Omaha daily bee., 1915-10-20

ready and willing to forgive. And tell
you. when that mob nailed Him on the
cross. He would have forgiven them II
they had asked Him.
You can't explain God like you can
that two and two make four. Certainly
not
children-but with your sensibility. not
with cold intellect.
Religion makes its appeal TO your SEN
sibllity. not to your intellect. That's no
argument against II. Everybody knows
that the older a man or woman becomes
the less and less susceptible they are to
any appeal being made TO their sensibil-
tiles Everybody knows that
Don't you know this that seventeen
out OF twenty who are converted are con-
verted before they are % years old7
Don't you know that nineteen out Of
twenty who are converted before they
are 30 years old7
God bless your heart. don't you think
for a minute because there are compare
lively few gray haired men and women
saved. that that's an argument against
religion. No; that's an argument in it's
favor.
Now. let me ask you something. How
many people in this audience, who are
protesting Christians. Catholic or Profess
tant land include those who have come
forward during the meetings). were con-
verted before they were 20 years old?
Let me see your hands.
Chances Against the Man of Forty.
Let every Christian man and woman In
this building stand. Every man and
woman that was converted before they
were 20 years old sit down.
Every man and woman that was con-
verted before they were % years old sit
down.
All who were converted before they
were 40 years years old sit down.
All who were converted before they
were 60 years old sit down.
II you are here tonight and 20 years
of age and not a Christian, the chances
are thousand to one that you never
will be a Christian.
I'll tell you something. Most people
who are converted are converted in times
Of revivals. How many of you men and
women who are processing Christianity
gave your hearts to God In revival meet
ings. outside Of just ordinary church
servlces2
How many became Christians during
special meetings? Put up your hands.
All who gave their hearts to God In
times Of REVEALS stand up.
Now those who gave their hearts to
Jesus during ordinary church services
stand up.
Now listenl II you are here tonight
and are 10 years OF age and you are not
a Christian. the chances are you never
will be.
II you are not converted in times Of q
revival the chances are you won't be.
Two-thirds of all people in the church
are converted in times Of revival That's
Gods way of doing.
That's no argument against religion.
II you want facts they will stagger you.
God Is trying His utmost to save people
and yet they are fighting against every
thing He brings to them.
Now listeni Why won't God forgive
you? He says He never will. Neither
in this world. neither in the world TO
come"
II you would injure me and I would say
1 would forgive you. you would say that
II God will spare my life after this
week I will leave Omaha and not carry
with me the slightest particle OF malice
against anybody in this community
/ preach az hard end furious against
sin as I know how and I will fight as
hard for God and the church as anybody
you ever looked at. but whatever you say
against ms. I say / will forgive you. I
won't carry any malice away with me.
II you would injure one of my loved
ones. II you would break up my home. If
you would ALLEVIATE my wife's affections
and would say / would forgive you (but
1 would have to pray hard to keep from
shooting you. / am frank to tell you that
right now, so don't tempt me. don't
know what I'd dol you would say / had
good spirit.
God says: You can spurn my love and
trample the blood under your feet. but If
you seek my pardon will forgive yju."
You might have been indifferent to the
appeals OF the minister. you might have
been thief or an adulterer or a bias
phemer or scoffer and all that but
God says: II will forgive YOU"
You might have been indifferent to the
tears Of your wife and children and
friends, but If you will seek God He will
forgive you.
You don't understand all about cleo
tricity before you can send a telegram TO
your wife. You don't have TO Under
stand all about electricity before YOU can
turn on the light when Won go home. You
don't have to understand a thing. You
turn the button and he iLht comes.
All right You don't have to understand
about the immaculate conception Of Jesus
Christ Just believe. that'R all God Gsks
Of you.
A Word of Comfort.
bring you two words In closing. One
a word OF comfort
II you are here tonight and have a de-
sire to be a Christian. let me congratulate
you. That's an evidence that the Spirit
has not left you.
Second. word OF warning. II you are
here tonight and have a desire 10 be a
Christian. beg OF you encourage it. for
II may be your last. Encourage 1t.
Il was when you were sick. you said;
yes. / will II l get we'll"
II was when your baby died that you
said; yes, Lord. / will"
II was when your wife was sick that
you said; Yes. Lord. IL You will laise
her up I'll live different life
He did.
II was when the revival last swept over