Evening journal., 1916-02-07
contInned from Page FIve.

Continued from Page flNe.
are good and true. and are consciousI
that il would not be very much of a
step, OF make very much Of change
in your conduct if you did become a
Christian. in a sense that may be the
source of your greatest peril. You
think that because you are so near TO-
becoming Christian. that you are,
not far from the kingdom may cause
YOU TO remain content where yon
are, and thus you may be in greater
danger of being lost than the man
who is far. far away from the king
dom. who realizes his lost condition
and is anxious TO be saved,
When Hannibal. the great general
OF Carthage. recruited his army Tor
the conquest Of Rome. and marched
across northern Africa, crossed the
Mediterranean near Gibraltar the pill
lar OF Hercules, he went up through
Spain and southern France, and az
last. after months OF terrible hard
shin and toll. and suffering. his army
crossed the Alps mountains and they
came down on the rich, fertile sun
kissed plains OF northern Italy. Ham
nibal knew that his force was strong
er than the army OF the Romans and
feeling sure that at any time he could
march south and conquer the enemy,
said to himself. There is no need OF
haste And so, with his army he
settled down in winter quarters AT
Capua. and there his soldiers became
effeminate and weak through ease
and luxury and lost their strength
and yicor. The result was that wheh
al last they did march south ana gave
battle 10 the Romans. they were as
astrously defeated. Their nearness TO
victory was the cause OF their de-
struction. May Il not be the same
way with YOU? You. who have real
love for the things that are honest
and good and OF good report; You
who have reioiced TO see others com
ing out for Christ; you who have been
very near to decision yourself. these
very qualities which are commend
able may prove the cause Of your eter-
nal doom.
Nearness to the kingdom OF God,
without entering into the kingdom, Is
a position absolutely untenable,
course totally inconsistent. II 1t rs
right TO live near the kingdom of God
IL is right to live in that kingdom.
The Christian life admits OF no neu-
trality. n Jesus Christ is what He
claims 10 be; II He has the power on
earth to forgive sin and grant ever
lasting life. II is the greatest. might
lest fact Of this universe. N Christ
is not all that He claims; IL He has
not the power TO forgive sin and inn
part eternal life to mankind. He is the
greatest imposter the world ever
knew. and is unworthy even OF our
respect Between these two positions
there is no neutrality
A man says. "Well. ! am not a
Christian myself. but I give my mon
cy 20 support the church and Chris
tian enterprise" why do YOU do
that?" "Oh.' he replies. because the
church is the best thing we have on
earth. and Christianity is true and
right" Well II that is so, you ought
not merely TO give your means 10 the
cause OF Christ. hut you ought to giv'
Yourself I'm other words. YOU ough
TO DO more OF do less. n the gospe
Of Christ is false You ought 20 op
pose t. But il Il is what you admit
it TO be. the greatest power on eartl
for the uplift OF mankind, there Is
only one course worthy Of you, as q
reasonable. consistent man. and that
is to stand forth earnestly and Loyalty
declaring your allegiance TO Christ
and TO the Christian life. u would be
as If a foreigner would come 10 this
country 10 make his home. and enjoy
all the benefits OF America. and yet
refuse 10 pay taxes or TO enter into
citizenship. II our country is the
right place 10 live in, it is the coun-
Try 10 which we ought to declare our
allegiance and defend its constitu-
ton
In like manner this living in near.
ness 10 the kingdom Of God. and vel
refusing TO take upon yourself the
responsibilities OF its citizenship
makes your influence upon others es
pecialiy detrimental ] ann going &
make a statement which may startl
some OF you. and at the outset yol
may say you do not believe, but I fee
absolutely sure Of my ground Tn
statement is this. That while virtu
is always better than vice. and pur
ity than impurity; yet for one to liv
a fairly upright and moral life with
out becoming q Christian. makes tn
influence of that one. from the spirit
ual standpoint. especially disastrou
and detrimental In other words. 10
you 10 be a moral man and rejec
Christ. does more 10 keep other
away from salvation than does IN
immoral and the vicious man. ! hea
some one say. 81 do not believe thai
You will have 10 prove IT," All right
can. Let me ask you, who has IN
greatest influence upon YOU. yourself
Is il the man that is openly vulga
and vicious and vile. the thief or IN
drunkard? why" you say. mo. tn
only influence that kind OF a persor
has on me is repuNiye." Who i tn
man that has the greatest infiuenc
npon you? You reply; 1T is the maj
who is the most intelligent the mos