The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1906-06-20
THE PULPIT.
A BRILLIANT SUNDAY SERMON BY DIR.
ToRREY, THE GREAT REVlVALIST.
Subject: One Miser Worse Than Twelve
Whisky Fiends.

Philadelphia.-The Rev. DR.. Torrey,
the great revivalist, on Sunday deliv-
cred compelling sermon entitled "One
Miser Worse Than Twelve Whisky
Fiends." His text was Acts xii, l6:
And now, why tarriest thou? Arise
and he baptized, washing away thy
sins, calling on the name Of the Lord"
why tarriest thou? 1t was God
who asked that question of Saul of
Tarsus, who, as you will remember,
was most bitter enemy of Christ; l
doubt if Jesus Christ ever had more
bitter enemy, more determined, more
relentless enemy than Saul Of Tarsus.
Saul of Tarsus sincerely believed that
Jesus Christ was an imposter, that His
claim to be the Son of God was false
claim, and he hated Him with all the
intensity of q sincere soul. There
were times when the thought would
come stealing into Sauls soul, Per
haps He is the Son of God" Espe-
cially when Saul stood and saw
Stephen stoned to death and heard
Stephens dying testimony, II see the
Heavens opened and the Son Of Man
stands on the right hand of God" the
thought came to Saul, "Does he really
see Him? Is Jesus really the Son of
God" But Saul would not listen to
these suggestions.
He kicked against the goal and be-
came all the. more bitter against Christ
in his cnmity, because there was a
lurking suspicion that he was wrong.
He breathed an atmosphere Of threat
ening slaughter He went down into
the streets Of Jerusalem, going from
house to house, dragging from their
homes men, women and children, spar
ing neither age nor sex, all those who
professed belief in Christ; he dragged
them to be tried and punished, to be
put to death, and if anyone was to be
killed he always voted for their death,
until at last he had exhausted all his
opportunities for persecution Of the
Christian people of Jerusalem, but he
had not exhausted his hate of Christ.
He heard that 130 miles away from
Jerusalem at Damascus there were
other Christians, and his heart went
out in bitter hatred toward those Chris
tians he had never seen. So he went
TO the High Priest and asked the au-
thorities to allow him to so to the city
of Damascus and to do what he had
done in Jerusalem. They were only
too pleased to allow him to go, so he
started on the long, weary way to Da-
mascus, hurrying there, neither stop
ping for the intense monday heat, but
pressing eagerly on. so intensely did he
hate the Son of God.
And now he has almost reached Da-
mascus; he stands on the last foothill
and stands looking down into the val
ley at Damascus. Damascus was a
city noted throughout the ancient
world for its beauty. But as he stood
there looking at the beautiful city Saul
did not think Of its beauty, but Of the
thousands of Christians there whom he
wished to drag from their homes to
death.
AS lie was standing there, there sud-
denly shone around him a light
brighter than the sun, and in the midst
of that light the brightest and most
wonderful face and form that Saul had
ever seen appeared. 1t was Jesus.
With a cry Saul fell on his face to the
ground, and out Of the cloud came n
voice saying, saul, Saul, why perse-
cutest thou Me-"
From humbled man came back the
answer, "Who art Thou, Lord?" Back
comes the crashing response. II am
Jesus, whom thou persecutest."
And now from thoroughly humbled
man came the answer, What would
you have me to do?" "Arise; get on
thy feet and 60 into Damascus, and
there thou shalt be told what thou
shalt do" He arose. and found him
self totally blind, and thus he entered
the city where he had expected to come
as q conqueror, blind, helpless as a
cripple, where he spent three days and
three nights fasting and praying. But
still he did not accept Christ.
Christ sent a certain disciple to Saul
with the question. "Why tarriest thou?
What are you waiting for? You know
] am the Son of God; why don't you
arise and be baptized in your accept
ance Of Me?'
am going to ask that question Of
every man and woman in the building
tonight "Why tarriest thou?"
There are great many in this build
ing tonight who in their secret hearts
believe in Christ. but have never Open
ly professed that faith in Him. Why
tarriest thou? What are you waiting
for? Why don't you accept Christ to-
night? Why don't you publicly con-
fess your acceptance Of Christ tonight?
l wish it were possible for me to de-
scend from this pulpit tonight and
20 from seat to seat, from man to man,
woman to woman who has not publicly
accepted Christ and put to them the
question, "Why tarriest thou:"
l believe that if I could do so that
almost every man and woman who is
out of Christ in this great building
would be brought to Him tonight: But
that is impossible, so the next best
thing to do is for you to forget that l
am speaking to 4 great congregation
here, and just think you and I are hav-
ing a personal talk together, and that
I am asking the question.
And while am asking that question
] want everybody to draw near in
prayer for a few moments. at the end
of which time shall have your honest
answer. Let us have few moments
of perfect silence. Why tarriest thou
Perfect silence for few moments.]
know what the answer of some of
you is. 1t is, II am waiting until
am convinced, and just as soon as
am convinced that the Bible is the
Word of God and that Jesus Christ is
Ile Son of God l will accept Jesus
Now, to every one here who makes
that answer. I will make the offer: II
you will come to me at the end Of this
meeting l will show you with absolute
certainty that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God, and that the Bible is the Word
of God. Nowi if you are really an honest
slentic you will accent that offer II