The Crittenden record. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1904-1907, 1905-04-14

transcendently thankful, TO God for
saving US from the results Of our evil
deeds and sins? But, strange TO say,
after the divine rescue has been accom-.
pllshed our gratitude may cool. II
may after awhile change into indiffel-
ence or even into positive rcpulsiOn.
Once our souls were a1ame with
gratitude for what God had done for
US. No sooner were we converted than,
like the psalmlst, we cried out, Even.
Ing and morning and at noon will
pray and cry aloud, and he shall hear
my voice" But after awhile our joy
full enthusiasm began 10 cool. We
grew indifferent. We turned our backs
upon God. We now find reading the
Bible bore and praying Il drudgery
and talking to Christ and waiting for
Christ TO talk TO us task Instead OF
an endless pleasure. Oh, my friends,
do you want TO feel again the exhllara-
ton which came over you on the day OF
your cornerstone Then make the pray
er Of my text. Make II day la and day
out Make II and continue TO make It
az you rehearse all God has done for
you by the sacrifice OF Jesus Christ.
oh. that today we could have the thrill
which surged through US when we first
felt that God had purged us with hys-
sop until we were clean. that he had
washed Us until we were whittier than
snow.
Not the only JOY.
hut gratitude 90 God for what Christ
has done for Us Is not the only
joy VI salvation that IL buried and
needs 10 be renewed. One OF these Joys
that need 20 br rcsurrcctcd Is the one
We used 10 fnd In Christian service.
No sooner were we converted than i'm.
mcdlatcly we went forth 20 try 90
save some one else. Then when We
brought a brother or sister 20 the cross
there came over Us another Joy which
we had not hitherto conceived. the Joy
~ saving men and women for Christ.
There Is no Joy on earth greater than
that Not even the Joy OF being saved
ourselves can be compared 10 the Joy
Of knowing that 10y the grace OF God
we have been able 20 save some one
else from perIshlng.
The man Of the world who has never
experienced this Joy cannot understand
a. The e1hllaratlon Of II Is couchcd
Tor him IN mystical and unknown
tnngucs Tor wears and years ! could
not understand what Paul meant In
bis letter 10 the Romans. felt he did
not mean what he said. believed he
was only using an exaggerated ORR.
t0rcal figure of speech when he said.
For could wish that myself were nc.
cursed from Christ for my brethren.
my klnsmcn. according 10 the flesh"
The more I studied that passage the
more felt and do feel today that Paul
literally made this prayer: 20 Christ.
n there i no way 10 save my brothers,
my sisters. my friends. my people. but
by blating my name out % the book
~ life. then destroy me for their
sakcs" In other words. Paul said.
Destroy me n by my spiritual death
others might spiritually live forever IN
thee" Aud yet i not this joyful will.
lngness 90 b. sacrificed 60 save others
experienced by the new convert al
waysi
Was young Hamlltons death an un.
desirable Onei No sooner were the
honor uni lie u his father. Alexander
Hamilton. threatened IA his political
warfare against Aaron Burr than bis
eldest son. the pride Of his heart,
lcapc,i forward aud sald. "If necessary
I will die that my father shall live"
THREE long years before the fatal duel
at Wcchawkcu. when the FIRST sccrr
ury ~ the United States treasury laid
down hls NE. his eldest boy died Tor
his fathers sake. DO you not believe
that when young Hamilton was dying
there came an unspcakablc Joy 20 him
because be- was dying In his father.
stcadl When Nathan Hale was levi
forth o. the gtllows 20 D. stranglcd a.
a spy. DID DO ~ there Ike a craven
muricrvri oh, no. lie went with bis
bead up. Ills step was nrm A happy
SMILE was upou bis lips, lie said, ''Thy
ouiy regret that have m dying Is that
I have but one lie to lay upon the al
tar ~ my country" Yes, Nathan Hal,
dlc,l happy IN dying he fclt that b,
was making Il possible Tor his country
10 live. So Raul was happy when b,
said. - christ. n II IL necessary fol
me to spiritually ~" that others mas
spiritually live. then blot my name ouI
Of the book " life" Thus the Joy VI
saving an Immortal soul which come.
10 The Christian u even greater than
that Joy which comcs 10 pcnltcut met
aud women when they first give thcll
hearts W Jesus christ
Tho joy % ssyiaG Others.
oh, apostalcs Oh. yc negligent and
sloihful church members. standlnl
IDLY st'out Ia the market places whci
Coils vineyards arr fllci with the rip
81 clustcrs Just ready Tor the pluck
iug you have known In the past M
Joy ~ salvation IN the saving ~ souls
Wty. can srv even now the reflection
n n pest iov upon your facvs at 10 N,
time When sou usri 70 labor Ia N,
Sunday schools and bring little chill
drvn % christ can scc YOU nov