The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-05-29

stealthy fugitive step. As soon as Achan the thief got possession of .--.s gold and silver and this Babylonish garment he did not know what to do with them. He could not wear the cloak; he could not spend the money; so. like a coward, he skull1ed away and went and hid them in his tent.
 Sin nearly always makes q coward out of man. Achan did exactly what our first ancestor did in the garden of Eden after he had sinned. No sooner was that forbidden fruit eaten than for Adam the heavens seemed to be overcast. He not only slunk away and md in the thick cts as a cowardly hyena would run away from the hounds but when God called him forth he did even a meaner thing than that. He turned and tried to throw the blame upon the woman by his side as he said, "Yes, 1 did eat, but the wo- man whom thou gavest to be with me. she gave mo and l did eat" Oh, my friends. the criminal unconsciously re- yeals himself. The accusing voice of his conscience saps his manliness and robs him of his open demeanor. If there is not an honest heart in man his face and his bearing will not be honest. fhe I lowered eyeid, the trembling hand. the shuffling foot--all reveal the error of his past. A despicabe sin always makes a | coward out of a man-without an exeep- | nature is only another name for cow ardiee. No sooner did Achan take the | gold than he ran away and hid il. no sooner do you sin against God then, like all other sinners you try to get as far as possible away from God.
 End of Tragedy.
 | Shall we follow on and see the end of this human tragedy? Shall we stop and watch the twitching limbs of the He- l brew apostate who is being stoned to death by his late comrades in arms? No l would not for one minute have you look al the death agony and eternal dis pair. Death by execution is too terrible for any human eyes to witness, unless it is our duty to witness fl. l remem- Der some years ago, l was invited as one of the jurors. to be present in Sing Sing prison when murdurer was executed for his crimes. l am always thankful that l missed the train and did not arr rive in time to witness the execution. So today, l would not lead you forth 10 where Achan Is uttering his moans; but rather would close this sermon with this thought; Terrible as sin is in its nature and its effects there ls a divine remedy for it, God. in his infinite pity has had compassion on the sinner and has stretched out his hand to rescue him from his ruin and his despair Not only does he offer pardon to the sinner, Dnt dellNerance from the power of sin. Sin he says to all who put.their trust in Christ. shall not have dominion over you" Though like Achan. you may have fallen under its power, if you come to Christ and put your faith in him. you shall be saved. There is salvation for yon, and eternal life for you, through the blood of Jesus Christ, who loves you and who has given his life for you in order that you might live.
 
 His Real Birthday.
 May this moment be the supreme mos ment for Your eternal redemption and not your eternal damnatlon When Ber- tel Thorwaldsen, the great Danish seulp- tor, was asked the day of his nativity he answered: "I was born on the Sth of March 797 Before then l did not ex ist. This was not the date of his phy- slcal birth. Thorwadsen was physically born Nov.f l9. ITO. and March 8, 1797, was the day that he was artistlcally born. That was the day when he first saw Rome. May this day be to you the best ! of all days. not the day when. like Achan i you must die. but as Bertel Thorwaldsen l first saw Rome. so may this be the first ! day on which you can truly tsee the face | of Jesus Christ and live.
 
 rrx.