The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1908-05-15
SERVICES At CHRIST CHURCH.
Abstract Of Sermon Preached THURSDAY Night
Arehdeaeon jefferiS.

Our text is found in the Bird chapter,
4th verse of Jonah: Yet 40 days and
Nineveh shall be overthrown. The
shortest sermon ever preached and yet to
the greatest Of all the cities of antiquity
centuries before the birth of Jesus, the
great Assyrian Capitol was at the acme
Of its glory. There it stands tonight 500
miles 70 the northeast of Jerusalem, the
Capitol of the Assyrians. 1t had WALLS
aggregating in length more than 12O
miles It had population OF over three
millions of people. Its walls were 100 tt.
in height. It was the mightiest of all the
cities that the world had ever known up
to that time. Inside of the center of the
squares there were gardens with tropical
trees and flowers with fountains made of
ahbaster filed with perfumed water.
While through the streets by day and
night was the rush of pomp and power.
Oh, il it any wonder, dear friends that
such city, like this great prosperous ma
ton of today, should forget God Z There
abe stands tonight defied by God and
heaven. Nineveh, the magnificent Nine
veh, the accused of Godl
Now, there are one or two simple cues
lions to ask tonight. The first is, what
did Jonah dot God heard the cry of the
suffering souls of that wicked city, but he
would not destroy it without giving them
warning. And 30 one day there came
through the gate Of that city and up the
main street, little man, plainly dressed
in appearance and with face bronzed
like working man. Further he looked
like sailor man. He stood in the main
street 90 he could be heard by them all,
and he looked up to God, and taking his
stand firmly as If God was behind him, he
put his hand to his lips, and started his little
sermon: "Yet 40 days and Nineveh shall
be overthrown." You cannot imagine
what startling effect it had. Everybody
stopped and listened. And the little man
walked on down the end of the street,
and they could hear him as from out of
vista, yet 40 days and Ntneveh shall be
overthrown." He preached it on the
mountains in the market-places, and in
those beautiful gardens of the wealthy.
Everywhere the people heard 1t to their
CONSERVATION. That is what Jonah did.
Now the second question. What did
the people dof Read the third chapter
of Jonah, it is wonder. The record said
the people believed God. Jonah was not
In it They skipped him. They seemed
to forget Jonah. They believed on God.
The record says that they meant business.
They took the message seriously az from
God. The record is, that from the king
on his throne, down to the very meanest
man In his stables, they took of their gar
meats and put on sackcloth and est in
ashes. fAsting and praying and repenting.
Now, the question Is. what did God dot
He, leaning over the parapet of heaven,
hears sweet sound and turning to his
angel, Gabriel, he asks him, "what can
it BET Gabriel looking down sees the
great Nineveh on its knees, crying for
mercy, for mercy, for mercy, and he said,
"Sire, it ID Nineveh repenting." The
Lord said, What, the wicked Nineveh
on its knees calling for mercy. They
shall have it. Nay, they shall have com
plete pardon" Now, 900 years after that
wonderful and dramatic occurrence, there
came chariot down from heaven laden
with the Prince, the Son of the great
King, and when it struck Bethlehem's
shore. the little Prince stepped out and
laid himself in the arms of the Virgin
Mary. And when he grew up the people
kicked him and rejected him.
The people of Nineveh will rise up
against the men of this generation and
shal condemn it because they repented at
the preaching of Jonah. and behold q
greater than Jonah is right here and they
repent not. They had only one little
sermon. You have had a thousand They
had 40 days. Some of US have had 40
years, and are still tooling with God. Be-
heve me, friends, it cannot 60 on forever.
There u limit to probation, believe.
A man b going to turn to God in old age,
but he dies In youth. On the 41st day,
but the light of his existence goes out on
the 10th. While we have time, let us
turn and surrender to God. If man re-
penis, God repents. He always loved US.
He never changes and He never lies If
we repent we shall be saved.