The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-25

destroyed by the footing of rams horn? With that the old man turns upon me a look of solemn significance and says aFriend, knowest thou not that God has sounded forth the deathknell of this city? My daughter Rahab had a vision from Him. She not only surrendered her heart to God, but she has led us all to read His prophecies and learn to love Him also Jericho shall fall. His messengers have thus told us. We are all here waiting for his summons. Yes. we are all here, father, mother and our boys and girls. We are all here in Rahabs house to meet the manifestations of Rahab's God"
 Is this an absurd picture I have drawnl Have you not in your own life seen one Christian girl or boy win a whole family to Christ? We have. And do you not fully realize that if you once surrender your heart to Jesus Christ, as Rahab gave hers to God, you, by the help of the Lord Jesus Christ, can capture your whole family for the Saviour? There is a beau- tiful story told that many years ago in Persia Christian lady married He brew husband Time passed on and a little girl came to bless that hame. When the child was about ten years of age she sickened unto death. Just before she was about to pass away she turned to her Hebrew father and said: Papa, when
 
 will say, Why does your father hate me?' Then what shall l say, papa2' With that the father said, "TeH Him I did hate Him once but that I love Him now" An that may be the story of our own life. If you will, you can win your whole family for Christ. No one has greater influence than you with that fla ther, that mother, that sister. that broth CT. Like Rahab, are you converted oh bat Jaa r ones know that your conversion is no sham? Whatsoever ye shall ask in my name that shall ye receive" It Is too much to test Gods promises in the saliva tion of your own dear ones?
 But I learn another fact from Rahab's reward. A man or a woman may make a complete social wreck or life and start all over again They may be moral out casts and yet reform, as did Jerry Me Auley or John B. Couch or John Newton or Richard Baxter or Rahab, and rehab- iitate themselves and become useful ser wants of Jesus Christ and mighty mes sengers for the betterment of the world 8 salvation You can find this gospel truth not only taught in the character of my text but also from many other characters Of the Bible Some time ago I read a powerful discourse by the greatest of English preachers. It's title was "Shaven
 
 hero was Samson. This sermon described Samson betrayed by Delilah; Samson. with his hair cut: Samson shorn of his strength: Samson with his eyes out; Sam son grinding in the prison house But after awhile it showed Samson with his hair growing and getting back his great strength Old Samson never got back his eyeslght, but he was able again to put forth that old strength. and in his own death he slew more of his Lords enemies than he ever slew in his life Cannot you sec the old grizzled giant. shaggy beard ed and his hair like a lions mane. and the old muscles again knotting themselves out in their strength? Now. my text says Rahab was a harlot She was social outcast But Rahab the depraved not only became Rahab the virtuous, but she also became Rahab the ancestress of Je- sus Christ.
 Let me read you something that found