Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-09-25
"A NARROW ESCAPE"
Sunday Discourse By DR.. Chapman the
Noted PastOr-EvangcliSt.
Wonderful Indeed Is the Man of Salvation For
the Sinner, Yet Exceedingly Simple''
Trust Him WHO Promises to Save.

The wonder of wonders IN TINS WoTiu IL
the plan Of salvation for the sinner
through Jesus Christ 1t Is so wonderful
that the man with the greatest mind the
world has ever known has never yet been
able to think his way through it,, and at
the same time it is SO simple that the
smallest child in your home can appreciate
enough of it to be saved.
The first chapter of Hebrews presents to
lis the dignity of Christ. He is at tho right
hand of God; He is better than the an
gels; when the elements have melted with
a fervent heat, He still exists; when the
heavens have been rolled together as q
scroll, He shall still be the very power OF
God. With such description as this IN
the first chapter we come naturally to the
first part OK the second chapter. There
fore we ought to give the more earnest
heed to the things which we have heard
lest at any time we should let them slip.
A Cunard steamer was making her way
across the Atlantic Ocean when the pas
sengers were startled with cry of man
overheard" Immediately every one was
filed with excitement. One man sprang
to the edge of the vessel and shouted, Il
will give thousand pounds to any one
who will save the man that is sinking, for
he is my brother" Every sailor was ready
to throw himself into the sea if only he
could win the reward and save the man.
The captain manned the lifeboat and soon
q cheer went up because they had laid
hands upon the sinking one. The lifcboat
came near the great steamer, ropes were
fastened around the man and the signal
was given to lift him up Just as they
were reaching out their hands to make HIS
salvation sure the ropes slipped, and fall
ing he struck his head upon the hfeboat,
bounded into the sea and was gone for
ever. The writer of the Epistle to the He
brews must have had some such picture as
this in his mind when he said, 1--WE ought
to give the more earnest heed lest at any
time we should let them slip" | have
known of people coming nearer to the
kingdom of God than that, just one step
and they would have been saved, but they
slipped away, and then gave W, hope,
There are three words around which my
thoughts would centre, Great, Escape and
Neglect.
I. 1t is a great salvation hccaue" it dis
closes to us great Saviour, shows us how
we may be saved from great sin, and also
reveals how we may be restored to great
holiness and happiness.
First, it is great in its author The name
of an author will frequently sell book.
and the name Of the author of the paH of
salvation ought to commend it to every
one. If lie is the author two things are
Him, "For God so loved the world that He
gave His only bcgotten SON
Luther tells lis of the little girl. the child
of the man who printed his first l'lb.c.
He was a member of the Church OF Rome,
and the child had been taught that God
could only be approached by means OF pen.
ance and sacrifice. One day in the print
ers Office she found little crumpIcd piece
of paper which contained part of this
H., al hn
a NUTSHELL" all she iound was, "God 50
loved the world that lie gave 1t
produced great impression upon her. One
day her mother heard her singing and
asked the secret of her happiness. >h" an
swercd by showing her the little piece or
paper, and her mother said. What does it
mean?' for, she said. 1T does not tel! Us
what He gave" The childs reply was
IF He loved us well enough to give us
anything, we need not be afraid of Him
Again, if God is the author, His is the
only way of salvation. Men decide to
come to God by the way Of reformation, or
by the power of resolution, but this profits
nothing, for reformation may touch the
present, and may possibly avail for the lu-
ture, but it cannot touch the past. II
man is in your debt $500 and comes to
tell you that he has decided never 10 GO
into debt again, You may tell him that he
Is making me resolution, but You VIII
hoC tetl MN mat ms Roou resolution pays
MS lhdehte1heSs 10 You; LOT ina, IS a trans
actioh OF the pas ne WohaGrlni lhih@
vdes an atoncment touching the SINS of
the present, makes provision for the iu-
ture, and blotting out the transgrcsslons
of the past. 1t is great also in its sacrifice.
The way back to God has always been
sprinkled with blood. Study the Old les
lament and you VIII tnd TINS Is true, PUT
when the SINS OF men became so great mat
the blood OF bulls and goats would not
suliice then 'hrist dled lor our SIMS &C
cordlng to the scriptures
1t was my privilege some time ago to
Tertiary OF tennessee. ! sad to them J
can give you the secret OF getting almost
any amount OF money, ana thelr races IN
stantly were study, for the most OF them
were IN prison for trying to get money IN
their own way. But this is the secret |
gave them. lake a piece OF paper and
write down upon 1t the amount OF money
you want, the length of time you want it,
sign your name to 1t and carry it to the
cause you have not found the secret. 1t Is
thus frequently that men stand before
God and ask to be saved. If you will take
that piece Of paper to some one whose
name stands for money, then have HIM
write his name upon the back OF it and
carry it to the hank, you will be surprised
to see what a different position you have,
and you will receive the money, not be
cause OF what you are. but because of what
your security is. 1t is thus we have our
standing before God; our security is per,
feet, and simple faith unites us to Him
1t is great also in its pardon and for
givencss. Pardon means more with God
than with men. With men a pardon may
open the prison doors and send the guilty
one back to his home, but if he is a mui'.
derer the chances are he will have a few
peaceful nights, and then in his dreams as
we'll as in his waking moments his sin will
be before him. This is because he is par
doned and not justified. When God par.
dons us lie justifieS freely and forever.
And forgiveness means more with God
than with man. When we forg We we con.
stantly rempmhor 1 ho ono who b,u sinnoI