Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-05-06

the lefty Of deathf'' AN old Chris
tan legend" says DIR. Baxendale, tells
us that the mountain of Calvary can be
compared to a high mountain, on the
top OF which is palace filed with oil
treasures-gold. gems, singing birds, a
paradise of pleasure. Up its sides men
and women are climbing to reach the
top. but every one who looks back is
turned into stone. And yet thousands
Of evil spirits are around the climbers,
whispering. shouting, flashing their
treasures. singing their love songs to
draw their eyes from the palace ut the
top and to make them look back" Such
Is the history of your Christian life.
Like Lots wife. You started away from
Sodom. You began to climb the hills
of safety. But you looked back. You
fatally looked back. My apostate
friend. can 1t be. after you have once
started for the city of God" that you
will linger longer by this city of
death?" Can it be that second call.
and perhaps a last call. is not coming
to you in this mornings sermon to seek
the divine safety? Will you heed the
call today?
A Duty To Others.
But I cannot close these suggestions
without one more thought. Christian
church members having fled from the
"city Of destruction" will you not try
to persuade others to flee with you?
You must wish to be saved: yes. but
you must also try to save others. If
Lots wife had by the power of the
Holy Spirit saved ten others she would
have saved all In the evil cities Of the
plain. II all Of us who are protesting
Christians will save ten each year for
Christ 1t will not be long before the
glory of the Lord shall cover the earth.
even as the waters cover the seas. Is
that too much to ask? Less than one
soul n month for Christ. Is that too
much to ask? 1t is not too much If you
and heart and soul have consecrated
our lives for the service of our Master.
If we each save ten souls year for
Christ we can save Sodom. When God
determined to exterminate the cities of
the plain Abraham said: 20 Lord.
wilt thou destroy the righteous with
the wicked? If there are fifty righteous.
wilt thou save Sodom for the fifty's
sake? II forty-five, for the forty-five's
sake? If ten. for the ten righteous
sake?" Then the Lord said. "Yes. l will
save Sodom for ten righteous sake"
So Abraham arose from his knees and
In all probability said: "Now I will go
down to Sodom and visit my niece and
her chief friends. l will get all the
names of the people with whom she is
identified in religious work. and will
save that whole town from destruction
for the ten righteous sake"
The old man comes to the city. He
Is welcomed by his aristocratic foster
daughter He says to her. "My child.
where live the godly people whom you
have led to repentance" "Why. I'M
Gle" she answers. Ito tell the truth.
do not know If any of my neighbors
and society friends are servants Of
God. Yesterday was at the great
chariot race. but there we only talked
horse. Last night we went to dance,
but there we only talked dress and
gossip. Last week ! attended court.
but there we only talked politics. do
not know IL even there are ten right
eous people living in Sodom. Dur
ing all the years I have lived here
have not brought one of my friends to
God" Is Lots wife's answer your an
swer? Church members. will lou not
during the next year at least try to
bring ten immortal souls to Christ? Is
1t too much to ask? Lots wife could
have saved Sodom. The Christian peo-
pie of this country can bring this city
and this state and this nation to Christ
If they each will bring ten souls year
to Jesus. Is it too much to ask for
Christ? Ten souls per year for each
member. Is it too much to ask for
Christ?
copyright. 1905. by Louis Kiopsch.l