Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1901-08-01

Gomorrah will be tolerable as compared
with the fate of our modern society,
which knew better, but did worse.
We want about 10000 pulpits in Amer
mongers shall have their place in the hell
that burneth with fire and birthstone,
which is the second death" It is hell on
earth and hell forever. We have got to
understand that iniquity on Columbia
Heights or Fifth avenue or Beacon Hill is
as damnable N the sight OF God as it IL
In the slums.
Whether it has canopied couch or elder
down or dwells amid the putridlty Of a
low tenement house, God is after it in His
vengeance. Yet the pulpit OF the Chris
tan church has been so cowed down on
and men are almost Apologize when they
read the Ten Commandments.
Then look at the destinations thrown
around assassination. There are in all
communities men who have taken the
lives OF others unlawfully, not as exccu-
TONERS of the law, and they go scot free.
You say thai they had their provocations.
God gave lie, and He alone has n right
to take it, and He may take 1t by vista
ton of Providence or by an executioner
OF the law, who Is His messenger. But
when a man assumes that divine preroga-
tive he touches the lowest depth of crime.
Society is alert for certain kinds Of muir
der II citizen going along the road at
night is waylaid and slain by robber,
we all want the villain arrested and exc
cuted. For all garroting, for al beating
out of life by club or an axe or q slunG-
shot the law has quick spring and heavy
stroke, but you know that when men get
aff1uent and high position and they avenge
their wrongs by taking the lives Of others
great sympathy is excited. Lawyers plead,
ladies weep, judge halts, jury is bribed,
and the man goes free. 1t the verdict
70 ha i %,.o 81
called on through some tecnnicahty, and
they adjourn for witnesses that never
come and adjourn and adjourn until the
community has forgotten all about it, and
then the prison door opens and the muir
derer goes free.
Now, if capital punishment be right I
say let tie life of the polished murderer
60 with the life of the vulgar assassin.
Let us have no partlality of gallows, no
aristocracy of electrocution chair. Do
not let US float back to barbarism, when
every man was his own judge, jury and
premacy who had the sharpest knife and
the strongest arm and the quickest step
and the stealthiest revenge. He who will
fully and in hatred takes the life of
other is murderer, | care not what the
prOvOcatlOn or the circumstances.
He may be cleared By an enthusiastic
courtroom he may be sent by the Gov
eminent of The United States as Minister
to some foreign court or modern literature
may polish the crime until it looks like
heroism, but in the sight of God murder
is murder, and the judgment day will so
reveal it.
Now, do not be fascinated by the gla-
NOR thrown over crime Of whatever sort.
Because others have habits that seem bril-
liant, but yet at the same time are wicked,
do not choose such faults. Stand indie
pendent of all such influences. Put your
confidence in the Lord God. He will be
T yGnr re srSng Saith the n9grd Is NINE
Cultivate old fashioned honesty. This
book is full of it. Old fashioned honesty
such as was spoken of by DR.. Livingstone,
the famous explorer. You may not know
he was descended from the Highlanders:
DR.. Livingstone said that one day one of
the old Highanders called his children
around him and said Now, my lads, l
have looked all through our family line.
[ have gone back as far as l can, and l
find that all our ancestors were honest
people. There doesn't seem to be one
rogue among them, and you have good
blood. Now, my lads, be honest"
There are hundreds Of young men who
have good blood. Shall [ ask three or four
plain questions? Are your habits as good
as when you left your fathers house?
Have you a good ticket in your pocket?
Have you a fraudulent document? Have
YOU been experimenting to see how accur-
ate an imita ton you could make of your
employers signature? On, you have good
blood. Remember your fathers prayers.
Remember your mothers example. Turn
not in an evil way Have you been going
astray? Come back. Have you ventured
out too far?
AS [ stand in pulpits looking over au-
diences sometimes my heart fails me.
There are many tragedies present, so
many who have sacrificed their integrity,
so many far away from God. Why, my
brother, there have been too many prayers
offered for you to have You go overheard.
And there are those venturlng down into
sin, and my heart aches to call them back.
At Brighton Beach or Long Branch you
have seen men go down into the surf to
bathe, and they waded out farther and
farther, and you got anxious about them.
Y on said, Il wonder if they can swim"
And you then stood and shouted: Come
back Come back! You will be drowned!'
They waved their hand back, saying:
NO danger" They kept on wading deep
CT down and farther out from shore until
after awhile great wave with strong
the next day washed on the beach. So |
see men wading down into sin farther and
farther, and | call to them: Come back!
Come back! You will be lost; you will be
!o@, They wave their hand back, say
lne7 mo danger; no danger!' Deeper
GOWN anu deeper GOWN until ai[er aWnlle
a wave sweeps them out and sweeps them
off forever. On, come back! The one
tarthest away may come.
oh" you say, you don't know where
[ came from. You don't know what my
history has been. You don't know what
iniquity | have, plotted. l have gone
through the whole catalogue of sin" My
brother [ do not know the story. but I
tell you this: The door of mercy is wide
open. Though your sins be as scarlet.
tley shall be as snow; though they be red |
like crimson, they shall be as wool"
Though you have been polluted with the
worst of crimes, though You have been
smitten with the worst of leprosies, though !
Yea have been fired with all evil passions, |
this moment on your brow, hot with mi |
quitous induIgenccs, may be set the fash
ing coronet OF Saviour's forgiveness