The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-10-18
BENTON, LOUISIANA, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1s, 19oo

When will the time come when the
spirit of God shall, with its ak, hew
down that right hand cross until it |
shall fall at the feet of the middle |
cross. and unbelief, the railing male
factor of the world, shall perish from
all our hearts? Away from me, thou |
spirit of unbelief! hate thee! With
this sword of God / thrust thee back |
and thrust thee through. Down to
hell; down, most accursed monster |
of the earth, and talk to those thou |
hast already damned! Talk no longer
to these sons of God, these heirs Of
Heaven.
IF Thou be the Son of God" 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, ye dead who were raised,
is He the Son of God? Aye, aye, re-
spends the universe. The flowers
breathe it; the stars chime it; the
redeemed celebrate it; the angels rise
on their thrones to announce it. And
yet on that miserable malefactor's
"if' how many shall be wrecked for
all eternity!
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
tasted and died. I can see no use
for this right hand cross, except 1t be
used as lever with which to upturn
the unbelief of the world.
Here from the right-hand cross 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.
He says: Il am guilty wretch. /
deserve this. There is no need Of my
cursing. That will not stop the pain.
There is no need of blaspheming
Christ, for He has done me no wrong.
And yet cannot die so. The tortures
of my body are undone by the tor
lures of my soul. The past is a scene
of misdoing, the present crucifixion,
the future an everlasting undoing.
Come back, thou hiding midday sun!
Kiss my cheek with one bright ray of
comfort. What, no help from above
no help from beneath? Then I must
turn to my companion in sorrow, the
One on the middle cross. I have heard
that He knows how to help q man
when he 10 in trouble. l have heard
that He can cure the wounded. I have
heard that He can pardon the sinner.
Surely in all His wanderings up and
| down the earth He never saw one
more in need of His forgiveness. Wilt
thou turn for the moment away from
Thy own pangs to pity me? Lord, 1t
is not to have my hands relieved or
my feet taken from the torture-I can
stand all this-but, oh, my sins, my
sins, my sins! They pierce me through
L
forever. They will push me out into
the darkness unless Thou wilt help
me. confess it all. Hear the cry
Of the dying thief: Lord, remember
me when Thou comest into Thy king
DOM I ask no great things. seek
for no throne in Heaven, no chariot
to take me to the skies, but just think
of me when this days horrors have
passed. Think of me little-of me,
the one now hanging at Thy side
when the shout Of Heavenly welcome
takes Thee back into Thy glory. Thou
wilt not forget me, wilt thou? Lord
remember me when Thou comest into
Thy Kingdom Only just remember
me-"
This left hand Cross was believing
cross. There was no guesswork in that
prayer. no "if' in that supphcation
The left hand cross flung itself at the
foot of the middle cross, expecting
mercy. Faith is only just opening the
hand to take what Christ offers rs
The work is all done; the bridge /.
built strong enough for us all to wall
over. Tap not at the door OF Gods
mercy with the tip Of your fingers, but
as . warrior with gauntleted fists al
the castle gate. So with all the aroused
lAnergies of our souls let us pound at thu
gate Of Heaven. That gate is locked
You 90 to it with bunch OF keys. Yo,
try philosophy. That will not open it
| A large door generally has ponderou'
KEY. take the cross and place tn,
foot OF it in the lock, and by the tw.
arms of the cross turn the lock, ant
the door opens.
This left hand cross was . pardonet
cross. The crosses were only two o.
three yards apart. 1t did not take lonl
for Christ to hear. Christ might hav'
turned away and said: "How dares
J thou speak to me? am the Lord o
Heaven and earth. have seen you
violence. When you struck down tn
man in the darkness. / saw you. Yo1
are getting just reward. Die in dark
ness-die forever" But Jesus said no
so, but rather, "This day thou shal
!. be with me In Paradise" as much as
!. say: II see you there. Do not worry