Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-08-23

ting upon the pea by his side, said:
"Parley, have been thinking Of what
you are doing. You are wasting your
life for time and eternity. Now, Par
ley, it does not matter much what hap
pens to me. | am Il 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 l 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 and begging you
in Christ's name to turn from your
sins. They are pleading with you to
come into the church of Jesus as a 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-
tions in a public way. The reason
do not join the church is because |
have so many home duties that | can
not do my share in church work, II
should join. In few years | expect
to take my place as 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 Il mother 10 leave the bedside Of
her sick child in order to attend mis-
sionary meeting. lie never compels
man to do for the church more than
he can conscientiously do. But Christ
does demand this: lie 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 would especially plead with
you to confess Christ in the church be-
fore men because. us you have others
depending upon you. your present ac-
tions 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 and said, We'll. | will
come If Bill will" But Bill would not
come. But the night before the ship
was to sail the two sailors came for
ward and gave their hearts to Christ
and joined the church. Then the Chris
tan workers in Smyrna asked Bill how
It was that he came 10 join the church.
In rough sailor fashion he said: well,
| liked to attend your meetings be-
cause they made me feel good. 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 all
there, and | really wanted to join your
church; but when Tom said he would
come If did it made me mad. What
had | to do with Toms actions? But
q 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 md then and there | said to |
myself. III my actions are going to |
keep Tom out of heaven. why, I'll
come And here we are, sir Tom |
and Billw SO today the loved ones in |
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 as well as for your
own sake and for Christ's. "Despise |
ye the church" Nay. nay! In your
heart you feel that it is In the church |
you ought to confess Christ. You
know it is into the church you will
want to be carried when you are dead,
and 1t is from its hallowed precincts
you will want to 90 forth to meet him
when you shall dwell with him In
heaven forever and ever and ever.
copyright. 1902. by Louis Klopsch.l