Semi-weekly herald., 1909-09-20


three crosses. on one the impenlten
thief, on the second the Son of Got
on the third, the peniteut thief. Tn
world has never been the same sine
those three crosses We're raised upol
Cavalry. especially the cross of Christ
The cross stands as the central fir
lure of history and Just as 1t divide,
the two thieves. so 1t goes on will
| It's work OF division. on one side. w,
often see the husband, on the other
the wife-the cross between On on,
side. the parents. on the other. til,
ehildren-the cross between. ON on,
eide one group of friends. on the other
anotnerLand the cross of Christ be
tween The most serious part of /,
all. 1t not only stands between then
now but will continue to do so through
ont endless eternity. Tonight. want
to call attention to the three persons
on the three crosses and their diff
ferent relations to sin. One was dy.
ing In sin, one was dying for sin, one
was dying to sin. becoming dead To
the guilt and power OF sin.
Tho unbelcviue Thief.
want to use the three crosses that
may better be able to make clenr
to you the meaning OF the death of
one on the center cross First. let us
stop In front of The nnbelleving thief
as he seems TO 'oe the first speaker.
We hear him saying In the 3gth verse.
And one of the maiefactors which
were hanged rallied on him, saying.
II Thon be Christ. save Thyself and
us. You say what a strange thing
tnat man did railing on the Son of
God with the aGonies of death upon
him" Yes. a very strange thing II
was indeed. II seems rs IL he would
hnye been willing, like the drowning
man to have grabbed at the faintest
that he was the Son of God
But men of the world often do some
strange things when IL comes to the
matter of their souls salvation. Some
years ago vessel left Hoboken
piers and headed for the open sen.
They had passed Sandy Hook when
the alarm was sounded. Man over.
board" The life line was quickly
fred to him and II hit the mark. The
man took hold OF II and the men on
the ship began drawing him 20 IT, All
was going well, when. TO the conster
nation OF all. the man In the winter
coiled the cord In his hand and with
All his remaining strength he hurled it
mad man! grow1ed Tie rescning crew. |
"A fool" said another. They We're all
light in their statements for the man
I'D escaped from an insane asylum
and had succeeded In committing sui.
eide And that Is good illustration
II now many treat The matter Of their
soul salvation. Jesus throws out the
life line TO you and says, 'Wbosoeyer
VIII may comet" But you throw the
lho line back into his face just as the
dying man did Let US make few
concerning this fellow on
the flrat cross.
"Never Mind the Old"
Wnat brought repentance to the
other thief seems to have hardened
this one. There they both hung. they
saw and heard the same things, and
in one II produced repentance and In
the other. hardness of heart. The
gospel is doing Two things wner
ever 1t Is preached: il brings repent
ance to those who accept 1t, 1t hard
ems those who reject 1t. A gospel
hardened sinner Is the most pitiful
sight that any Christian worker Is
called TO look upon. He may be NOR
ally all right Or deep in sin. That
uas nothing to do with II. IL is his
attitude towards Jesus. A pastor who
had just gone TO new field called al
an old farmers house and spent an
hour In religious conversation with the
inmates. When the minister was tax
ing leave, the old gentleman followed
him TO the door and thanked him kind
l1 lOi Mo b.tii tp'h hiih ~ '"N
hand and said. AS you are just be
ginning your labors among US, | wish
TO give you word of advice based
upon my own experience and the ex-
perience of others in this community
Let us old people alone and devote
your labors to the youth OF your flock.
Forty years ago, was greatly anxious
about my soul Many We're then con
yerted. but was not one of them
And, now for years. have not had q
single feeling on the subject. | know
that ! can only be saved through Jesus
Christ. | feel persuaded that when !
die | am lost believe all you preach
but ! feel 1t no more than a block
OF marble. ] expect TO die just as ]
am. So leave US alone. In our sins,
and give your strength to the work
OF saving the young" The minister
watched the progress OF that man
His seat was rarely vacant In the
church but he lived and died as hc
predicted and he was at last laid away
In a hopeless grave In the. midst OF
a congregation on which God had often