Gilpin observer., 1912-02-29

VIC Ohi ioIidHS Shouiu Ciy ulSuI alu
day and day and night, Turn ye
turn ye, for why will We die" The |
only hope of the sinner is in decid |
ing to come to God. There is one
who makes decisions for all those
who will not decide for themselves
and the decision Is ever against
their best interests. Sinners have
the opportunity now to decide for
Christ and heaven, but they will
soon be crowded out of the valley
and on toward eternity, and it will
be too late. We are once in the
valley but We are soon to leave it
never to return. The millions who
are behind us will crowd us out and
on. am afraid you have not con-
sidered this as you ought.
| A few years ago, l visited Canon
City. A friend of mine took me for
drive into the country. On our way
home, we passed two great hay wag-
ed clothes. .Eehind each wagon and
in front of each wagon was man
on horseback who did not wear strip
ed clothes, but carried a Winchester
rifle. Now then, venture the as
sertion that there was not man
with striped clothes, on either of
those wagons who decided to come
and ride on the prison wagon, driven
| To md "a h1y
men with guns. Away back yonder
somewhere, he stood in the valley
Of decision. Probably heard the
pleading of some dear friend that
he might decide to accept Christ and
lead the holy life, but he wouldn't
decide then. He simply put it off.
The day of temptation came. He
refused to take his stand for right
eousness. He drifted with the tide
that always bears men downward. At
last a crime was committed. He
sought to cover it up but the decis-
| ion was made for him. He never de-
cided to be arrested. That decision
was made for him and was for ever
against him. He secured the best
council he could, but the decision
was against him. He went to the
prison because he didn't want to go,
and the day l saw him being driven
with a gun like dog, he was on
the wagon because he refused to
stand up and decide for what he
knew was right when he was in the
valley where you stand tonight, and
ever after the decisions were made
for him. Now my friend, you do not
need to decide to be wicked. All you
need to do is neglect to decide to be
righteous and there is somebody else
who will do all the rest and you will
be wicked enough to miss heaven.
This is ever so, were it possible
you might call the hundred thousand,
who in the last twelve months have
gone to a drunkard's grave, and stan
them out here in one, long line, and
venture the assertion that in all
that vast company there was not one
man who decided to go and stand in
the drunkard's row. There was not
one who decided to come at last to
drunkard's grave. That great crowd
of men were amazed and disappoint-
ed and chagrined, and cursed ,and
damned at last, because when they
stood in the valley Of decision they
refused to be men and say l will de-
eide to live the righteous life and fol-
low the holy one Of God. They didn't
tarry in the valley long. They were
crowded out and on, and another
great company stand today where
they once stood. But they have gone.
The lesson they left behind ought to
lead every young man and young wo-
man to take their stand for their
righteousness now, while they are in
the valley of decision. Now while
they have opportunity, to assert their
manhood and womanhood.
| 1t is of no use to say that you are
strong enough, and can decide any
time you desire. Some of the might
lest men this world has ever seen
have refused when in the valley to
decide, and their opportunities have
passed as they were crowded out Of
the valley. The decision was made
for them, and 1t was against them.
Hear me: The most momentous mo-
ment in any individuals life is the
moment when he stands in the val
ley Of decision, and has the oppor-
tunity Of choosing the way that will
bring him to success, and honor and
good name, and heaven. Friends:
What will You do with this oppor-
tunity? You are in the valley. Yes,
there are multitudes in the valley to-
night, II Is the place where your