The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-12
1AMakenmenf.o

Selected for The Advertiser.
 Awaken thou that sleepest. ."-Eph V. fl.
 In that great medieval allegory he, who, loving father from innocence in- to sin, desires with all his heart to struggle back and be forgiven, must climb a steep hill which leads to a narrow wicket gate. That gate is approached by three steps-one of whitest marble; one step a dark and riven purple. and a step of burning red. They are meant to, symb olize the step of sincerity, the step of contri- of us ever seriously tried to take our stand upon that honest step-the step of perfect sincerity and truth-a step so white that it mirrors the whole man?
 At times we can gage almost as with the eye of God. into the unveil- ed human heart But when a mans eyes are opened and he has been brought to look fairly and squarely at himself: when he has entered that awful solitude in which his soul is alone with God when he connects his own personality with the shame and guilt of sin; when the voluble spirit lows? I know of no word which will describe the result of this self-reve- lation so truly and briefly as--Awak- enment.
 The ordinary moral and spiritual condition of most men In their com mon everyday life can only be pie tured under the metaphor of sleep. itual sleep. There Is the sleep of hu- man feebleness which Is venial. if not an inevitable imperfection. Far deeper and worse is the sleep of those dissipation and its trivialities. losing all that can constitute true life. Deepest and deadliest. all is the slum- Der of those who have sold themselves to do evil: who have given themselves over to life of falsehood, or ava rice, or drink, or crime. So common Is this sleep. in one form or another. that the Scripture is constantly striv- ing to arouse men from its fatal stu
 whether we nope or sleep now, our sleep cannot and will not last for ever. Either in this world or the really are. It comes to those who, though often drowsy, are yet, waiting for their Lord. It comes to those liy- Illness. It comes worst of all to the hardened, reckless sinner, who in a moment shall be forced to see and Think Of 1t. To each and every one of us, either by our repentance, or with penal retribution, either in this world or hereafter, awakenment Is
 It comes in many different ways, but whenever 1t comes it Is an awful moment And yet it Is a most mer. cIful thing if that awakenment comes during this life. so that we may yet have time to repent and amend.
 pray you face these realities now. Be men! Judge yourselves, brethren that ye be not judged of the Lord :. There need not be any thought of terror for us If we only believe His Word Did that Christ die for us? Is not this the lesson of Christ g birth and death. that He came and died to save us and all mankind? He offers us peace and freedom here. and peace and pardon beyond the grave. And not to us only, but to all who believe in His name. All we have to do Is to trust in and accept Ills or fer
 Seek Him now. for now is the &C., cepted time; now is the day of saliva ton" Love one another: love Him obey His laws; help to spread His
 All who trust in Him. all who obey and follow Him, all whom He saves from sin and death-ail. all of that innumerable multitude who. whether awakened here. or In death, shall be gathered under the span of that rainbow round about the throne, In sight like unto an emerald"-all of these when they awake after His likeness shall Ne saved, sanctified, forgiven, satisfied!
 'Then, c my Lord, prepare my soul for that great day. Oh. wash me in Thy r,-ecious blood, and take my sins laway." -..aV