Evening journal., 1916-01-24

He realized that he had had his
chance to acknowledge Christ, the
chance you have tonight. He had
neglected and rejected IT, Now that
blackness Of that midnight was not
nearly as deep as the remorse in his
own heart. With one piercing shrek
he plunged headlong from that cliff.
His body struck sharp rock and
then toppled over into the inky wa
ters of the lake. That was the we'll
deserved fate of coward.
! ask you to choose Jesus, first Of
all because IL is the reasonable
course. In a service like this one
this evening there was a prominent
judge. AS the sermon went on. he
took out a paper and pencil. drew
a perpendicular line down the middle
OF the paper and said to himself. 'In
one column / am going to write some
reasons why I should be a Chris
tian. In the other column ! am go
ing to write some reasons why I
should not be a Christian. First I
will write some reasons why I should
be a Christian" He could think
OF reasons faster than he could write.
Soon the column was full Now"
reasons why / should be a Christian.
let me write few why ] should not "
He thought and thought, but he could
not think Of a single reason that
would stand before the bar OF his
judgment, why he should reject
Christ" Neither can you.
ask you TO come out on the
Lords side because it is the right
side. Someone has said that prop
erty in Sodom was not worth much
after Lot and his family moved out.
If you would take all the Christian
people out Of this city. the blackest
hearted infdel would sell his prop
erty for ten cents on a dollar and
get out II is the gospel Of Christ
that makes any community worth
living in. Let me ask you what you
are doing personally to promote that
gospel? Supposing the citizens were
raising a large sum as a bonus for
some great industry TO locate their
| plant in your city. which would dou-
BILE the value OF property, and some
wealthy but stingy man, would con-
! tribute nothing for this purpose and
/ say to himself. 81 will let the others
| give. but ! will gain the profit on
my real estate that comes with this
new enterprise" Every one would
| look with contempt. on that sort Of
| a person. More than this city needs
! big business houses, il needs the re-
! ligiOn Of Jesus Christ. What are you
| doing to promote il? Are you yO-
ing to stand back and let others go
/ into the battle while you cOwardly
enjoy the blessings Of Christian com
munity?
ask you to choose Jesus because
! il is the victorious side. In this
| battle against sin God is going TO
win BE sure Of that He will win
either with you or without you II
is not so much a question whether
God is going to win. as il is whether
you are going to be on the winning
or losing side. When Garibaldi was
recruiting his army for the liberation
OF Italy. he said, Men of Italy. if
you enlist under my standard.
promise you hunger and hardship,
| suffering and il may be death. but if
promise YOU victory" Through
Christ Jesus you will come forth
more than a conqueror.
Come ont on the Lords side be-
cause it is the safe side. Sooner than
you think your eyes will close in
death Your friends will follow
your coffin to your grave and your
soul will go TO Weet the judgment
without Jesus Christ as your Saw
iour, what is your hope? You will
be lost. eternally lost In a meeting
like this. young husband and faith
er. workman in factory, walked
down the aisle and confessed his
faith i'm Christ He became a most
earnest and faithful Christian. Some
months after that. while he was at
work one day. in the mill. he was
passing a great belt, by some strange
means his clothing was caught in
the belt and he was carried to the
top Of that building and suddenly
hurled to the cement pavement be-
meath. lie was injured internally
and taken home unconscious. When
the doctor came and examined him
and consciousness returned the ply
sician said to him. There is nothing
/ can do for YOU You have but a
little while to live" He called his
wife to his side and said. "Bring the
children" The dying father put his
arm around the little girl, kissed hei
and said. "Be a good girl love YOU
= mamma, and don't forget papa.
I Then he said, Bring the baby Tha
baby hoy was his fathers pride. Th'
! dying man put his hand on the child
e head and gave him the parenta
! blessing. and then he said. wife
! stoop down here. You have been
! good wife to me- loyal and true
! Teach the children to love and serv
: | Christ" And then with the words o
< that old song upon his lips, "Jesu
= Lover Of My Soul" his life in trus
. and peace went out to meet God.
In the last place I eXhort you {
$ choose Jesus Jesus, that your infu
!, ence may be the means OF bringin
= some other one out upon the righ
d side We do not know how long W
d have for this world. II may b
e briefer than we think Beu Will
. we live let us make each day cOun
r for God. There was beautiful cir
the only daughter OF wealthy par
o ents. in a southern city, who ha
d been uD north to a fashionable schOo
g At last she completed her course an
T. returned to her southern home. BE
r ing beautiful. both OF countenanC
e and character. an heiress to gres
d fortune. her company was naturall
d sought by a large number OF youn
p men i'm that city. One invited her I
II go with him TO a card party and sh
It went Another invited her 10 e
= with him TO a dance, she went wit
d the consent Of her parents. who wei
IS absorbed I'm society affairs. Thes