Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-04-30


false examples as well as he will for
give those who have murdered them
with the dagger or the gun.
what" some murderer says. Par
don for my scarlet sins: oh. no. IL
cannot he true. Why. you do not know
what you are saying. My sins are
worse than scarlet. They are black
with the hopelcssncss of despair. There
can he no pardon for me- Let me tell
you my awful story: When ! went To
college. WAS Il very wild boy. | had
there n roommate who WAS the son of
q minister. lie was Il ruddy faced lad
and as pure as little child. taught
him how To drink and how to gamble
/ argued him out of his belief in the
Bible. led him on. step by step. into
the paths of sin. One night can re-
member the time as though yesterday
he sat upon the corner of his bed.
and. with a strange light in his eyes,
he turned and looked nj me and said:
Jim. do you really believe that my
mothers Bible is only pack Of super
stitions? DO you believe there is no
hell:' Yes. Harry. answered. Then
! went on to convince him of il. Then
he laughed a horrible laugh. Then he
turned and said: We'll. old superstition.
goodby. gooiby. May you live long
enough TO soften the dying pillow Of
my mother and father, but as for me,
goodby. goodby. Come. Jim. let's go
and take drink
Ready TO Forgive.
"From that moment. sir. that young
fellow let loose all his evil desires.
pool of sin. Within few months he
was expelled from college Within two
years he committed suicide. and this
is the letter he wrote on the night of
his self murder: Dear Mother This
Is the last letter you will ever receive
from me. ! have broken your heart.
but try to forget and forgive. II
there is no hell, as Jim says, this
world is "A hell enough for me. From
your Isgraced and dying boy" Did
you do all tlat:' YES he answered.
well my friend. know not how
God will forgive. but he can and he
will The blood Of Jesus Christ will
even cleanse you. II you will only ask
for Christ's forgiveness. 'Whosocver.'
ALI, that is the word. whatsoever,
whatsoever" That means you. Yes. it
means you. Though your sins be as
scarlet they shall he AS white as SHOW /;
though they he red like crimson, they
shall be as WOOL"
Christ is ready to forgive also the
merciless thiefs sins. even as he for
gave the thief upon the cross. He
is ready To forgive the thicf'S aims.
whether you have by evil jealousy
stolen away mans good reputation
or have ritied widows pockctbook;
whether you have stolen good name
or a financial income.
Man. you know that was a despcr
atcly mean act for you TO circulate
that evil report about that physicians
life. You know that there never was
a squarer, truer man than he. yet YOU
did il i'm order to ruin his practice -
aye. and you have succeeded. From n
worldly standpoint you can never make
atonement for that damage. But God
will forgive you. even you. il you will
come and ask for his pardon. Woman.
that was an awful statement you made
about the character of that sister. You
say that you are sorry. that you did
not look into the facts before the evil
was done. and she died of a broken
heart Ii is now too late tn bring her
back to life. But God will forgive you.
Yes. whether we are thieves who have
robbed men and women of their good
names God will forgive us II we only
repent Though your sins be as scar
let" That means you: that means you.
A. the Divine Mercy.
'But." you say. this appalling emu
meration of crime has no applicability
to me- have neither robbed nor SIAN
dered nor slain. nor am either drunk
ard or gambler" Assuredly not; but.
though by divine grace you have been
mercifully kept from such depths of
human infamy and degradation, your
heart must still tell you that you are
= sinner in need of pardoning God.
And if he stands ready to forgive the
greatest of criminals and to wash away
their scarlet sins how much more is
he willing. . man, q woman. to give
to your soul pardon for penitence and
TO welcome you into the gospel sheep
fold.
Paul. the greatest of the apostles. in
his abasement called himself the chief
of sinners. Like him. by Gods grace
you may become more honored spiritu-
ally than ever you have been in all
your past life. After Marshal LaOncs
ON account OF INSTRUMENTATION had
been deprived OF his command Napo-
leon Bonaparte declared he should new
er be allowed again to draw his sword
in the service of France. What did
Lannes do? Did he go over TO the enc
my? oh. no. He shouldcred mus
ket and said to himself. IF | cannot
draw a sword for my own country
can at least fire n private'S gun
When Napoleon found his late marshal
fighting in the ranks he not only re-
stored him to his old rank. but gave
him greater command than he ever
had before. So, my friends. IL you.