Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1914-05-14

ed you jud E over
your fellow men? Has the Lord ap-
pointed you?"
No"
Have your fellow men selected you
for this important POSITION
of course not
You don't mean to say that you
have appointed yourself judge, do
you? A self-appointed Judge! Who
ever heard OF such a thing"
Then ask him 10 read Romans 81.
Wherefore thou art without excuse,
o man, whosoever thou art that iudg-
est, for wherein thou judgest another.
thou condemnest myself; for thou
that judgest dost practise the same
things"
ASK him II It ave- occurred TO him
that he was a hypocrite himself. and
when ne answers in the negative, say
to him:
Well. let US see. You condemn the
hypocrites because they pretend TO be
what they are not?"
Il DO"
But wheE you claim that the rea-
son why you are not a Christian is
because OF the ~hypocrites in the
church. YOU are pretending, what is
not true. The real reason why you
do not become q Christian is because
you want your ~ way, and are not
willing TO obey God. And when you
i- fe h..o,,ea ~ tka hrnnHritaE
you are saying what IS rot true, and
yop know IT,"
Show hiEl Joha 1871. %. Peter
saith TO Jesus. Lord, AID what shall
this man DO: Jesus saith unto him, if
] will that Ne larry TIL ! come, what
is that TO thee? Follow thou me"
Say TO him:
Admitting that there are hypocrites
in the church, what is that to you?
II every man in the church was a
hypocrite that would not excuse YOU
from the duty OF repentance"
IF there was a call for volunteers
to defend this couatry would you stay
out OF the army because some bad
men would probably enlist?"
4 suppose not"
Possibly you are a Mason or an
Odd Fellow. Are there any black
sheep IN your iodge?"
Il Iaust confess that there are a
few"
And ye, you joined the lodge,
knowing this fact, and you urge others
IN do the ua-,aoH
That Is true"
Why then do you offer such a silly
excuse when the subject of religion
arises? !: you do not wish to be a
Christian. say so in a manly way. but
do not try TO hide yourself behind the
faults Of others. The only safe hiding
place for a sinner is the cross OF
Christ, and you will realize it some
day"
a man nce said to his pastor that
the reason why he did not accept
Christ vas because he once had a
partner who was a protesting Chris
tian, who Tronged him in business.
That is your real reason, is it?"
asked the minister.
1T u.s." replied the mar.
Suppose We put it down In writ.
ing" said the minister, and drawing
cut his notebook, he wrote: The rea.
son why | am not a Christian is that
my partner, who claimed to be a
Christian, wronged me in a business
deal"
Tearing out the leaf. he folded It
and handed 1t 10 the man, saying.
When you come before the Great
White Throne and God asks you why
you have rejected his Son, just hand
him that paper" and turning away, he
left him. Hardly had he reached
home. when his door.bell rang, and
there stood the man, with the paper
In his hand.
Well" said the minister. what can
] do for your"
q have brought this paper back. I
am afraid 1t would not answer as an
excuse TO give TO God"
You think God would not accept
ftp
Il am afraid not"
I'VE may as well tear It up then"
and suiting the action to the word,
the minister tore 1t into fragments
and threw them away.
Now have you any other excuse
which is better?"
II do not think OF any"
II you haven't any good reason for
not becoming a Christian. had you
not better give your heart TO Godnow?'
Yes, sir. and ] will"
Among the Little Preachers" which
] referred 10 is a capital one for the
people who are always complaining
about the bypocrites in the church.
On the one side IL the question, DO
those hypocrites hinder your On
the other side is the following:
"Remember-When the church goes
through the Pearly Gates, those hypo-
critics will be left on the outside Of the
gate, on your side, unless you repent,
and you will have TO spend all eter.
nifty with them. Would II not be bet
ter TO repent, and live with them a
few years in the church, than 10 spend
all eternity with them elsewhere'
You must spend some time with those
hypocrites somewhere. Where shall
Il beT