Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-01-30

be saved But pretty soon he got up,
said it was no use, and went out Of
that church damned to eternal death,
I do believe. Why could he not be-
come interested in his spiritual well
fare. He had neglected, my friends
so long that salvation was an utter
impossbility with him. He had been
a sinner all his life but he put his sal
walton off until it was too late, too late.
Man Loses Faculty.
"This illustration ! have given you
of this old man is absolutely contra
dictory to the Calhoun theory of sal
walton. He had the power to secure
salvation when young but at the last
hour of his life he was lost. He could
not save himself and God says in his
great book that man must act to gain
salvation. t.4
Eleventh Hour Laborer.
you will call my attention to
Christ's parable of the eleventh hour
laborer You will say he was saved
at the last hour. But friends, just
consider this parable. This vineyard
keeper came out at various hours dur
ing the day and sent men into his vine
yard to work. The eleventh hour
came and he came out to this eleventh
hour laborer.' He demanded why he
was idle all the day. What did this
man answer? He said that he had not
had a chance to work before. Gladly
he jumped into the vineyard to work.
According to the meaning of this par
able he was saved through salvation
at the last hour because it was his
first chance. He never had the offer
of salvation before. And how gladly
he took it when the opportunity came.
You who compare yourselves to this
eleventh hour laborer and believe that
you will be saved at the last hour, the
fatal hour are you like him? Have
you never had a chance at salvation?
Christ says to you: Get into my vine
yard You answer: No, want to
make money Get into my vineyard.
4 want to have good time Get in
to my vineyard, No, I want to gain
earthly popularity and prominence
You refuse your opportunity of saliva
ton and yet you compare yourself
with this eleventh hour laborer who
grabbed the first chance with shout
of Joy. You say you will come to Cod
when you get ready. The more you
neglect, my friends, the harder saliva
ton will be for you. The laborer had
not wasted his life He had never
had the chance. You have wasted your
life, or are wasting it, friends, and
yet you will believe that doctrine that
says you have the same chance at the
last hour.
The Thief of the Cross.
"Once again YOU ask: Was not the
thief on the cross saved. at the last
hour?' Yes. he was saved. He gained
salvation at the last hour, the fatal
hour. But he like the laborer, never !
had chance before. He never heard !
Of God nor Christ, never heard Of sal
vation He never had chance. He |
was always thief and right and |
wrong were not known to him. When |
he was nailed to the cross he thought |
he was being murdered, but when he |
saw Jesus bearing his suffering pat |
ently he ceased his cursing and be- |
gan to realize that Jesus was not one
among men. He was more than
human. He realized he was divine. He
ceased his cursing and began to think
You, my friends, know that story.
This thief never had a chance until |
hen for salvation. But how he seized I
t when the first offer came. Even |
;hough he was in the greatest Of t
torture on that cross he gained saliva
ion. He thought of God and Christ.
Why toothache is enough to keep
you sinners of today from thinking of
or salvation. What do
you men mean by believing that God |
will save you at the last hour, the |
hour of death, because he saved one
dying man? You have the chance. The
thief took the first. You have had
many chances. You have turned them !
down. Do you think yourself wise
man when you believe this Calhoun
doctrine?
reflection of Christ is damning and
is just as bad as neglect I know of
nothing worse than man going
politely to hell. Men say they meant
to accept salvation but they put it
off so long that it soon became irlpos-
sible. Men say they think we'll of
Jesus and the bible and that they know
they ought to be Christians. But
friends, don't be one of those sinners.
Don't say. I will some time Don't
put it. off. Accept him now before
it is too late. Don't say, 4 am go
ing to- But say, 4 will now Come
to God while you may"