Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1901-07-20

an arctic night. the cold equal 10 the
darkness. You do well TO BE- angry.
hut how about those who fa<e been
funr of scepticisn. and that Is more
millions than you will ever know OF
until the Judgment day reveals every
thing. All. here comes your opportr-
nifty for gentleness, kindness and
sympathy. The probability Is that II
you had been piled with the same in
fluences as this unbeliever there
would not be a Bible In all your
house from cellar to attic. Perhaps
he was In some important transaction
swindled by n member OF the church
whose taking of the sacrament was
sacrilege. Perhaps he read agnostie
books and heard agnostic lectures
and mingled IN agnostic circles until
he has been befogged and needs your
Christian help more than anyone
that YOU know of. Do not get into
nnv labored argument about the
truth of Christianity. He may beat
Won at that. He has whole artil
lery of weapons ready 10 open hre'
Remember that no one was ever re-
formed for this life or saved for the
life 90 come by an argument, but IN
humblest and gentlest way, your
voice subdued, ask him n few cues
lions. Ask him II he had a Christian
psrentage. and il he says yes ask
him whether the old folks died happy,
Ask him If he has ever heard Of any
one going out OF this life in raptures
OF infdelity and agnosticism. ASK
him IL il is not n somewhat remark
able fact that the Bible. after SO
many years, sticks together and that
there are more copies of il in exist
ence than ever before. Ask him IL
he knows OF any better civilization
than Christian civilization and
whether he thinks the teachings OF
Confucius or Christ are preferable.
/ Ask him If he thinks il would be
fair thing IN the Creator Of all things
10 put in this world the human race
and give fhem no direct communica-
ton for their guidance and, IL they
did wrong, tell them of no way OF
recovery think II famous infdel
Of our time. instead OF being taken
away instantaneously. had died in
his bed after weeks and months %
illness nc would have revoked his
teachings and left for his beloved
family consultations which they could
not find in ohsequies At which not
one word OF Holy Scripture was read
or at Fresh Pond cremstory. wherc
no Christian beneoiction was pro-
nounood. do not positively say that
in = prolonged Illness. there would
have been n rctraction, but l think
there would.
But let me confess At this crisis Of
my sermon that there is not an in
junction in the Bible more difficult 70
obey than che words of the text.
While IL applauds a wholesome indig-
nation. 10 warns against sinful an
ger. And there is in all the realm
OF passion nothing more destructive
. than indiscriminate hatO. First OF
nil, Il frenzics the nervous gaRglia.
Those people who easily flare up on
? little Provocation 90 into high dud-
p gcou. take umbrage without reason
J snap YOU up quick. have ruined thoiI
3 nerves. and there Is only One thing
r. worse 10 ruin, and that is the brain
D and VIC say Of one that f. given e
n frequent ebuilitions of temper thai
= he is On unbalanced man. a business
n man Of our acquaintance said: :"
= cannot afford 90 get mad. II hurts
;. me So"
y 4 man thoroughly mad can 81.
G enough IN two minutes TO damag
d him for 90 years. IL only took flv
e minutes for the earthquake TO de
q stroy Caracas. One unfortunate sen
d tence uttered in afTront In n speed
n in the United States senate shut foI
n ever the door of the white hOus
10 against one Of the most brilliant me
- of the last century.
Surprising all other characters /
I. the worlds biography stands Jesu
Christ, wrathful against sin, msrcifJ
70 the sinner. Witness His behayio
= toward the robed ruffans who d.
manded capital punishment for a
- offending woman-denunciation fo
. their sinful hypocrisy. pardon &c
= her sweet penitence. He did nc
: speak of Herod as his majesty" {
- "his royal highaess," but dared I
compare him to cunning fox. sa,
!, ing: ECO We and tell that fox" Ba
= alert to the cry of suffering, He FIND
~ ten lepers and TO how many of n
= ten awful invalids did He give col
= vaIescence and health2 Ten. RebuI
"a lug Pharisaism in the most cor
- pressed sentence in all the voca
a, uiary of anathems-"Ye serpents.
"a generation Of vipcrs, how can We c
= cape the damnation OF heii?"-y
% looking upon Peter with such tende
a., ness that no word was spo6en-aI
- not a word was needed. for the lot
-. spoke louder than words. "And Il
Lord looked upon Peter, and Pet
-, went out and wept bitterly" Oh, VIII
/