St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-02-20


but wicked, city of Athens Ibis spiri
was stirred in him, when he saw tn.
city wholly given TO idolatry." H,
knew that the hearts Of the people wer'
far from God, and yet in his great ser
mon on Mars hill, as he felt the heart
throb of God for the sinful and idola
trous people, he declared that God wa.
not far from every one of u.s." He i:
near, so that He can hear the cry O.
the penitent. He is near, and waits Il
forgive sin and extend mercy. Cod.
love for sinners is attested by the fac
that He has provided a way of escape
for the sinner. He has wrought out {
scheme of redemption which does moi
compromise his attitude towards sir
or set aside His judgment upon sim An6
this fact our text blessedly brings before
us. Far off from God we are by reason
OF sin, brought nigh to God we may BIZ
by the cleansing power Of Jesus blood
Far off from God not because way back
to Him has not been provided, but
Tar from God because people
love darkness rather than light, and
because they prefer to dwell in the fa1
off country of sin and worldliness, in
stead of returning over the Jesus road
to the near country of blessed life and
| Fellowship with God. Far from God I'M
| less the power of the precious blood of
Jesus has been felt to draw the soul
| nlgn unto God. Far from God, or near
to GOD. Two great divisions or classes.
10 which group do you belong?' Are
you with those who are separated from
COD by reason Of sin unforgiven, a
Savious spurned, or do your glad feet
stand with the great redeemed throng
upon the everlasting rock Christ Jesus,
whose blood has cleansed you from all
sin and made you fit to come into the
presence of God? .r..
LAR from Cod! Who can measure all
that this means? Not many weeks
ago there died in one of the cheap
lodging houses of Chicago, poor, mis-
cradle moral and physical wreck of a
man. In the pocket of his ragged coat
was found request that a certain man in
a certain city be notified in case of death.
This was done and he came and took the
remains away. The dead man was the
son of wealthy banker, whose name
the friend would not divulge He had
left home and wandered far from his ia
Tiers care and love- Far off in Chicago
he was friendless and homeless mis-
cradle, wretched, despised and worthless
outcast; suffering and in want while
off from home and father. 1t might have
been different if he had willed it So
Home might have sheltered him; friends
might have cared for him. Comfort and
plenty might have been his portion if he
had SO chosen. But being far from
home meant all of misery and wretched-
ness and degradation which the world
could give Oh, what difference it made
with him because he was far from home,
and oh, what difference it makes with
the life that is far from God! And every
life is far from God unless it has been
brought nigh by the blood of Jesus
Christ. Far from God we find the world
with all her allurements, with all her
ambitions, all her pleasures, her power
and her activities; yes, and her woes and
heart aches, her troubles and suffering,
her wickedness and crime. We find the
devil there going to and fro through the
earth, enticing, deluding, destroying, de-
vouring. Far from God we find every
thing with the stamp of sin upon it. Far
from God are dangers, privations, un-
satisfied longings-death. The prodigal
son knew what it meant to be far from
his fathers house. 1t meant drinking
to the bitter dregs the cup Of sin. 1t
meant disgrace, restitution, suffering
and would have meant death If he had
remained in the far country. Far from
God means the darkness of sin. 1t means
that this life is all that the soul is to
enjoy. 1t may mean ease and plenty,
pleasures and honor, riches and power
such as the world can give, and give in
sometimes, but the limits
of this life mark the end of all that
the world can give. Far from God means
that for the soul there is nothing beyond
Far from God means eternal death, for
10, they that are far from Thee shall
perish"
JESUS felt the agony of that separa-