Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-02-24

friends. do not lrt sH come offering to
you the unpalatallc husk Of annihila-
ton ut the grave. Let not sin again
say, come let Ms eat. drink and be
merry. for tomorrow we die" We
know, we intuitvcly know, that we
shall never. never die.
4 step further When Satan cannot
lure us into dissipation by the doctrine
Of humiliation nj the grave the old
ilcnd takes another course. He comes
to uS and says: You are going TO live.
Oh, yes; you are going 10 live ages up
on ages. millcnniums upon mllcnni-
ums That of course. means that there
Is Il God and that this God has proyid-
cd Il place for your eternal existence.
But this does not alter the fact that
you can eat. drink and he merry and
10 as you would. Why? Because the
very name OF God implies that he is a
good Deity. This good God will save US
all Therefore If you have little fun
here on earth that will not prevent you
from enjoying all the blessings of heav-
en- hereafter. If you SOW few wild
oats here you will be like the younger
hoy In the parable of the prodigal son.
You will 20 OF into the far country.
You will laugh and dance and sing and
drink and make merry. And after you
have spent your all and had n superflne
time on earth you can go back to your
fufhnr'a hntIGn upI hss tNfil thA rim 20
upon your finger and shoes on your feet
aud the best robe on your back and kill
for you the fattcd calf. Don't you see,
you have all the pleasure Of the ban
quct hall of II Circc's palace. with none
of the horrors OF the swine trough into
which Ulysses followers We're com
PEELED 10 go" Now. my friends. this
second Satanic argument TO me Is far
more pernicious than the first. II Is the
means. believe. of destroying more
immortal souls than does even the an
utilization theory. and IL Is furthermore
the most illogical theory ever held by
man.
4 Pernicious Iden.
We have. IN the first place. common
ground for argument and that is God.
Yes. we g. further than that. We have
another common ground for arguments
sake. and that Is God as n heavenly n
loving Father. who wants TO save all
his children IL he can. Now. II we
agree IN reference to these two cardinal
premises ! want to ask you blunt
nj think n "a tvnnI fu
Their without being Il true father. a ia
Their who Is looking after the best inter
cstS Of his children? Can you think OF
n good father without being a Just IA
thCr us we'll rs II forgiving fatherT'
SUPPOSE one of your SONS should come
To you aud say: Father. intend TO lie
and steal and get drunk and defy
every moral law. intend to break my
mothers heart and defy your authori-
~ and make your name byword and
ridicule through the community. Then
! expect YOU TO honor me and do for
me just as much as you would do for
the rest Of the children" What would
You do? What would you say? All, II
You are true. II just parent, ! can tell
you what you would say You would
look yonr boy in the face and answer:
My son. as long as you are true to me
md true 10 your mother and true TO
your sisters and true to yourself you
shall be looked upon rs a member OF
my family All that | have then is
yours. But If you persist In being un-
true TO us ana untrue TO yourself you
must leave my house and leave me.
You have forfeited your rights OF son
ship. and you cannot be looked upon
ns one OF my children" Has not God
a right to do the same with us?
| will put this truth in even more
startling way Let us suppose you are
judge upon the bench Your own
son. your own flesh and blood. moral
degenerate. is brought before you for
trial In your own heart you feel that
he has done wrong and Is not repent
ant of his sins and will do wrong again
ii he gets the chance. What would
You do as wise and just Judge?
Would You say, My son. thou art
frceF" No. You would do just as the
late Recorder Smyth Of New York did
scores and hundreds of times. Speak.
ing 10 me one night in New York city,
lie said: They say judges have no
hearts. All. they have hearts! But
as just judges. what are they TO do?
| have had several young men and
young women come before me for trial
and Sentcacc who Were sons and
daughters of my intimate friends.
would have done anything that was
just 10 save them. But what could
do? knew they We're guilty. knew
they ought to go to Jail for their own
good rs well us for the good OF their
fellow men. sentenced them even
though To do il seemed To he tearing
my own heart out 10y the roots"
Would not You have done ns Recorder
Smyth did. even though the criminals
before YOU were Your own children?
Now. God as loving Father has
made all possible provision for the
salvation of his children by the blood
of Jesus Christ. He has said: Come.