Oh
t all men, hear ye this day the messag,
q of Christ! He is 4 Saviour of sinners