The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1907-02-08

cNeT II you iculdiu IN your blnS
Suppose ! tell you there is no hell
al all. that If you choose,you may
cwear, and, II you will, you may live
without God. Suppose there We're
no reward for virtue, and no pun
ishment for sin, which would you
choose? Car you honestly ay,
IL. morning, 4 ttlnk, l know, by
grace OF God, | would choose
Righteousness II there were no re-
ward for 1t, II there were nothing
TO be gained by righteousness, and
nothing to be lost by sin" Every
sinner hates his sin when he
comes near to the mouth of hell
Every murderer hates his ernie
wnen he comes to the gallows; !
never found a child hate its fault
so much as when 1t was going TO
be punished for it. II you had no
cause to dread the pit-if you knew
that you might give up your life
to sin, and that you could MOI, would
not, commit sin, except through the
infirmity of the flesh? Would you
still desire holiness? Would YOU
still desire to live like Christ?
If so-if you can say this in sin
cerity-if you thus turn to God and
hate your sin with an everlasting
hatred, you need not fear but that
you have repentance which
is unto life"
III. Now comes the concluding
and third point, and that is The Bles-
sed Beneficience OF God in grant
ing to men repentance unto life"
Repentance, my dear friends, IS
the gift Of God 1t is one OF
those spiritual favours which en-
sure eternal life. 1t is the mar
vel Of divine mercy that it not
only provides the way OF salvation
hat It not only invites men 10
receive grace. but that it positive
" makes men willing to be saved
God punished his son Jesus Christ
for cur sins, and therein he pro-
viied salvation for his lost chill
dren. He sends his minister; The
minister bids men repent and be
Iieve. and he labors TO bring them
to God They viii not listen 20
the call. and they despise themin-
lister. But then another nesseng-
er il sent, heavenly ambassador
who cannot fail He summons men
to repent and turn to God Their
thoughts are little wayward, but
after he, the Divine Spirit, pleads
wiz them, they forget what manner
Of men they were, and repent and
turn. Now, what would We do II
we had been treated as God was? If
we had made a supper, or feast,
and sent out messengers TO invite
the guests to come, what would
we do?- Do you think we should
take the trouble TO go round and
visit them all. and get them TO come?
And when they sat down and said
they could not eat, would We open
their mouths? II they still declar-
ed they could not eat should We
still make them eat? All beloved
II am inclined to think you would
rot do so. II you had signed The
lett, Is Of invitation, and the in
WED would rot come to your feas
would you nos say. you shall no
have it" But what does God do
Ne Jays. Now l will make feast
4 viii invite The people, and II thel
do not come in my ministers shall
20 out and fetch them in bodily
I will say to my servants. go y,
/. out into the highways and hedges
and compel them TO come in, tina
-hev may partake II the feast
have prepared" Is it not
stupendous ac- of divine mercy iha
he actually makes them willing
He does not do 1t by force, bu
uses a sweet spiritual suasion The
j., are first as unwilling 10 be save
as they can he; but" says God
that is nothing, ! have power t
make you turn to me.and will.
The Holy Ghost then brings HON
! the Word of God to the conscience
81 his children in Sd blessed man
ner that they can no longer refus
TO 1--we Jesus. Mark you, not b
, any force against the will, but b
sweet spiritual changing the will
q. ye lost and ruined sinnersistan,
I here aud admire my Masters mer
cy. He sets not only feast o
good things before men, but ne in
B duo. s them to come and partak
e Of them, and constrains them L
5 continue feasting until he carrie
e them to the everlasting eternal man
sion. And as he bears them VI
S ne says To each one. 81 have low
: ed thee with an everlasting love
( therefore, by my lovingkindness