Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-21

tou are doing. You are wasting your
life for time and eternity. Now, Par
cy, II does not matter much what hap
pens to me. ] am nobody, but you
have the best brain in college. Besides
that, you were born of good blood.
You have praying mother and
praying father. Unless you stop your
sins shall cut your acquaintance"
SO today all the Christian Influences
which surround your past life. all the
Christian influences which surround
your present life, all your hopes for
eternity, are pleading ana begging you
In Christ's name to turn from your
sins. They are pleading with you to
come into the church of Jesus as re-
pentant sinner because you know and
feel-you intensely feel today - that
you ought to come. Are you man
enough In Christ's name to come to his
altar now?
Your Duty to the Church.
But there is one answer yet to the
question of my text. This answer
comes from many a troubled heart.
You say to me: "Mr. Talmage. do not
despise the church except by my ac-
lions in a public way. The reason
do not Join the church is because
have so many home duties that I can
not do my share in church work, If
should join. In few years I expect
to take my place as a member at the
church altar" Now, my friend, want
you to realize this great truth: God
never ordained that one duty should
conflict with other duties. He never
wants mother to leave the bedside Of
her sick child in order TO attend mis-
sionary meeting. He never compels n
man to do for the church more than
he can conscientiously do. But Christ
does demand this: He does demand
that you profess and confess his love
before men. And you cannot do that
In better way than ut the church al
tar. Then let the most imminent
Christian duty decide what you ought
to do thereafter
And I would especially plead with
you to confess Christ in the church be-
fore men because, as you have others
depending upon you, your present ac-
tons will probably decide how your
loved ones will act and feel toward the
church of Christ's establishment This
fact was demonstrated some years ago
| In Smyrna. Two sailors for some
weeks had been attending the mission
services. One night. in answer to the
| invitation to come forward and confess
| Christ and join the church, one of the
sailors turned aud said, We'll, / will
| come IL Bill will" But Bill would not
| rome. But the night before the ship
vas to sail the two sailors came for
ward and gave their hearts to Christ
nd joined the church. Then the Chris
| ian workers in Smyrna asked Bill how
| il was that be came to join the church.
In rough sailor fashion he said: well,
| liked to attend your meetings be-
cause they made me feel good. l used
to think of the old times when on Sun
day afternoons in the old home at New
Bedford we used to sing the same
songs. Mother was there and my sis
ters and brothers and father were ali
there, and l really wanted 10 join your
church, but when Tom said he would
come II ] did it made me mad. What
had to do with Toms actions? But
couple of nights ago Tom was sick.
/ sat up with him, and as he was toss
ing around in his bunk / heard him
muttering something, and as | put my
ear down to his mouth | heard him
say: oh, Bill. won't you come, Bill
It's my last chance for heaven, Bill
Oh, Bill won't you come? Won't you
Gomez And then and there | said tc
myself, If my actions are going tc
keep Tom out Of heaven, why, II!
come And here we are sir, Tom
and Bill" SO today the loved ones ii
your home and in the store and those
who are dependent upon'you are plead
ing with you to come into the church
for their sakes MS well as for your
own sake and for Christ's. "Despisc
We the church, Nay. nay! In your
heart you feel that 1t Is In the church
you ought TO confess Christ. Yol
know 1t is into the church you vii
want to be carried when you are dead
and it is from it's hallowed precincts
you will want to go forth to meet hin
when you shall dwell with him IL
heaven forever and ever and ever.
copyright. 1909. by Louis Klopsch.l