,,men ,,of ,,the ,,bible ,,by ,d4 ,l4 ,moody4 ,chicago3 ,new ,york3 ,toronto ,fleming ,h4 ,revell ,company ,publishers of ,evangelical ,literature ,copyright1 #ahih1 by ,the ,bible ,institute ,colportage ,association4 ,,contents4 ,i4 ,,abraham',s ,,four ,,surrenders ,,ii4 ,,the ,,call ,,of ,,moses ,,iii4 ,,naaman ,,the ,,syrian ,,iv4 ,,the ,,prophet ,,nehemiah ,v4 ,,herod ,,and ,,john ,,the ,,baptist ,,vi4 ,,the ,,man ,,born ,,blind ,,and ,,joseph ,,of ,,arimathea ,,vii4 ,,the ,,penitent ,,thief ,men of the ,bible ,,abraham',s ,,four ,,surrenders ,a great many people are afraid of the will of ,god1 and yet ,i believe that one of the sweetest lessons that we can learn in the school of ,christ is the surrender of our wills to ,god1 letting ,him plan for us and rule our lives4 ,if ,i know my own mind1 if an angel should come from the throne of ,god and tell me that ,i could have my will done the rest of my days on earth1 and that everything ,i wished should be carried out1 or that ,i might refer it back to ,god1 and let ,god's will be done in me and through me1 ,i think in an instant ,i would say3 ,let the will of ,god be done4 ,i cannot look into the future4 ,i do not know what is going to happen to-morrow2 in fact1 ,i do not know what may happen before night2 so ,i cannot choose for myself as well as ,god can choose for me1 and it is much better to surrender my will to ,god's will4 ,abraham found this out1 and ,i want to call your attention to four surrenders that he was called to make4 ,i think that they give us a pretty good key to his life4 ,i ,in the first place1 ,abraham was called to give up his kindred and his native country1 and to go out1 not knowing whither he went4 ,while men were busy building up ,babylon1 ,god called this man out of that nation of the ,chaldeans4 ,he lived down near the mouth of the ,euphrates1 perhaps three hundred miles south of ,babylon1 when he was called to go into a land that he perhaps had never heard of before1 and to possess that land4 ,in the twelfth chapter of ,genesis1 the first four verses1 we read3 ,now the ,lord had said unto ,abram1 ,get thee out of thy country1 and from thy kindred1 and from thy father's house1 unto a land that ,i will shew thee4 ,now notice the promise3 ,and ,i will make of thee a great nation1 and ,i will bless thee1 and make thy name great2 and thou shalt be a blessing3 and ,i will bless them that bless thee1 and curse him that curseth thee3 and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed4 ,so ,abram departed1 as the ,lord had spoken unto him2 and ,lot went with him3 and ,abram was seventy five years old and when he departed out of ,haran4 ,it was several years before this that ,god first told him to leave ,ur of the ,chaldees4 ,then he came to ,haran1 which is about half-way between the valley of the ,euphrates and the valley of the ,jordan4 ,god had called him into the land of the ,canaanite1 and ,,he ,,came ,,half-,,way1 and stayed there--we do not know just how long1 but probably about five years4 ,now1 ,i believe that there are a great many ,christians who are what might be called ,haran ,christians4 ,they go to ,haran1 and there they stay4 ,they only half obey4 ,they are not out-and-out4 ,how was it that ,god got him out of ,haran8 ,his father died4 ,the first call was to leave ,ur of the ,chaldees and go into ,canaan1 but instead of going all the way they stopped half-way1 and it was affliction that drove ,abram out of ,haran4 ,a great many of us bring afflictions on ourselves1 because we are not out-and-out for the ,lord4 ,we do not obey ,him fully4 ,god had plans ,he wanted to work out through ,abram1 and ,he could not work them out as long as he was there at ,haran4 ,affliction came1 and then we find that he left ,haran1 and started for the ,promised ,land4 ,there is just one word there about ,lot--and ,lot went with ,abram4 ,that is the key1 you might say1 to ,lot's life4 ,he was a weaker character than ,abram1 and he followed his uncle4 ,when they got into the land that ,god had promised to give him1 ,abram found it already inhabited by great and warlike nations--not by one nation1 but by a number of nations4 ,what could he do1 a solitary man1 in that land8 ,not only was his faith tested by finding the land preoccupied by other strong and hostile nations1 but he had not been there a great while before a great famine came upon him4 ,no doubt a great conflict was going on in his breast1 and he said to himself3 ,what does this mean8 ,here ,i am1 thirteen hundred miles away from my own land1 and surrounded by a warlike people4 ,and not only that1 but a famine has come1 and ,i must get out of this country4 ,now1 ,i don't believe that ,god sent ,abram down to ,egypt4 ,i think that ,he was only testing him1 that he might in his darkness and in his trouble be ,,drawn ,,nearer ,,to ,,god4 ,i believe that many a time trouble and sorrow are permitted to come to us that we may see the face of ,god1 and be shut up to trust in ,him alone4 ,but ,abram went down into ,egypt1 and there he got into trouble by denying his wife4 ,that is the blackest spot on ,abram's character4 ,but when we get into ,egypt we will always be getting into trouble4 ,,ii ,abram became rich2 but we don't hear of any altar--in fact1 we hear of no altar at ,haran1 and we hear of no altar in ,egypt4 ,when he came up with ,lot out of ,egypt1 they had great possessions1 and they increased in wealth1 and their herds had multiplied1 until there was a strife among their herdsmen4 ,now it is that ,abram's character shines out again4 ,he might have said that he had a right to the best of everything1 because he was the older1 and because ,lot would probably not have been worth anything if it had not been for ,abram's help4 ,but instead of standing up for his rights1 to choose the best of the land1 he surrenders them1 and says to the nephew3 ,take your choice4 ,if you go to the right hand1 ,i will take the left2 or if you prefer the left hand1 then ,i will go to the right4 ,here is where ,lot made his mistake4 ,if there was a man under the sun that needed ,abram's counsel1 and ,abram's prayers1 and ,abram's influence1 and to have been surrounded by the friends of ,abram1 it was ,lot4 ,he was just one of those weak characters that ,,needed ,,bolstering ,,up4 ,but his covetous eye looked upon the well-watered plains of the valley of the ,jordan that reached out towards ,sodom1 and he chose them4 ,he was influenced by what he saw1 ,he walked by sight1 instead of by faith4 ,i think that is where a great many ,christian people make their mistake--walking by sight1 instead of by faith4 ,if he had stopped to think1 ,lot might have known that it would be disastrous to him and his family to go anywhere near ,sodom4 ,abram and ,lot must both have known about the wickedness of those cities on the plains1 and although they were rich1 and there was chance of making money1 it was better for ,lot to keep his family out of that wicked city4 ,but his eyes fell upon the well watered plains1 and he pitched his tent towards ,sodom1 and separated from ,abram4 ,now1 notice that after ,abram had let ,lot have his choice1 and ,lot had gone off to the plains1 for the first time ,god had ,abram alone4 ,his father had died at ,haran1 and he had left his brother there4 ,now1 after his nephew had left him1 he moved down to ,hebron1 and there built an altar4 ,hebron means communion4 ,here it is that ,god came to him and said3 ,abram1 look around as far as your eye can reach--it is all yours4 ,look from the place where thou art northward1 and southward1 and eastward1 and westward3 for all the land which thou seest1 to thee will ,i give it1 and to thy seed for ever4 ,and ,i will make thy seed as the dust of the earth3 so that if a man can number the dust of the earth1 then shall thy seed also be numbered4 ,arise1 walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it2 for ,i will give it unto thee4 ,then ,abram removed his tent1 and came and dwelt in the plain of ,mamre1 which is in ,hebron1 and built there an altar unto the ,lord4 ,it is astonishing how far you can see in that country4 ,god took ,moses up on ,pisgah and showed him the ,promised ,land4 ,in ,palestine1 a few years ago1 ,i found that on ,mount ,olivet ,i could look over and see the ,mediterranean4 ,i could look into the valley of the ,jordan1 and see the ,dead ,sea4 ,and on the plains of ,sharon ,i could look up to ,mount ,lebanon1 and up at ,mount ,hermon1 away beyond ,nazareth4 ,you can see with the naked eye almost the length and breadth of that country4 ,so when ,god said to ,abram that he might look to the north1 and that as far as he could see he could have the land2 and then look to the south1 with its well-watered plains that ,lot coveted1 and to the east and the west1 from the sea to the ,euphrates--then ,god gave ,his friend ,abram a clear title1 no conditions whatever1 saying3 ,i will give it all to you4 ,lot chose all he could get1 but it was not much4 ,abram let ,god choose for him1 and was given all the land4 ,lot had no security for his choice1 and soon lost all4 ,abram's right was maintained undisputed by ,god the giver4 ,do you know that the children of ,israel never had faith enough to take possession of all that land as far as the ,euphrates8 ,if they had1 probably ,nebuchadnezzar would never have come and taken them captives4 ,but that was ,god's offer2 ,he said to ,abram1 ,unto your seed ,i will give it forever1 clear to the valley of the ,euphrates4 ,from that time on ,god enlarged ,abram's tents4 ,he enriched ,his promises1 and gave him much more that ,he had promised down there in the valley of the ,euphrates when ,he first called him out4 ,it is very interesting to see how ,god kept ,,adding ,,to ,,the ,,promise for the benefit of ,his friend ,abram4 ,let us go back a moment to ,lot1 and see what ,lot gained by making that choice4 ,i believe that you can find five thousand ,lots to one ,abram to-day4 ,people are constantly walking by sight1 lured by the temptations of men and of the world4 ,men are very anxious to get their sons into lucrative positions1 although it way be disastrous to their character2 it may ruin them morally and religiously1 and in every other way4 ,the glitter of this world seems to attract them4 ,some one has said that ,abram was a far-sighted man1 and ,lot was a short-sighted man2 his eye fell on the land right around him4 ,there is the one thing that we are quite sure of--he was so short-sighted that his possessions soon left him4 ,and you will find that these people who are constantly building for time are disappointed4 ,i have no doubt that the men of ,sodom said that ,lot was ,a ,,much ,,shrewder ,,man than his uncle ,abram1 and that if he lived twenty-five years he would be the richer of the two1 and that by coming into ,sodom he could sell his cattle and sheep and goats and whatever else he had for large sums1 and could get a good deal better market than ,abram could back there on the plains of ,mamre4 ,for awhile ,lot did make money very fast1 and became a very successful man4 ,if you had gone into ,sodom a little while before destruction came1 you would have found that ,lot owned some of the best corner lots in town1 and that ,mrs4 ,lot moved in what they called the bon-ton society or upper ten2 and you would have found that she was at the theatre two or three nights in the week4 ,if they had progressive euchre1 she could play as well as anybody2 and her daughters could dance as well as any other ,sodomites4 ,we find ,lot sitting in the gates1 he was getting on amazingly well4 ,he might have been one of the principal men in the city2 ,judge ,lot1 or the ,honorable ,lot of ,sodom4 ,if there had been a ,congress in those days1 they would have run him for a seat in ,congress4 ,they might have elected him ,,mayor ,,of ,,sodom4 ,he was getting on amazingly well2 wonderfully prosperous4 ,but by and by there comes a war4 ,if you go into ,sodom1 you must take ,sodom's judgment when it comes1 for it is bound to come4 ,the battle turned against those five cities of the plain and they took ,lot and his wife and all that they had1 and one man escaped and ran off to ,hebron and told ,abram what had taken place4 ,abram took his servants1--three hundred and eighteen of them1--went after these victorious kings1 and soon returned with all the booty and all the prisoners4 ,,iii ,on ,abram's way back with the spoils one of the strangest scenes of history occurs4 ,whom should he meet but ,melchizedek1 who brought out bread and wine2 and the priestly king blessed the ,father of the ,faithful4 ,after the old king of peace had blest him1 he met the ,king of ,sodom1 and the ,king of ,sodom said1 ,you take the money1 and ,i will take the people2 but ,abram replied3 ,not a thing will ,i take1 not even the shoe-latchets1 lest thou shouldst say1 ,i have made ,abram rich4 ,there is another surrender4 ,there was a temptation to get rich at the hands of the ,king of ,sodom4 ,but the ,king of ,salem had blessed him1 and this world did not tempt him4 ,it tempted ,lot1 and no doubt ,lot thought ,abram made a great mistake when he refused to take this wealth2 but ,abram would not touch a thing2 he spurned it and turned from it4 ,he had the world under his feet2 he was living for another world4 ,he would not be enriched from such a source4 ,every one of us is met by the prince of this world and the ,prince of ,peace4 ,the one tempts us with wealth1 pleasure1 ambition3 but our ,prince and ,priest is ready to succor and strengthen us in the hour of temptation4 ,a friend of mine told me some years ago that his wife was very fond of painting1 but that for a long time he never could see any beauty in her paintings2 they all looked like a daub to him4 ,one day his eyes troubled him and he went to see an oculist4 ,the man looked in amazement at him and said3 ,you have what we call a short eye and a long eye1 and that makes everything a blur4 ,he gave him some glasses that just fitted him1 and then he could see clearly4 ,then1 he said1 he understood why it was that his wife was so carried away with art1 and he built an art gallery1 and filled it full of beautiful things2 because everything looked so beautiful after he had had his eyes straightened out4 ,now there are lots of people that have ,a ,,long ,,eye ,,and ,a ,,short ,,eye1 and they make miserable work of their ,christian life4 ,they keep one eye on the eternal city and the other eye on the well-watered plains of ,sodom4 ,that was the way it was with ,lot3 he had a short eye and a long eye4 ,it would be pretty hard work to believe that ,lot was saved if it were not for the ,new ,testament4 ,but there we read that ,lot's righteous soul was vexed1--so he had a righteous soul1 but he had a stormy time4 ,he didn't have peace and joy and victory like ,abram4 ,after ,abram had given up the wealth of ,sodom that was offered him1 then ,god came and enlarged his borders again--enlarged the promise4 ,god said3 ,i will be your exceeding great reward2 ,i will protect you4 ,abram might have thought that these kings that he had defeated might get other kings and other armies to come1 and he might have thought of himself as a solitary man1 with only three hundred and eighteen men1 so that he might have feared lest he be swept from the face of the earth4 ,but the ,lord came and said3 ,abram1 fear not4 ,that is the first time those oft-repeated words1 fear not1 occur in the ,bible4 ,fear not1 for ,i will be your shield and your reward4 ,i would rather have that promise than all the armies of earth and all the navies of the world to protect me--to have the ,god of heaven for my ,protector6 ,god was teaching ,abram that ,he was to be his ,friend and his ,shield1 if he would surrender himself wholly to ,his keeping1 and trust in ,his goodness4 ,that is what we want--to surrender ourselves up to ,god1 fully and wholly4 ,in ,colorado the superintendent of some works told me of a miner that was promoted1 who came to the superintendent1 and said3 ,there is a man that has seven children1 and ,i have only three1 and he is having a hard struggle4 ,don't promote me1 but promote him4 ,i know of nothing that speaks louder for ,christ and ,christianity than to see a man or woman giving up what they call their rights for others1 and in honor preferring one another4 ,we find that ,abram was constantly surrendering his own selfish interests and trusting to ,god4 ,what was the result8 ,of all the men that ever lived he is the most renowned4 ,he never did anything the world would call great4 ,the largest army he ever mustered was three hundred and eighteen men4 ,how ,alexander would have sneered at such an army as that6 ,how ,caesar would have looked down on such an army6 ,how ,napoleon would have curled his lip as he thought of ,abram with an army of three hundred and eighteen6 ,we are not told that he was a great astronomer2 we are not told that he was a great scientist2 we are not told that he was a great statesman1 or anything the world calls great2 but there was one thing he could do--he could live an unselfish life1 and in honor could waive his rights1 and in that way he became the friend of ,god2 in that way he has become immortal4 ,there is ,,no ,,name ,,in ,,history so well known as the name of ,abram4 ,even ,christ is not more widely known1 for the ,mohammedans1 the ,persians1 and the ,egyptians make a great deal of ,abram4 ,his name has been for centuries and centuries favorably known in ,damascus4 ,god promised him that great men1 and warriors1 and kings1 and emperors1 should spring from his loins4 ,was there ever a nation that has turned out such men8 ,think of ,moses1 and ,joseph1 and ,joshua1 and ,caleb1 and ,samuel1 and ,david1 and ,solomon1 and ,elisha4 ,think of ,elijah1 and ,daniel1 and ,isaiah1 and all the other wonderful ,bible characters that have sprung from this man6 ,then think of ,peter1 of ,james1 and ,john1 and ,paul1 and ,john the ,baptist1 a mighty army4 ,no man can number the multitude of wonderful men that have sprung from this one man called out of the land of the ,chaldeans1 unknown and an idolater1 probably1 when ,god called him2 and yet how literally ,god has fulfiled ,his promise that through him ,he would bless all the nations of the earth4 ,all because he surrendered himself fully and wholly to let ,god bless him4 ,,iv ,the last surrender is perhaps the most touching and the hardest of all to understand4 ,perhaps he could not have borne it until the evening of life4 ,god had been taking him along1 step by step1 until now he had reached a place where he had learned to obey fully whatever ,god told him to do4 ,i believe the world has yet to see what ,god will do with the man who is perfectly surrendered4 ,next to ,god's own ,son1 ,abraham was perhaps the man who came nearest to this standard4 ,,for ,,twenty-,,five ,,years ,abraham had been in the ,promised ,land without the promised heir4 ,god had promised that ,he would bless all the nations of the earth through him1 and yet ,he did not give him a son4 ,abraham's faith almost staggered a number of times4 ,ishmael was born1 but ,god set aside the son of the bondwoman1 for he was not to be the ancestor of the ,son of ,god4 ,god was setting ,abram apart simply that ,he might prepare the way for ,his own ,son1 and now1 at last1 a messenger comes down from heaven to ,hebron1 and tells ,abraham in his old age that he should have a son4 ,it seemed too good to be true4 ,he had hard work to believe it2 but at the appointed time ,isaac was born into that family4 ,i don't believe there was ever a child born into the world that caused so much joy in the home as in ,abraham's heart and home4 ,how ,abraham and that old mother1 ,sarah1 must have doted on that child6 ,how their eyes feasted on him6 ,but just when the lad was growing up into manhood ,abraham received another very strange command1 and there was another surrender--his only son4 ,perhaps he was making an idol of that boy1 and thought more of him than he did of the ,god that gave him4 ,there must be no idol in the heart if we are going to do the will of ,god on earth4 ,i can imagine that one night the old patriarch retired worn out and weary4 ,the boy had gone fast to sleep1 when suddenly a heavenly messenger came and told him that he must take that boy off on to a mountain that ,god was to show him1 and offer him up as a sacrifice4 ,no more sleep that night6 ,if you had looked into that tent the next morning ,i can imagine that you would have seen the servants flying round and making preparations for the master's taking a long journey4 ,he perhaps keeps the secret locked up in his heart1 and he doesn't tell even ,sarah or ,isaac4 ,he doesn't tell the servants1 even the faithful servant ,eliezer1 what is to take place4 ,about nine o'clock you might have seen those four men--,abraham1 ,isaac and the two young men with them--start off on the long journey4 ,once in a while ,abraham turns his head aside and wipes away the tear4 ,he doesn't want ,isaac to see what a terrible struggle is going on within4 ,it is a hard battle to give up his will and to surrender that boy1 the idol of his life4 ,oh1 how he loved him6 ,i can imagine the first night4 ,the boy soon falls asleep1 tired and weary with the hot day's journey1 but the old man doesn't sleep4 ,i can see him look into the face of the innocent boy1 and say3 ,soon my boy will be gone1 and ,i will be returning without him4 ,perhaps most of the night his voice could have been heard in prayer1 as he cries to ,god to help him2 and as ,god had helped him in the past so ,god was helping him that night4 ,the next day they journeyed on1 and again a terrible conflict goes on4 ,again he brushes away the tear4 ,perhaps ,isaac sees it1 and says3 ,father is going away to meet his ,god1 and the angels may come down and talk with him as at ,hebron4 ,that is what he is so agitated about4 ,the second night comes1 and the old man looks into that face every hour of the night4 ,he sleeps a little1 but not much1 and the next morning at family worship he breaks down4 ,he cannot finish his prayer4 ,they journey on that day--it is a long day--and the old patriarch say3 ,this is the last day ,i am to have my boy with me4 ,to-morrow ,i must offer him up2 to-morrow ,i shall be without the son of my bosom4 ,the third night comes1 and what a night it must have been6 ,i can imagine he didn't eat or sleep that night4 ,nothing is going to break his fast1 and every hour of the night he goes to look into the face of that boy1 and once in a while he bends over and kisses him1 and he says3 ,o ,isaac1 how can ,i give thee up8 ,morning breaks4 ,what a morning it must have been for that father6 ,he doesn't eat2 he tries to pray1 but his voice falters4 ,after breakfast they start on their journey again4 ,he has not gone a great way before he lifts up his eyes1 and yonder is ,mount ,moriah4 ,his heart begins to beat quickly4 ,he says to the two young men3 ,you stay here1 and ,i will go yonder with my son4 ,then1 as father and son went up ,mount ,moriah1 with the wood1 and the fire1 and the knife1 the boy turns suddenly to the father1 and says3 ,father1 where is the lamb8 ,we haven't any offering1 father4 ,it was a common thing for ,isaac to see his father offer up a victim1 but there is no lamb now4 ,did you ever think ,,how ,,prophetic ,,that ,,answer ,,was when ,abraham turned and said to the son1 ,god will provide ,himself a sacrifice8 ,i don't know that ,abraham understood the full meaning of it1 but a few hundred years after ,god did provide a sacrifice right there4 ,mount ,moriah and ,mount ,calvary are close together1 and ,god's ,son was provided as a sacrifice for the world4 ,on ,mount ,moriah this father and son begin to roll up the stones1 and together they build the altar2 then they lay on the wood and everything is ready for the victim4 ,isaac looks around to see where the lamb is and then the father can keep it from the son no longer1 and he says3 ,my boy1 sit down here close to the altar1 and let me tell you something4 ,then perhaps that old1 white-haired patriarch puts his arm around the lad1 and tells how ,god came to him in the land of the ,chaldeans1 and the story of his whole life1 and how1 by one promise after another1 ,god had kept enlarging the promised blessings1 and that ,he would bless all the nations of the earth through him4 ,isaac was to be the heir4 ,but he says3 ,my son1 the last night ,i was at home ,god came to me in the hours of the night and told me to bring you here and offer you up as a sacrifice4 ,i don't understand what it means1 but ,i can tell you one thing3 it is much harder for me to offer you up than it would be for me to be sacrificed myself4 ,there was a time when ,i used to think more of the love of ,jesus ,christ than of ,god the ,father4 ,i used to think of ,god as a stern judge on the throne1 from whose wrath ,jesus ,christ had saved me4 ,it seems to me now ,i could not have ,a ,,falser ,,idea ,,of ,,god than that4 ,since ,i have become a father ,i have made this discovery3 that it takes more love and self-sacrifice for the father to give up the son than it does for the son to die4 ,is a father on earth a true father that would not rather suffer than to see his child suffer8 ,do you think that it did not cost ,god something to redeem this world8 ,it cost ,god the most precious possession ,he ever had4 ,when ,god gave ,his ,son1 ,he gave all1 and yet ,he gave ,him freely for you and me4 ,i can imagine that ,abraham talks to ,isaac and tells him how hard it is to offer him up4 ,but ,god has commanded it1 he says1 and ,i surrender my will to ,god's will4 ,i don't understand it1 but ,i believe that ,god will be able to raise you up1 and maybe ,he will4 ,they fell on their faces1 and prayed together4 ,after prayer ,i can see that old father take his boy to his bosom1 and embrace him for the last time4 ,he kisses and kisses him4 ,then he takes those hands that are so innocent1 and binds them1 and he binds the feet1 and he ties him up1 and lays him on the altar1 and gives him a last kiss4 ,then he takes the knife1 and raises his hand4 ,no sooner is the hand lifted than a voice calls from heaven3 ,abraham1 ,abraham1 spare thy son6 ,you remember that ,christ said1 ,abraham saw my day1 and was glad4 ,i have an idea that ,god then and there just ,,lifted ,,the ,,curtain ,,of ,,time for ,abraham4 ,he looked down into the future1 saw ,god's ,son coming up ,calvary1 bearing his sins and the sins of all posterity4 ,god gave him that secret1 and told him how ,his ,son was to come into the world and take away his sins4 ,now1 my friends1 notice3 whenever ,god has been calling me to higher service1 there has always been a conflict with my will4 ,i have fought against it1 but ,god's will has been done instead of mine4 ,when ,i came to ,jesus ,christ1 ,i had a terrible battle to surrender my will1 and to take ,god's will4 ,when ,i gave up business1 ,i had another battle for three months2 ,i fought against it4 ,it was a terrible battle4 ,but oh6 how many times ,i have thanked ,god that ,i gave up my will and took ,god's will4 ,then there was another time when ,god was calling me into higher service1 to go out and preach the gospel all over the land1 instead of staying in ,chicago4 ,i fought against it for months2 but the best thing ,i ever did was when ,i surrendered my will1 and let the will of ,god be done in me4 ,because ,abraham obeyed ,god and held back not even his only child1 ,god enlarged his promises once again3 ,and the angel of the ,lord called unto ,abraham out of heaven the second time1 and said1 ,by myself have ,i sworn1 saith the ,lord1 for because thou hast done this thing1 and hast not withheld thy son1 thine only son3 that in blessing ,i will bless thee1 and in multiplying ,i will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven1 and as the sand which is upon the sea shore2 and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies2 and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed2 because thou hast obeyed my voice4 ,if you take my advice1 you will have no will other than ,god's will4 ,make a full and complete surrender1 and the sweet messages of heaven will come to you4 ,god will whisper into your soul ,,the ,,secrets ,,of ,,heaven4 ,after ,abraham did what ,god told him1 then it was that ,god told ,his friend all about ,his ,son4 ,if we make a full surrender1 ,god will give us something better than we have ever known before4 ,we will get a new vision of ,jesus ,christ1 and will thank ,god not only in this life but in the life to come4 ,may ,god help each and every one of us to make a full and complete and unconditional surrender to ,god1 fully and wholly1 now and forever4 ,,the ,,call ,,of ,,moses ,there is a great deal more room given in ,scripture to the call of men to ,god's work than there is to their end4 ,for instance1 we don't know where ,isaiah died1 or how he died1 but we know a great deal about the call ,god gave him1 when he saw ,god on high and lifted up on ,his throne4 ,i suppose that it is true to-day that hundreds of young men and women who are listening for a call and really want to know what their life's mission is1 perhaps find it the greatest problem they ever had4 ,some don't know just what profession or work to take up1 and so ,i should like to take the call of ,moses1 and see if we cannot draw some lessons from it4 ,you remember when ,god met ,moses at the burning bush and called him to do as great a work as any man has ever been called to in this world1 that ,,he ,,thought ,,the ,,lord ,,had ,,made ,a ,,mistake1 that he was not the man4 ,he said1 ,who am ,i8 ,he was very small in his own estimation4 ,forty years before he had started out as a good many others have started4 ,he thought he was pretty well equipped for service4 ,he had been in the schools of the ,egyptians1 he had been in the palaces of ,egypt1 he had moved in the bon ton society4 ,he had had all the advantages any man could have when he started out1 undoubtedly1 without calling on the ,god of ,abraham for wisdom and guidance1 yet he broke down4 ,how many men have started out in some profession and made a failure of it6 ,they haven't heard the voice of ,god1 they haven't waited upon ,god for instruction4 ,i suppose ,moses thought that the children of ,israel would be greatly honored to know that a prince of the realm was going to take up their cause1 but you remember how he lost his temper and killed the ,egyptian1 and next day1 when he interfered in a quarrel between two ,hebrews1 they wanted to know who had made him judge and ruler over them1 and he had to flee into the desert1 and was there for forty years hidden away4 ,he killed the ,egyptian and lost his influence thereby4 ,murder for liberty2 wrong for right2 it was a poor way to reform abuses1 and ,moses needed training4 ,it was a long time for ,god to keep him in ,his school1 a long time for a man to wait in the prime of his life1 from forty to eighty4 ,moses had been brought us with all the luxuries that ,egypt could give him1 and now he was a shepherd1 and in the sight of the ,egyptians a shepherd was an abomination4 ,i have an idea that ,moses started out with a great deal bigger head than heart4 ,i believe that is the reason so many fail2 they have ,,big ,,heads ,,and ,,little ,,hearts4 ,if a man has a shriveled-up heart and a big head he is a monster4 ,perhaps ,moses looked down on the ,hebrews4 ,there are many people who start out with the idea that they are great and other people are small1 and they are going to bring them up on the high level with themselves4 ,god never yet used a man of that stamp4 ,perhaps ,moses was a slow scholar in ,god's school1 and so ,he had to keep him there for forty years4 ,but now he is ready2 he is just the man ,god wants1 and ,god calls him4 ,moses said1 ,who am ,i8 ,he was very small in his own eyes--just small enough so that ,god could use him4 ,if you had asked the ,egyptians who he was1 they would have said he was ,,the ,,biggest ,,fool ,,in ,,the ,,world4 ,why1 they would say1 look at the opportunity that man had6 ,he might have been commander of the ,egyptian army1 he might have been on the throne1 swaying the sceptre over the whole world1 if he hadn't identified himself with those poor1 miserable ,hebrews6 ,think what an opportunity he has lost1 and what a privilege he has thrown away6 ,he had dropped out of the public mind for forty years1 and they didn't know what had become of him1 but ,god had ,his eye upon him4 ,he was the very man of all others that ,god wanted1 and when he met ,god with that question1 ,who am ,i8 it didn't matter who he was but who his ,god was4 ,when men learn the lesson that they are nothing and ,god is everything1 then there is not a position in which ,god cannot use them4 ,it was not ,moses who accomplished that great work of redemption1 for he was only the instrument in ,god's hand4 ,god could have spoken to ,pharaoh without ,moses4 ,he could have spoken in a voice of thunder1 and broken the heart of ,pharaoh with one speech1 if ,he had wanted to1 but ,he condescended to take up a human agent1 and to use him4 ,he could have sent ,gabriel down1 but he knew that ,moses was the man wanted above all others1 so ,he called him4 ,god uses men to speak to men3 ,he works through mediators4 ,he could have accomplished the exodus of the children of ,israel in a flash1 but instead ,he chose to send a lonely and despised shepherd to work out ,his purpose through pain and disappointment4 ,that was ,god's way in the ,old ,testament1 and also in the ,new4 ,he sent ,his own ,son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be the mediator between ,god and man4 ,moses went on making excuses and said1 ,when ,i go down there1 who shall ,i say has sent me8 ,i suppose he remembered how he went before he was sent that other time1 and he was afraid of a failure again4 ,a man who has made a failure once is always afraid he will make another4 ,he loses confidence in himself4 ,it is a good thing to lose confidence in ourselves so as to gain confidence in ,god4 ,the ,lord said1 ,say unto them1 ',i ,,am hath sent me4' ,some one has said that ,god gave him ,a ,,blank ,,check1 and all he had to do was to fill it out from that time on4 ,when he wanted to bring water out of the rock1 all he had to do was to fill out the check2 when he wanted bread1 all he had to do was to fill out the check and the bread came2 he had a rich banker4 ,god had taken him into partnership with ,himself4 ,god had made him ,his heir1 and all he had to do was to look up to ,him1 and he got all he wanted4 ,and yet he seemed to draw back1 and began to make another excuse1 and said3 ,they will not believe me4 ,he was afraid of the ,israelites as well as of ,pharaoh3 he knew how hard it is to get even your friends to believe in you4 ,now1 if ,god has sent you and me with a message it is not for us to say whether others will believe it or not4 ,we cannot make men believe4 ,if ,i have been sent by ,god to make men believe1 ,he will give me power to make them believe4 ,jesus ,christ didn't have that power2 it is the work of the ,holy ,ghost2 we cannot persuade men and overcome skepticism and infidelity unless we are baptised with the ,holy ,ghost and with power4 ,god told ,moses that they would believe him1 that he would succeed1 and bring the children of ,israel out of bondage4 ,but ,moses seemed to distrust even the ,god who had spoken to him4 ,then the ,lord said1 ,what is that in thy hand8 ,he had a rod or staff1 a sort of shepherd's crook1 which he had cut haphazard when he had wanted something that would serve him in the desert4 ,it is only a rod4 ,with that you shall deliver the children of ,israel2 with that rod you shall make ,israel believe that ,i am with you4 ,when ,god ,almighty linked ,himself to that rod1 it was worth more than all the armies the world had ever seen4 ,look and see how that rod did its work4 ,it brought up the plagues of flies1 and the thunder storm1 and turned the water into blood4 ,it was not ,moses1 however1 nor ,moses' rod that did the work1 but it was the ,god of the rod1 the ,god of ,moses4 ,as long as ,god was with him1 he could not fail4 ,sometimes it looks as if ,god's servants fail4 ,when ,herod beheaded ,john the ,baptist1 it looked as if ,john's mission was a failure4 ,but was it8 ,the voice that rang through the valley of the ,jordan rings through the whole world to-day4 ,you can hear its echo upon the mountains and the valleys yet1 ,i must decrease1 but ,he must increase4 ,he held up ,jesus ,christ and introduced ,him to the world1 and ,herod had not power to behead him until his life work had been accomplished4 ,stephen never preached but one sermon that we know of1 and that was before the ,sanhedrim2 but how that sermon has been preached again and again all over the world6 ,out of his death probably came ,paul1 the greatest preacher the world has seen since ,christ left this earth4 ,if a man is sent by ,jehovah1 there is no such thing as failure4 ,was ,christ's life a failure8 ,see how ,his parables are going through the earth to-day4 ,it looked as if the apostles had made a failure1 but see how much has been accomplished4 ,if you read the book of ,acts1 you will see that every seeming failure in ,acts was turned into a great victory4 ,moses wasn't going to fail1 although ,pharaoh said with contempt1 ,who is ,god that ,i should obey ,him8 ,he found out who ,god was4 ,he found out that there was a ,god4 ,but ,moses made another excuse1 and said1 ,i am slow of speech1 slow of tongue4 ,he said he was ,,not ,,an ,,orator4 ,my friends1 we have too many orators4 ,i am tired and sick of your silver-tongued orators4 ,i used to mourn because ,i couldn't be an orator4 ,i thought1 ,oh1 if ,i could only have the gift of speech like some men6 ,i have heard men with a smooth flow of language take the audience captive1 but they came and they went1 their voice was like the air1 there wasn't any power back of it2 they trusted in their eloquence and their fine speeches4 ,that is what ,paul was thinking of when he wrote to the ,corinthians3--,my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom1 but in demonstration of the ,spirit and of power3 that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men1 but in the power of ,god4 ,take a witness in court and let him try his oratorical powers in the witness-box1 and see now quickly the judge will rule him out4 ,it is the man who tells the plain1 simple truth that has the most influence with the jury4 ,suppose that ,moses had prepared a speech for ,pharaoh1 and had got his hair all smoothly brushed1 and had stood before the looking -glass or had gone to an elocutionist to be taught how to make an oratorical speech and how to make gestures4 ,suppose that he had buttoned his coat1 put one hand in his chest1 had struck an attitude and begun3 ,the ,god of our fathers1 the ,god of ,abraham1 ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 has commanded me to come into the presence of the noble ,king of ,egypt4 ,i think they would have taken his head right off6 ,they had ,egyptians who could be as eloquent as ,moses4 ,it was not eloquence they wanted4 ,when you see a man in the pulpit trying to show off his eloquence he is making a fool of himself and trying to make a fool of the people4 ,moses was slow of speech1 but he had a message1 and what ,god wanted was to have him deliver the message4 ,but he insisted upon having an excuse4 ,he didn't want to go2 instead of being eager to act as heaven's messenger1 to be ,god's errand boy1 he wanted to excuse himself4 ,the ,lord humored him and gave him an interpreter1 gave him ,aaron4 ,now1 if there is a stupid thing in the world1 it is to talk through an interpreter4 ,i tried it once in ,paris4 ,i got up into a little box of a pulpit with the interpreter--there was hardly room enough for one4 ,i said a sentence while he leaned away over to one side1 and then ,i leaned over while he repeated it in ,french4 ,can you conceive of a more stupid thing than ,moses going before ,pharaoh and speaking through ,aaron6 ,but this slow-of-speech man became eloquent4 ,talk about ,gladstone's power to speak6 ,here is a man one hundred and twenty years old1 and he waxed eloquent1 as we see in ,deuteronomy xxxii3#a-d3 ,give ear1 ,o ye heavens1 and ,i will speak2 ,and hear1 ,o earth1 the words of my mouth4 ,my doctrine shall drop as the rain1 ,my speech shall distil as the dew1 ,as the small rain upon the tender herb1 ,and as the showers upon the grass3 ,because ,i will publish the name of the ,lord3 ,ascribe ye greatness unto our ,god4 ,he is the ,rock1 ,his work is perfect3 ,for all ,his ways are judgment3 ,a ,god of truth and without iniquity1 ,just and right is ,he4 ,he turned out to be one of the most eloquent men the world has ever seen4 ,if ,god sends men and they deliver ,his message ,he will be with their mouth4 ,if ,god has given you a message1 go and give it to the people as ,god has given it to you4 ,it is a stupid thing for a man to try to be eloquent4 ,make ,,your ,,message1 ,,and ,,not ,,yourself1 the most prominent thing4 ,don't be self-conscious ,set your heart on what ,god has given you to do1 and don't be so foolish as to let your own difficulties or your own abilities stand in the way4 ,it is said that people would go to hear ,cicero and would come away and say1 ,did you ever hear anything like it8 wasn't it sublime8 wasn't it grand8 ,but they would go and hear ,demosthenes1 and he would fire them so with the subject that they would want to go and fight at once4 ,they forgot all about ,demosthenes1 but were stirred by his message2 that was the difference between the two men4 ,next ,moses said3 ,o my ,lord1 send1 ,i pray thee1 by the hand of him whom thou wilt send4 ,did you ever stop to think what ,moses would have lost if ,god had taken him at his word1 and said3 ,very well1 ,moses2 you may stay here in the desert1 and ,i will send ,aaron1 or ,joshua1 or ,caleb6 ,don't seek to be excused if ,god calls you to some service4 ,what would the twelve disciples have lost if they had declined the call of ,jesus6 ,i have always pitied those other disciples of whom we read that they went back1 and walked no more with ,jesus4 ,think what ,orpah missed and what ,ruth gained by cleaving to ,naomi's ,god6 ,her story has been ,,told ,,these ,,three ,,thousand ,,years4 ,father1 mother1 sisters1 brothers1 the grave of her husband--she turned her back on them all4 ,ruth1 come back1 and tell us if you regret your choice6 ,no3 her name shines one of the brightest among all the women that have ever lived4 ,the ,messiah was one of her descendants4 ,moses1 you come back and tell us if you were afterwards sorry that ,god had called you8 ,i think that when he stood in glorified body on the ,mount of ,transfiguration with ,jesus and ,elijah1 he did not regret it4 ,my dear friends1 ,god is not confined to any one messenger4 ,we are told that ,he can raise up children out of stones4 ,some one has said that there are three classes of people1 the wills1 the won'ts1 and the can'ts2 the first accomplish everything1 the second oppose everything1 and the third fail in everything4 ,if ,god calls you1 consider it a great honor4 ,consider it a great privilege to have partnership with ,him in anything4 ,do it cheerfully1 gladly4 ,do it with all your heart1 and ,he will bless you4 ,don't let false modesty or insincerity1 self-interest1 or any personal consideration turn you aside from the path of duty and sacrifice4 ,if we listen for ,god's voice1 we shall hear the call2 and if ,he calls and sends us1 there will be no such thing as failure1 but success all along the line4 ,moses had glorious success because he went forward and did what ,god called him to do4 ,,naaman ,,the ,,syrian ,i wish to call your attention to one who was a great man in his own country1 and very honorable2 one whom the king delighted to honor4 ,he stood high in position2 he was captain of the host of the ,king of ,syria2 but he was a leper1 and that threw a blight over his whole life4 ,as ,bishop ,hall quaintly puts it1 ,the meanest slave in ,syria would not have changed skins with him4 ,now you cannot have a better type of a sinner than ,naaman was4 ,i don't care who or what he is1 or what position he holds--all men alike have sinned1 and all have to bear the same burden of death4 ,all have sinned1 and come short of the glory of ,god4 ,all men must stand in judgment before ,god4 ,what a gloom that throws over our whole life6 ,but he was a leper4 ,there was ,,no ,,physician who could help him in ,syria4 ,none of the eminent doctors in ,damascus could do him any good4 ,if he was to get rid of the leprosy1 the power must come from on high4 ,it must be some one unknown to ,naaman1 for he did not know ,god4 ,but ,i will tell you what they had in ,syria--they had one of ,god's children there1 and she was a little girl1 a simple captive maid1 who waited on ,mrs4 ,naaman4 ,naaman knew nothing about this little ,israelite1 though she was one of his household4 ,i can imagine that one day1 as she was waiting on the general's wife1 she noticed her weeping4 ,her heart was breaking because of the dark cloud that rested over her home4 ,so she told her mistress that there was a prophet in her country that could cure her master of his leprosy4 ,would to ,god1 she said1 my lord were with the prophet in ,samaria6 for he would recover him of his leprosy4 ,there's faith for you6 ,she boasted of ,god that ,he would do more for this heathen than ,he had done for any in ,israel2 and ,,god ,,honored ,,her ,,faith4 ,what do you say8 ,a prophet in ,israel that can cure leprosy8 ,yes4 ,why1 did you ever know any one that was cured8 ,no4 ,well1 then1 what makes you think there is a prophet that can cure leprosy8 ,oh1 that isn't anything to what ,elisha can do4 ,there was a little child that lived near us that died1 and he raised him to life4 ,he has done many wonderful things4 ,she must have had a reputation for truthfulness4 ,if she hadn't1 her testimony would not have been taken4 ,some one told the general of it1 and he made it known to the king4 ,now1 ,naaman stood high in the king's favor1 for he had recently won a great victory4 ,he stood near the throne4 ,so the king said3 ,you had better go down to ,samaria1 and see if there is anything in it4 ,i will give you letters of introduction to the ,king of ,israel4 ,yes1 he would give ,naaman letters of introduction to the king4 ,that's just man's idea4 ,the notion was1 that if anybody could help him it was the king1 and that the king had power both with ,god and man4 ,oh1 my friends1 it is a good deal better to know a man that knows ,god6 ,a man acquainted with ,god has more power than any earthly potentate4 ,gold can't do everything4 ,away goes ,naaman down to ,samaria with his kingly introduction4 ,what a stir it must have made when the commander of the ,syrian army drove up6 ,he has brought with him a lot of gold and silver4 ,that is man's idea again2 he is going to pay for a great doctor1 and he took about five hundred thousand dollars to pay for the doctor's bill4 ,there are a good many men who would willingly pay that sum if with it they could buy the favor of ,god1 and get rid of the curse of sin4 ,yes1 if money could do it1 ,,how ,,many ,,would ,,buy ,,salvation6 ,but1 thank ,god1 it is not in the market for sale4 ,you must buy it at ,god's price1 and that is without money and without price4 ,naaman found that out4 ,my dear friends1 did you ever ask yourselves which is the worse--the leprosy of sin1 or the leprosy of the body8 ,for my own part1 ,i would a thousand times sooner have the leprosy of the body eating into my eyes1 and feet1 and arms6 ,i would rather be loathsome in the sight of my fellow-men than die with the leprosy of sin in my soul1 and be banished from ,god forever6 ,the leprosy of the body is bad1 but the leprosy of sin is a thousand times worse4 ,it has cast angels out of heaven4 ,it has ruined the best and strongest men that ever lived in the world4 ,oh1 how it has pulled men down6 ,the leprosy of the body could not do that4 ,there is one thing about ,naaman that ,i like specially1 and that is his earnestness of purpose4 ,he was ,,thoroughly ,,in ,,earnest4 ,he was quite willing to go one hundred and fifty miles1 and to take the advice of this little maid4 ,a good many people say3 ,oh1 ,i don't like such and such a minister2 ,i should like to know where he comes from1 and what he has done1 and whether any bishop has laid his hands on his head4 ,my dear friends1 never mind the minister2 it is the message you want4 ,if some one were to send me a telegraph message1 and the news were important1 ,i shouldn't stop to ask about the messenger who brought it4 ,i should want to read the news4 ,i should look at the message1 and not at the boy who brought it4 ,and so it is with ,god's message4 ,the good news is everything1 the minister nothing4 ,the ,syrians looked down with contempt on the ,israelites1 and yet this great man was willing to take the good news at the hands of this little maiden1 and listened to the words that fell from her lips4 ,if ,i got lost in ,new ,york1 ,i should be willing to ask anybody which way to go1 even if it were only a shoeblack2 and1 in point of fact1 a boy's word in such a case is often better than a man's4 ,it is the way ,i want1 not the person who directs me4 ,but there was one drawback in ,naaman's case4 ,though he was willing to take the advice of the little girl1 he was not willing to take the remedy4 ,the stumbling-block of pride stood in his way4 ,the remedy the prophet offered him was a terrible blow to his pride4 ,i have no doubt he expected a grand reception from the ,king of ,israel1 to whom he brought letters of introduction4 ,he had been victorious on many a field of battle1 and held high rank in the army2 perhaps we may call him ,major-,general ,naaman of ,syria1 or he might have been higher in rank even than that2 and bearing with him kingly credentials1 he expected no doubt a distinguished reception4 ,but instead of the king rushing out to meet him1 he1 when he heard of ,naaman's arrival and his object1 simply rent his mantle1 and said3 ,am ,i ,god1 to kill and to make alive1 that this man doth send unto me to recover a man of his leprosy8 ,wherefore consider1 ,i pray you1 and see how he seeketh a quarrel against me4 ,elisha heard of the king's trouble1 and sent him a message1 saying3 ,wherefore hast thou rent thy clothes8 ,let him come now to me1 and he shall know that there is a prophet in ,israel4 ,i can imagine ,naaman's pride reasoning thus3 ,surely1 the prophet will feel very much exalted and flattered that ,i1 the great ,syrian general1 should come and call upon him4 ,and so1 probably1 full of those proud thoughts1 he drives up to the prophet's humble dwelling with his chariot and his splendid retinue4 ,yes1 ,naaman drove up in grand style to the prophet's abode1 and as nobody seemed to be coming out to greet him1 he sent in his message3 ,tell the prophet that ,major-,general ,naaman of ,syria has arrived1 and wishes to see him4 ,elisha takes it very coolly4 ,he does not come out to see him1 but as soon as he learns his errand he sends his servant to tell him to dip seven times in the river ,jordan1 and he shall be clean4 ,that was a terrible blow to his pride4 ,i can imagine him saying to his servant3 ,what did you say8 ,did ,i understand you aright8 ,dip seven times in the ,jordan6 ,why1 we call the river ,jordan a ditch in our country4 ,but the only answer he got was1 ,the prophet says1 ,go and dip seven times in the ,jordan1 and thy flesh shall become like the flesh of a little child4 ,i can fancy ,naaman's indignation as he asks1 ,are not ,abana and ,pharpar1 rivers of ,damascus1 better than all the waters of ,israel8 ,may ,i not wash in them and be clean8 ,haven't ,i bathed myself hundreds of times1 and has it helped me8 ,can water wash away leprosy8 ,so he turned and went away in a rage4 ,it isn't a bad sign when a man gets mad if you tell him the truth4 ,some people are afraid of getting other people mad4 ,i have known wives afraid to talk to their husbands1 afraid of getting them mad4 ,i have known mothers who were afraid to talk to their sons because they were ,,afraid ,,they ,,would ,,get ,,mad4 ,don't be afraid of getting them mad1 if it is the truth that makes them mad4 ,if it is our foolishness that makes them mad1 then we have got reason to mourn over it4 ,if it is the truth1 ,god sent it1 and it is a good deal better to have a man get mad than it is to have him go to sleep4 ,i think the trouble with a great many nowadays is that they are sound asleep1 and it is a good deal better to rouse them even if they do wake up mad4 ,the fact was1 the ,jordan never had any great reputation as a river4 ,it flowed into the ,dead ,sea1 and that sea never had a harbor to it1 and its banks were not half so beautiful as those of the rivers of ,damascus4 ,damascus was one of the most beautiful cities in the world4 ,it is said that when ,mahomet beheld it he turned his head aside for fear it should divert his thoughts from heaven4 ,naaman turned away in a rage4 ,ah1 he said1 here am ,i1 a great conqueror1 a successful general on the battlefield1 holding the very highest rank in the army1 and yet this prophet does not even come out to meet me2 he simply sends a message4 ,why1 ,i thought he would surely come out to me1 and stand and call on the name of the ,lord his ,god1 and strike his hand over the place and recover the leper4 ,there it is4 ,i hardly ever knew a man yet who1 when talked to about his sins1 didn't say3 ,yes1 but ,i thought so and so4 ,mr4 ,moody1 they say1 ,i will tell you what ,i think2 ,i will tell you my opinion4 ,in the #eeth chapter of ,isaiah it says that ,god's thoughts are not our thoughts1 nor ,his ways our ways4 ,and so it was with ,naaman4 ,in the first place1 he thought a good big doctor's fee would do it all1 and settle everything up4 ,and besides that there was another thing he thought2 he thought going to the king with his letters of introduction would do it4 ,yes1 those were ,naaman's first thoughts4 ,i thought4 ,exactly so4 ,he turned away in rage and disappointment4 ,he thought the prophet would have come out to him very humble and very subservient1 and ,,bid ,,him ,,do ,,some ,,great ,,things4 ,instead of that1 ,elisha1 who was perhaps busy writing1 did not even come to the door or the window4 ,he merely sent out the message3 ,tell him to dip seven times in the ,jordan4 ,and away went ,naaman1 saying1 ,i thought1 ,i thought1 ,i thought4 ,i have heard that tale so often that ,i am tired of it4 ,give it up1 and take ,god's words1 ,god's thoughts1 ,god's ways4 ,i never yet knew a man converted just in the time and manner he expected to be4 ,i have heard people say1 ,well1 if ever ,i am converted1 it won't be in a ,methodist church2 you won't catch me there4 ,i never knew a man say that but1 at last1 if converted at all1 it was in a ,methodist church4 ,in ,scotland a man was converted at one of our meetings--an employer4 ,he was very anxious that all his employees should be reached1 and he used to send them one by one to the meetings4 ,but there was one man that wouldn't come4 ,we are all more or less troubled with stubbornness2 and the moment this man found that his employer wanted him to go to the meetings he made up his mind he wouldn't go4 ,if he was going to be converted1 he said1 he was going to be converted by some ordained minister2 he was not going to any meeting that was conducted by ,americans that were not ordained4 ,he believed in conversion1 but he was going to be ,,converted ,,the ,,regular ,,way4 ,he believed in the regular ,presbyterian ,church of ,scotland1 and that was the place for him to be converted4 ,the employer tried every way he could to get him to attend the meetings1 but he wouldn't come4 ,after we left that town and went away up to ,inverness1 the employer had some business up there1 and he sent this employee to attend to it in the hope that he would attend some of our meetings4 ,one night as ,i was preaching on the banks of a river ,i happened to take this for my text3 ,i thought2 ,i thought4 ,i was trying to take men's thoughts up and to show the difference between their thoughts and ,god's thoughts4 ,this man happened to be walking along the banks of the river4 ,he saw a great crowd1 and heard some one talking1 and he wondered to himself what that man was talking about4 ,he didn't know who was there1 so he drew up to the crowd1 and listened4 ,he heard the sermon1 and became convicted and converted right there4 ,then he inquired who was the preacher1 and he found out it was the very man that he said he would not hear--the man he disliked4 ,the very man he had been talking against was the very man ,god used to convert him4 ,whilst ,naaman was thus wavering in his mind1 and thinking on what was best to be done1 one of his servants drew near and made a very sensible remark3 ,my lord1 if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing1 wouldest thou not have done it8 ,how much rather then1 when he saith to thee1 ,wash1 and be clean8 ,there is a great deal of truth in that4 ,if ,elisha had told him to go back to ,syria on his hands and knees1 one hundred and fifty miles1 he would have done it and thought it was all right4 ,if he had told him to go into some cave and stay there a year or two1 he would have done it and thought it was all right4 ,if he had told him that it was necessary to have some surgical operation performed1 and that he had to go through all the torture incident to it1 that would have suited him4 ,men like to have something to do about their salvation2 they don't like to give up the idea that they can't do anything2 that ,god must do it all4 ,if you tell them to take bitter herbs every morning and every night for the next five years1 they think that's all right1 and if he had told ,naaman to do that he would have done it4 ,but to tell him merely to dip in the river ,jordan seven times1 why1 it seemed absurd on the face of it6 ,but this servant suggested to him that he had better go down to the ,jordan and try the remedy1 as it was ,a ,,very ,,simple ,,one4 ,now1 don't you see yourselves there8 ,how many men there are who are waiting for some great thing2 waiting for some sudden feeling to come stealing over them2 waiting for some shock to come upon them4 ,that is not what the ,lord wants4 ,there is a man that ,i have talked to about his soul for a number of years1 and the last time ,i had a talk with him1 he said3 ,well1 the thing hasn't struck me yet4 ,i said3 ,what8 ,well1 says he1 the thing hasn't struck me yet4 ,struck you2 what do you mean8 ,well1 said he1 ,i go to church1 and ,i hear you preach1 and ,i hear other men preach1 but the thing hasn't struck me yet2 it strikes some people1 but it hasn't struck me yet4 ,that was all that ,i could get out of him4 ,there are a good many men who reason in that way4 ,they have heard some young converts tell how light dawned upon them like the flash of a meteor2 how they experienced a new sensation2 and so they are waiting for something of the kind4 ,but you can't find any place in ,scripture where you are told to wait for anything of the kind4 ,you are just to obey what ,god tells you to do1 and let your feelings take care of themselves4 ,i can't control my feelings4 ,i can't make myself feel good and bad when ,i want to1 but ,i can obey ,god4 ,god gives me the power4 ,he doesn't command me to do something and not give me the power to do it4 ,with the command comes the power4 ,now1 ,naaman could do what the prophet told him2 he could go down to the ,jordan1 and he could dip seven times2 and that is what the ,lord had for him to do2 and if we are going to get into the kingdom of ,god1 right at the threshold of that kingdom we have to learn this doctrine of obedience1 to do whatsoever ,he tells us4 ,i can fancy ,naaman still reluctant to believe in it1 saying1 ,why1 if there is such cleansing power in the waters of ,jordan1 would not every leper in ,israel go down and dip in them1 and be healed8 ,well1 but you know1 urges the servant1 now that you have come a hundred and fifty miles1 don't you think you had better do what he tells you8 ,after all1 you can but try it4 ,he sends word distinctly1 my lord1 that your flesh shall come again as that of a little child4 ,naaman accepts this word in season4 ,his anger is cooling down4 ,he has got over the first flush of his indignation4 ,he says3 ,well1 ,i think ,i might as well try it4 ,that was ,,the ,,starting-,,point ,,of ,,his ,,faith1 although still he thought it a foolish thing1 and could not bring himself to believe that the result would be what the prophet had said4 ,at last ,naaman's will was conquered1 and he surrendered4 ,when ,general ,grant was besieging a town which was a stronghold of the ,southern ,confederacy1 some of the officers sent word that they would leave the city if he would let them go with their men4 ,but ,general ,grant sent word3 ,no1 nothing but an unconditional surrender6 ,then they sent word that they would go if he would let them take their flag with them4 ,but the answer was3 ,no1 an unconditional surrender4 ,at last the beleagured walls were broken down1 and the city entered1 and then the enemy made a complete and unconditional surrender4 ,well1 it was so with ,naaman2 he got to that point when he was willing to obey1 and the ,scripture tell us1 ,to obey is better than to sacrifice4 ,god wants obedience4 ,naaman had to learn this lesson4 ,there was no virtue1 probably1 in going down to the ,jordan1 any more than in obeying the voice of ,god4 ,he had to obey the word1 and ,,in ,,the ,,very ,,act ,,of ,,obedience he was blessed4 ,look at those ten ,new ,testament lepers who came to ,christ4 ,he said to them3 ,go show yourselves to the priests4 ,well1 they might have said1 what good is that going to do us8 ,here we are all full of leprosy1 and if we go and show ourselves to the priests they will order us back again into exile4 ,that is not going to help us4 ,but those ten men started off1 and did just what the ,lord ,jesus ,christ told them to do1 and in the very act of doing it they were blessed2 their leprosy left them4 ,he said to that man that had the palsy1 whom they brought to ,him upon a bed3 ,take up thy bed and walk4 ,the man might have said3 ,lord1 ,i have been trying for years to take that bed up1 but ,i can't4 ,i haven't got the power4 ,i have been shaking with the palsy for the last ten years4 ,do you think that if ,i could have rolled up that bed that ,i would have been brought here and let down through the roof8 ,i haven't the power4 ,but when the ,lord commanded him ,he gave the power4 ,power came with the command1 and that man stood up1 rolled up his bed1 and started off home4 ,he was blessed in the very act of obedience4 ,my friends1 if you want ,god to bless you1 obey ,him4 ,do whatsoever ,he calls upon you to do1 and then see if ,he will not bless you4 ,christ went to a ,pharisee's house one day while ,he was down here upon earth1 to be entertained4 ,they wanted to get ,him to do something to break the law of ,moses1 that they might condemn ,him to death1 and so they put a man right opposite to ,him at the table with a withered hand1 to see if ,he would heal upon the ,sabbath day4 ,he said to the man3 ,stretch out thy hand4 ,now1 the man might have said1 ,lord1 that is a very strange command4 ,i haven't got the power4 ,that hand has been withered for the last twenty years4 ,i haven't stretched it out for the last twenty years2 and you say1 ',stretch it out4' ,but when ,he told him to do it ,he gave him the power1 and out went that old withered hand1 and before it came out straight1 right in the very act1 it was made whole4 ,he was blessed in the very act of obedience4 ,now1 ,naaman had to be taught the lesson that he had to obey2 and so1 finally1 he went down to the ,jordan just as he was told to do4 ,and if you will do just what the ,lord tells you the ,lord will bless you as ,he did ,naaman4 ,you may ask1 ,what does ,he tell me8 ,believe on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ and thou shalt be saved4 ,the word of ,god to ,naaman was to go and wash2 and the word of ,god to every soul out of ,christ is to believe on ,his ,son4 ,verily1 verily1 ,i say unto you1 he that heareth ,my word and believeth on ,him that sent ,me hath everlasting life1 and shall not come into condemnation1 but is passed from death unto life4 ,if a man believes with all his heart on the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 ,god will never bring him to judgment for sin2 that is all passed--that is all gone4 ,take ,him at ,his word2 believe ,him2 believe what ,he says1 and you shall enter into life eternal4 ,he came unto ,his own1 and ,his own received ,him not4 ,,him--mark you--not a dogma1 not a creed1 ,,not ,a ,,myth1 ,,but ,a ,,person4 ,he came to ,his own1 and ,his own received ,him not4 ,but as many as received ,him1 to them gave ,he power to become the sons and daughters of ,god4 ,that is the way you get the power4 ,naaman goes down to the river and takes the first dip4 ,as he comes up ,i can imagine him looking at himself1 and saying to his servant3 ,there6 there ,i am1 no better than ,i was when ,i went in6 ,if one -seventh of the leprosy was gone1 ,i should be content4 ,the servant says3 ,the man of ,god told you to dip seven times4 ,do just as he told you4 ,there is no discount on ,god's word4 ,well1 down he goes a second time1 and he comes up puffing and blowing1 as much a leper as ever2 and so he goes down again and again1 the third1 fourth1 fifth1 and sixth time1 with the same result1 as much a leper as ever4 ,some of the people standing on the banks of the river probably said1 as they certainly would in our day3 ,why1 that man has gone clean out of his mind6 ,when he comes up the sixth time1 he looks at himself1 and says3 ,ah1 no better6 ,what a fool ,i have made of myself6 ,how they will all laugh at me6 ,i wouldn't have the generals and aristocracy of ,damascus know that ,i have been dipping in this way in ,jordan for all the world4 ,however1 as ,i have gone so far1 ,i'll make the seventh plunge4 ,he has not altogether lost faith1 and down he goes the seventh time1 and comes up again4 ,he looks at himself1 and shouts aloud for joy4 ,lo1 ,i am well6 ,my leprosy is all gone1 all gone6 ,my flesh has come again as that of a little child4 ,if one speck of leprosy had remained1 it would have been a reflection on ,god4 ,ask him now how he feels4 ,feel8 ,i feel that this is the happiest day of my life4 ,i thought when ,i won a great victory upon the battlefield that that was the most joyful day of my life2 ,i thought ,i should never be so happy again2 but that wasn't anything2 it didn't compare with this hour2 my leprosy is all gone1 ,i am whole1 ,i am cleansed4 ,first he lost his temper2 then he lost his pride2 then his leprosy4 ,that is generally the order in which proud1 rebellious sinners are converted4 ,so he comes up out of ,jordan and puts on his clothes1 and goes back to the prophet4 ,he was very mad with ,elisha in the beginning1 but when he was cleansed his anger was all gone too4 ,he wants to pay him4 ,that's just the old story2 ,naaman ,,wants ,,to ,,give ,,money for his cure4 ,how many people want to do the same nowadays4 ,why it would have spoiled the story of grace if the prophet had taken anything6 ,you may give a thank-offering to ,god's cause1 not to purchase salvation1 but because you are saved4 ,the ,lord doesn't charge anything to save you4 ,it is without money and without price4 ,the prophet ,elisha refused to take anything1 and ,i can imagine no one felt more rejoiced than he did4 ,naaman starts back to ,damascus a very different man than he was when he left it4 ,the dark cloud has gone from his mind2 he is no longer a leper1 in fear of dying from a loathsome disease4 ,he lost the leprosy in ,jordan when he did what the man of ,god told him2 and if you obey the voice of ,god1 even while ,i am speaking to you1 the burden of your sins will fall from off you1 and you shall be cleansed4 ,it is all done through faith and obedience4 ,let us see what ,naaman's faith led him to believe4 ,and he returned to the man of ,god1 he and all his company1 and came1 and stood before him3 and he said1 ,behold1 now ,i know that there is no ,god in all the earth1 but in ,israel3 now therefore1 ,i pray thee1 take a blessing of thy servant4 ,what ,i want particularly to call your attention to is the words ,i ,,know4 ,there is no hesitation about it1 no qualifying the expression4 ,naaman doesn't now say1 ,i think2 no1 he says1 ,i know there is a ,god who has power to cleanse the leprosy4 ,then there is another thought4 ,naaman left only one thing in ,samaria1 and that was his leprosy2 and the only thing ,god wishes you to leave with ,him is your sin4 ,and yet it is the only thing you seem not to care about giving up4 ,oh1 you say1 ,i love leprosy1 it is so delightful1 ,i can't give it up2 ,i know ,god wants it1 that ,he may make me clean4 ,but ,i can't give it up4 ,why1 what downright madness it is for you to love leprosy2 and yet that is your condition4 ,ah1 says someone1 ,i don't believe in sudden conversions4 ,don't you8 ,how long did it take ,naaman to be cured8 ,the seventh time he went down1 away went the leprosy4 ,read the great conversions recorded in the ,bible4 ,saul of ,tarsus1 ,zacchaeus1 and a host of others2 how long did it take the ,lord to bring them about8 ,they were effected in a minute4 ,we are born in iniquity1 shapen in it1 dead in trespasses and sins2 but when spiritual life comes it comes in a moment1 and we are free both from sin and death4 ,you may be sure when he got home there was no small stir in ,naaman's house4 ,i can see his wife1 ,mrs4 ,naaman1 when he gets back4 ,she has been watching and looking out of the window for him with a great burden on her heart4 ,and when she asks him1 ,well1 husband1 how is it8 ,i can see the tears running down his cheeks as he says3 ,thank ,god1 ,i am well4 ,they embrace each other1 and pour out mutual expressions of rejoicing and gladness4 ,the servants are just as glad as their master and mistress1 as they have been waiting eagerly for the news4 ,there never was a happier household than ,naaman's1 now that he has got rid of the leprosy4 ,and so1 my friends1 it will be with your own households if you will only get rid of the leprosy of sin to-day4 ,not only will there be joy in your own hearts and at home1 but there will also be ,,joy ,,among ,,the ,,saints ,,in ,,heaven4 ,once1 as ,i was walking down the street1 ,i heard some people laughing and talking aloud4 ,one of them said3 ,well1 there will be no difference1 it will be all the same a hundred years hence4 ,the thought flashed across my mind1 ,will there be no difference8 ,where will you be a hundred years hence8 ,young man1 just ask yourself the question1 ,where shall ,i be8 ,some of you who are getting on in years may be in eternity ten years hence4 ,where will you be1 on the left or the right hand of ,god8 ,i cannot tell your feelings1 but ,i can my own4 ,i ask you1 ,where will you spend eternity8 ,where will you be a hundred years hence8 ,i heard once of a man who went to ,england from the ,continent1 and brought letters with him to eminent physicians from the ,emperor4 ,the letters said3 ,this man is a personal friend of mine1 and we are afraid he is going to lose his reason4 ,do all you can for him4 ,the doctor asked him if he had lost any dear friend in his own country1 or any position of importance1 or what it was that was weighing on his mind4 ,the young man said1 ,no2 but my father and grandfather and myself were brought up infidels1 and for the last two or three years this thought has been haunting me1 ,where shall ,i spend eternity8 ,and the thought of it follows me day and night4 ,the doctor said1 ,you have come to ,,the ,,wrong ,,physician1 but ,i will tell you of one who can cure you2 and he told him of ,christ1 and read to him the #ec;d chapter of ,isaiah1 ,with ,his stripes we are healed4 ,the young man said1 ,doctor1 do you believe that8 ,the doctor told him he did1 and prayed and wrestled with him1 and at last the clear light of ,calvary shone on his soul4 ,he had settled the question in his own mind at last1 where he would spend eternity4 ,i ask you1 sinner1 to settle it now4 ,it is for you to decide4 ,shall it be with the saints1 and martyrs1 and prophets1 or in the dark caverns of hell1 amidst blackness and darkness forever8 ,make haste to be wise2 for how shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation8 ,at our church in ,chicago ,i was closing the meeting one day1 when a young soldier got up and entreated the people to decide for ,christ at once4 ,he said he had just come from a dark scene4 ,a comrade of his1 who had enlisted with him1 had a father who was always entreating him to become a ,christian1 and in reply he always said he would when the war was over4 ,at last he was wounded1 and was put into the hospital1 but got worse and was gradually sinking4 ,one day1 a few hours before he died1 a letter came from his sister1 but he was too far gone to read it4 ,oh1 it was such an earnest letter6 ,the comrade read it to him1 but he did not seem to understand it1 he was so weak1 till it came to the last sentence1 which said3 ,oh1 my dear brother1 when you get this letter1 will you not accept your sister's ,savior8 ,the dying man sprang up from his cot1 and said1 ,what do you say8 what do you say8 and then1 falling back on his pillow1 feebly exclaimed1 ,it is too late6 ,it is too late6 ,my dear friends1 thank ,god it is not too late for you to-day4 ,the ,master is still calling you4 ,let every one of us1 young and old1 rich and poor1 come to ,christ at once1 and ,he will put all our sins away4 ,don't wait any longer for feeling1 but obey at once4 ,you can believe1 you can trust1 you can lay hold on eternal life1 if you will4 ,will you not do it now8 ,,the ,,prophet ,,nehemiah ,i should like to call your attention to the prophet ,nehemiah4 ,we may gain some help from that distinguished man who accomplished a great work4 ,he was one of the last of the prophets1 was supposed to be contemporary with ,malachi1 and perhaps his book was one of the last of the ,old ,testament books that was written4 ,he might have known ,daniel1 for he was a young man in the declining years of that very eminent and godly statesman4 ,we are sure of one thing at least--he was a man of sterling worth4 ,although he was brought up in the ,persian court among idolaters1 yet he had a character that has stood all these centuries4 ,notice his prayer in which he made confession of ,israel's apostasy from ,god4 ,there may be some confessions we need to make to be brought into close fellowship with ,god4 ,i have no doubt that numbers of ,christians are hungering and thirsting for a personal blessing1 and have a great desire to get closer to ,god4 ,if that is the desire of your heart1 keep in mind that if there is some obstacle in the way which you can remove1 you will not get a blessing until you remove it4 ,we must cooperate with ,god4 ,if there is any sin in my heart that ,i am not willing to give up then ,i need not pray4 ,you may take a bottle and cork it up tight1 and put it under ,niagara1 and not a drop of that mighty volume of water will get into the bottle4 ,if there is any sin in my heart that ,i am not willing to give up1 ,i need not expect a blessing4 ,the men who have had power with ,god in prayer have always begun by confessing their sins4 ,take the prayers of ,jeremiah and ,daniel4 ,you find ,daniel confessing his sin1 when there isn't a single sin recorded against him2 but he confesses his sin and the sins of the people4 ,notice how ,david confessed his sins and what power he had with ,god4 ,so it is a good thing for us to begin as ,nehemiah did4 ,it seems that some men had come down from his country to the ,persian court1 perhaps to see the king on business4 ,this man1 who was in high favor with the king1 met them1 and finding that they had come from ,jerusalem he began to inquire about his country4 ,he not only loved his ,god1 but he ,,loved ,,his ,,country4 ,i like to see a patriotic man4 ,he began to inquire about his people and about the city that was very near to his heart1 ,jerusalem4 ,he had never seen the city4 ,he had no relations back there in ,jerusalem that he knew of4 ,nehemiah was not a ,jewish prince1 although it is supposed he had royal blood in his veins4 ,he was born in captivity4 ,it was about one hundred years after ,jerusalem was taken that he appeared upon the horizon4 ,he was in the court of ,artaxerxes1 a cupbearer to the king1 and held a high position4 ,yet he longed to hear from his native land4 ,when these men told him the condition of the city1 that the people were in great want and distress and degradation1 and that the walls of the city were still down1 that the gates had been burned and never restored1 his patriotic heart began to burn4 ,we are told he fasted and prayed and wept1 and not only did he pray for one week1 or one month1 but he kept on praying4 ,he prayed day and night4 ,having many duties to perform1 of course he was not always on his knees1 but in heart he was ever before the throne of grace4 ,it was not hard for him to understand and obey the precept1 ,pray without ceasing4 ,he began the work in prayer1 continued in prayer1 and the last recorded words of ,nehemiah are a prayer4 ,it was in ,november or ,december when those men arrived at that court1 and this man prayed on until ,march or ,april before he spoke to the king4 ,if a blessing doesn't come to-night1 pray harder to-morrow1 and if it doesn't come to-morrow1 pray harder1 and then1 if it doesn't come keep right on1 and you will not be disappointed4 ,god in heaven will hear your prayers1 and will answer them4 ,he has never failed1 if a man has been honest in his petitions and honest in his confessions4 ,let your faith beget patience4 ,god is never in a hurry1 said ,st4 ,augustine1 because ,he has all eternity to work4 ,in the first chapter of ,nehemiah is ,,the ,,prayer of this wonderful man1 his cry which has been on record all these years1 and a great help to many people3 ,i beseech thee1 ,o ,lord ,god of heaven1 the great and terrible ,god1 that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments3 let thine ear now be attentive1 and thine eyes open1 that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant1 which ,i pray before thee now1 day and night1 for the children of ,israel thy servants1 and confess the sins of the children of ,israel1 which we have sinned against thee3 both ,i and my father's house have sinned4 ,we have dealt very corruptly against thee1 and have not kept the commandments1 nor the statutes1 nor the judgments1 which thou commandedst thy servant ,moses4 ,remember1 ,i beseech thee1 the word that thou commandedst thy servant ,moses1 saying1 ,if ye transgress1 ,i will scatter you abroad among the nations3 but if ye turn unto me1 and keep my commandments1 and do them2 though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven1 yet will ,i gather them from thence1 and will bring them unto the place that ,i have chosen to set my name there4 ,now these are thy servants and thy people1 whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power1 and by thy strong hand4 ,o ,lord1 ,i beseech thee1 let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant1 and to the prayer of thy servants1 who desire to fear thy name3 and prosper1 ,i pray thee1 thy servant this day1 and grant him mercy in the sight of this man4 ,when he began to pray ,i have no idea that he thought he was to be the instrument in ,god's hand of building the walls of ,jerusalem4 ,but when a man gets into sympathy and harmony with ,god1 then ,god prepares him for the work ,he has for him4 ,no doubt he thought the ,persian king might send one of his great warriors and accomplish the work with a great army of men1 but after he had been praying for months1 it may be the thought flashed into his mind3 ,why should not ,i go to ,jerusalem myself and build those walls8 ,prayer for the work will soon arouse your own sympathy and effort4 ,now mark1 it meant a good deal for ,nehemiah to give up the palace of ,shushan and his high office1 and identify himself with the despised and captive ,jews4 ,he was among the highest in the whole realm4 ,not only that1 but he was a man of wealth1 lived in ease and luxury1 and had great influence at court4 ,for him to go to ,jerusalem and lose caste was like ,moses turning his back on the palace of ,pharaoh and identifying himself with the ,hebrew slaves4 ,yet we might ,,never ,,have ,,heard ,,of either of them if they had not done this4 ,they stooped to conquer2 and when you get ready to stoop ,god will bless you4 ,plato1 ,socrates1 and other ,greek philosophers lived in the same century as ,nehemiah4 ,how few have heard of them and read their words compared with the hundreds of thousands who have heard and read of ,nehemiah during the last two thousand years6 ,if you and ,i are to be blessed in this world1 we must be willing to take any position into which ,god puts us4 ,so1 after ,nehemiah had prayed a while1 he began to pray ,god to send him1 and that he might be the man to rebuild the walls of ,jerusalem4 ,after he had been praying some time1 he was one day in the banqueting hall1 and the king noticed that his countenance was sad4 ,we might not have called the face sad2 but much prayer and fasting ,,change ,,the ,,very ,,countenance of a man4 ,i know some godly men and women1 and they seem to have the stamp of heaven on them4 ,the king noticed a strange look about this cupbearer1 and he began to question him4 ,then the thought came to ,nehemiah that he would tell the king what caused his sorrow1--how his own nation was degraded1 and how his heart was going out for his own country4 ,after he had told the king1 the king said3 ,what is your request8 ,now1 some men tell us they don't have time to pray1 but ,i tell you if any man has ,god's work lying deep in his heart he will have time to pray4 ,nehemiah ,,shot ,,up ,a ,,prayer to heaven right there in the king's dining hall that the ,lord would help him to make his request in the right way4 ,he first looked beyond ,artaxerxes to the ,king of ,kings4 ,you need not make a long prayer4 ,a man who prays much in private will make short prayers in public4 ,the ,lord told ,nehemiah what to ask for1 that he might be sent to his own country1 that some men might go with him1 and that the king would give him letters to the governors through whose provinces he would pass so that he might have a profitable journey and be able to rebuild the walls of his city4 ,god had been preparing the king1 for the king at once granted the request1 and before long this young prince was on his way to ,jerusalem4 ,when he reached the city he didn't have a lot of men go before him blowing trumpets and saying that the cupbearer of the great ,persian king1 ,,the ,,converted ,,cupbearer1 had arrived from the ,persian court1 and was going to build the walls of ,jerusalem4 ,there are some men who are always telling what they are going to do4 ,man1 let the work speak for itself4 ,you needn't blow any horns2 go and do the work1 and it will advertise itself4 ,nehemiah didn't have any newspapers writing about him1 or any placards4 ,however1 there was no small stir4 ,no doubt every one in town was talking about it1 saying that a very important personage had arrived from the ,persian court2 but he was there three days and three nights without telling anyone why he had come4 ,one night he went out to survey the city4 ,he couldn't ride around2 even now you cannot ride a beast around the walls of ,jerusalem4 ,he tried to ride around1 but he couldn't1 so he walked4 ,it was a difficult task which he had before him1 but he was not discouraged4 ,that is what makes character4 ,men who can go into a hard field and succeed1 they are the men we want4 ,any quantity of men are looking for easy places1 but the world will never hear of them4 ,we want men who are looking for hard places1 who are willing to go into the darkest corners of the earth1 and make those dark places bloom like gardens4 ,they can do it if the ,lord is with them4 ,everything looked dark before ,nehemiah4 ,the walls were broken down4 ,there was not a man of influence among the people1 not a man of culture or a man of wealth4 ,the nations all around were looking down upon these weak1 feeble ,jews4 ,so it is in many churches today1 the walls are down1 and people say it is no use1 and their hands drop down by their side4 ,everything seemed against ,nehemiah1 but he was a man who had the fire of ,god in his soul2 he had come to build the walls of ,jerusalem4 ,if you could have bored a hole into his head1 you would have found ,jerusalem stamped on his brain4 ,if you could have looked into his heart you would have found ,jerusalem there4 ,he was a fanatic2 he was terribly in earnest2 he was an enthusiast4 ,i like to see a man take up some one thing and say1 ,i will do it2 ,i live for this thing2 this one thing ,i am bound to do4 ,we spread out so much1 and try to do so many things1 that ,,we ,,spread ,,so ,,thin the world never hears of us4 ,after he had been in the city three days and nights1 he called the elders of ,israel together1 and told them for what he had come4 ,god had been preparing them1 for the moment he told them they said3 ,let us rise up and build4 ,but there has not been a work undertaken for ,god since ,adam fell which has not met with opposition4 ,if ,satan allows us to work unhindered1 it is because our work is of no consequence4 ,the first thing we read1 after the decision had been made to rebuild the walls1 is3 ,when ,sanballat the ,horonite1 and ,tobiah the servant1 the ,ammonite1 and ,geshem the ,arabian1 heard it1 they laughed us to scorn1 and despised us1 and said1 ,what is this thing that ye do8 will ye rebel against the king8 ,these men were very indignant4 ,they didn't care for the welfare of ,jerusalem4 ,who were they8 ,a mixed multitude who had no portion nor right nor memorial in ,jerusalem4 ,they didn't like to see the restoration of the ruins1 just as people nowadays do not like to see the cause of ,christ prospering4 ,the offence of the cross has not ceased4 ,it doesn't take long to build the walls of a city if you can only get the whole of the people at it4 ,if the ,christians of this country would only rise up1 we could evangelize ,america in twelve months4 ,all the ,jews had a hand in repairing the walls of ,jerusalem4 ,each built over against his own house1 priest and merchant1 goldsmith and apothecary1 and even the women4 ,the men of ,jericho and other cities came to help4 ,the walls began to rise4 ,this stirred up ,nehemiah's enemies1 and they began to ridicule4 ,,ridicule is a mighty weapon4 ,what do these feeble ,jews8 said ,sanballat4 ,will they fortify themselves8 ,will they sacrifice8 ,will they make an end in a day8 ,will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned8 ,even that which they build1 if a fox go up1 he shall even break down their stone wall1 said ,tobiah the ,ammonite4 ,but ,nehemiah was wise4 ,he paid no attention to them4 ,he just looked to ,god for grace and comfort3 ,hear1 ,o our ,god2 for we are despised3 and turn their reproach upon their own head1 and give them for a prey in the land of captivity3 and cover not their iniquity1 and let not their sin be blotted out from before3 for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders4 ,young man1 if you wish to be successful in this world1 don't mind ,sanballat or ,tobiah4 ,don't be kept out of the kingdom of ,god or out of active ,christian work by the scorn and laughter and ridicule of your godless neighbors and companions4 ,next1 these enemies conspired to come and fight against ,jerusalem4 ,nehemiah was warned1 and took steps to guard against them4 ,half of the people were on the watch1 and the other half held a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other4 ,there was ,,no ,,eight-,,hour ,,working ,,day then2 they were on duty from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared4 ,they did not take off their clothes except to wash them4 ,fancy1 this man who came from the ,persian court with all its luxury1 living and sleeping in his clothes for those fifty-two days6 ,but he was in earnest4 ,ah1 that is what we want6 men who will set themselves to do one thing1 and keep at it day and night4 ,all the people were bidden to lodge within the city1 so that they should always be on hand to work and fight4 ,would to ,god that we could get all who belong inside the church to come in and do their share4 ,happy is the church1 says one1 whose workers are well skilled in the use of the ,scripture1 so that while strenuously building the ,gospel ,wall1 they can fight too1 if occasion require it4 ,we ought all be ready to use the ,sword of the ,spirit4 ,by and by the men wrote a friendly letter1 and wanted ,nehemiah to go down on the plain of ,ono and have a friendly discussion4 ,it is ,a ,,masterpiece ,,of ,,the ,,devil to get men into friendly discussions4 ,i don't know whether ,nehemiah had a typewriter in those days or not2 ,i don't know whether he had a printed form of letters1 but he always sent back the same reply3 ,i am doing a great work1 so that ,i cannot come down4 ,how many a church has turned aside for years to discuss questions of the day1 and has neglected the salvation of the world because they must go down to the plain of ,ono and have a friendly discussion6 ,nehemiah struck a good keynote--,i am doing a great work1 so that ,i cannot come down4 ,if ,god has sent you to build the walls of ,jerusalem1 you go and do it4 ,they sent him another letter1 and again he sent word back1 ,i am doing a great work1 so that ,i cannot come down4 ,he did not believe in coming down4 ,they sent him another1 and he sent back the same word4 ,they sent him a fourth letter1 with the same result4 ,they could not get him down2 they wanted to slay him on the way4 ,i have seen many ,christian men on the plain of ,ono1 men who were doing a splendid work but had been switched off4 ,think how much work has been neglected by temperance advocates in this country because they have gone into politics and into discussing woman's rights and woman's suffrage4 ,how many times the ,young ,men's ,christian ,association has been switched off by discussing some other subject instead of holding up ,christ before a lost world6 ,if the church would only keep right on and build the walls of ,jerusalem they would soon be built4 ,oh1 it is a wily devil that we have to contend with6 ,do you know it8 ,if he can only get the church to stop to discuss these questions1 he has accomplished his desire4 ,his enemies wrote him one more letter1 ,,an ,,open ,,letter1 in which they said that they had heard he was going to set up a kingdom in opposition to the ,persians1 and that they were going to report him to the king4 ,treason has an ugly sound1 but ,nehemiah committed himself to the ,lord1 and went on building4 ,then his enemies hired a prophet1 one of his friends4 ,a hundred enemies outside are not half so hard to deal with as one inside--a false friend4 ,when the devil gets possession of a child of ,god he will do the work better than the devil himself4 ,temptations are never so dangerous as when they come to us in a religious garb4 ,so ,tobiah and ,sanballat bought up one of the prophets1 and hired him to try to induce ,nehemiah to go into the temple1 that they might put him to death there4 ,now1 ,nehemiah1 there is a plan to kill you1 come into the temple4 ,let's go in and stay for the night4 ,he came near being deceived1 but he said1 ,shall ,i1 such a man as ,i1 be afraid of my life1 and do that to save my life8 ,after he had refused their invitation he saw that this man was a false prophet2 and so by his standing his ground he succeeded in fifty-two days in building the walls of ,jerusalem4 ,then the gates were set up and the work was finished4 ,now during all these centuries that story has been told4 ,if ,nehemiah had remained at court1 he might have died a millionaire1 but he never would have been heard of twenty years after his death4 ,do you know the names of any of ,nineveh's millionaires8 ,this man stepped out of that high position and took a low position1 one that the world looked down upon and frowned upon1 and his name has been associated with the walls of ,jerusalem all these centuries4 ,young man1 if you want to be immortal1 become identified with ,god's work1 and pay no attention to what men outside say4 ,nehemiah and his associates began at sunrise and worked until it grew so dark they could not see4 ,a man who will take up ,god's work1 and work summer and winter right through the year1 will have a harvest before the year is over1 and the record of it will shine after he enters the other world4 ,the next thing we learn of ,nehemiah is that he got up a great ,,open-,,air ,,meeting for the reading of the law of ,moses in the hearing of the people4 ,a pulpit of wood1 large enough to hold ,ezra the ,scribe and thirteen others1 was built4 ,the people wept when they heard the words of the law1 but ,nehemiah said3 ,mourn not1 nor weep4 ,go your way1 eat the fat1 and drink the sweet1 and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared3 for this day is holy unto our ,lord3 neither be ye sorry2 for the joy of the ,lord is your strength4 ,he did not forget the poor4 ,reading the ,bible and remembering the poor--a combination of faith and works--will always bring joy4 ,nehemiah then began to govern the city1 and correct the abuses he found existing4 ,he gathered about fifty priests and scribes together and made them sign and seal a written covenant4 ,there were five things in that covenant ,i want to call attention to4 ,first1 they were not to give their daughters to the heathen4 ,they had been violating the law of ,god1 and had been marrying their daughters to the ungodly4 ,god had forbidden them to intermarry with the heathen nations in the land of ,canaan2 for they will turn away thy son from following me1 that they may serve other gods3 so will the anger of the ,lord be kindled against you and destroy thee suddenly4 ,i have known many a man who has lost his power by being identified with the ungodly4 ,if you want to have the blessing of ,god rest upon you1 you must be very careful about your alliances4 ,the ,jews always got into trouble when they married with the nations round about4 ,the houses of ,ahab and of ,solomon lost their kingdom by that sin4 ,that was the cause of the overthrow of ,david's kingdom4 ,families who marry for wealth1 and marry the godly to the ungodly1 always bring distress into the family4 ,then he made them sign a covenant that they would keep the ,sabbath1 that they would not buy upon the ,sabbath4 ,think of a man going from a heathen court where they had no ,sabbath1 a man brought up in that atmosphere1 coming up to ,jerusalem and enforcing the law of ,moses6 ,it is recorded that they brought up fish1 and he would not let them into the city on the ,sabbath1 and the fish spoiled4 ,after they had tried that a few times1 they gave it up4 ,if you will take your stand for ,god1 even if you stand alone1 it will not be very long before you will get other men to stand with you4 ,god stood with this man1 and he carried everything before him4 ,i don't believe we shall have the right atmosphere in this country until we can get men who have backbone enough to stand up against the thing they believe is wrong4 ,if it is a custom rooted and grounded for a hundred years1 never mind2 you take your stand against it if you believe it is wrong4 ,if you have gatherings1 and it is fashionable to have wine and champagne1 and you are a teetotaler2 if they ask you anywhere and you know that they are to have drink1 tell them you are not going4 ,a man said to me some years ago3 ,mr4 ,moody1 now that ,i am converted1 must ,i give up the world8 ,i said3 ,no1 you haven't got to give up the world4 ,if you give a good ringing testimony for the ,son of ,god1 the world will give you up pretty quick2 they won't want you around4 ,they were going to have a great celebration at the opening of a saloon and billiard hall in ,chicago1 in the northern part of the city1 where ,i lived4 ,it was to be a gateway to death and to hell1 one of the worst places in ,chicago4 ,as a joke they sent me an invitation to go to the opening4 ,i took the invitation and went down and saw the two men who had the saloon1 and ,i said3 ,is that a genuine invitation8 ,they said it was4 ,thank you1 ,i said1 ,i will be around2 if there is anything here ,i don't like ,i may have something to say about it4 ,they said3 ,you are not going to preach8 ,i may4 ,we don't want you4 ,we won't let you in4 ,how are you going to keep me out8 ,i asked2 there is the invitation4 ,we will put a policeman at the door4 ,what is the policeman going to do with that invitation8 ,we won't let you in4 ,well1 ,i said1 ,i will be there4 ,i gave them a good scare1 and then ,i said1 ,i will compromise the matter2 if you two men will get down here and let me pray with you1 ,i will let you off4 ,i got those two rumsellers down on their knees1 one on one side of me1 and the other on the other side1 and ,i prayed ,god to save their souls and smite their business4 ,one of them had a ,christian mother1 and he seemed to have some conscience left4 ,after ,i had prayed1 ,i said3 ,how can you do this business8 ,how can you throw this place open to ruin young men of ,chicago8 ,within three months the whole thing smashed up1 and one of them was converted some time after4 ,i have never been invited to a saloon since4 ,you won't have to give up the world1 not by a good deal4 ,if you go to reunions1 and there is drinking1 get up and go away4 ,don't you be party to it4 ,that is the kind of men we want4 ,when you find anything that is ruining your fellow men1 fight it to its bitter end4 ,nehemiah said1 ,we will not have desecration of the ,sabbath4 ,not sell the ,sunday paper8 ,not buy a ,sunday paper8 ,how many read the ,sunday newspapers8 ,i suppose that if you had ,nehemiah as mayor of ,new ,york1 he would stop that sort of thing4 ,here we have boys who are kept away from the ,sunday school to sell papers on the streets--trains running in order that the papers can be distributed4 ,i don't believe a man is in a fit state to hear a sermon whose mind is full of such trash as the ,sunday newspaper is filled with4 ,men break the ,sabbath and wonder why it is they have not spiritual power4 ,the trouble nowadays is that it doesn't mean anything to some people to be a ,christian4 ,what we must have is a higher type of ,christianity in this country4 ,we must have a ,christianity that has in it the principle of self -denial4 ,we must deny ourselves4 ,if we want power1 we must be separate4 ,the next thing they were to do--7and bear in mind this was a thing they had to sign7--was to give their land rest4 ,for four hundred and ninety years they had not let their land rest1 so ,god took them away to ,babylon for seventy years1 and let the land rest4 ,a man that works seven days in the week right along is cut off about five or ten years earlier4 ,you cannot rob ,god4 ,why is it that so many railroad superintendents and physicians die early8 ,it is because they work seven days in the week4 ,so ,nehemiah made them covenant to keep the law of ,moses4 ,if the nations of the earth had kept that law1 the truth would have gone to the four corners of the earth before this time4 ,then he made them sign a covenant that they would not charge usury4 ,they were just grinding the poor down4 ,i believe that the reason we are in such a wretched state in this country to-day is on account of crowding the poor1 and getting such a large amount of money for usury4 ,people evade the law1 and pay the interest1 and then they give a few hundred dollars to negotiate the loan4 ,there is a great amount of usury1 and see where we are to-day6 ,see what a wretched state of things we are having1 not only in this country1 but all over the world6 ,the fifth thing he made them do was to bring their first fruits to the sons of ,levi4 ,they were to give ,god a tenth1 the first and best4 ,as long as ,israel did that they prospered1 and when they turned away from that law they did not prosper4 ,you can look through history and look around you and see the same thing to-day4 ,as long as men keep ,god's law and respect ,god's testimony1 they are going to prosper1 but when they turn aside1 like ,samson1 they lose their strength2 they have no power4 ,if you take these five things and carry them out1 you will have prosperity4 ,let us all do it personally4 ,if it was good for those men it is good for us4 ,the moment we begin to rob ,god of time or talents then darkness and misery and wretchedness will come4 ,,herod ,,and ,,john ,,the ,,baptist ,if some one had told me a few years ago that he thought ,herod at one time came near the kingdom of ,god1 ,i should have been inclined to doubt it4 ,i would have said1 ,i do not believe that the bloodthirsty wretch who took the life of ,john the ,baptist ever had a serious thought in his life about his soul's welfare4 ,i held that opinion because there is one scene recorded in ,herod's life that ,i had overlooked4 ,but some years ago1 when ,i was going through the gospel of ,mark1 making a careful study of the book1 ,i found this verse3 ,herod feared ,john1 knowing that he was a just man and an holy1 and observed him2 and when he heard him1 he did many things1 and heard him gladly4 7,mark vi1 #bj74 ,this caused me to change my views about ,herod4 ,i saw that he was not only brought within the sound of ,john's voice1 but under the power of the ,spirit of ,god2 his heart was touched and his conscience awakened4 ,we are not told under what circumstances he heard ,john2 but the narrative plainly states that he was brought under the influence of the ,baptist's wonderful ministry4 ,let me first say a word or two about ,,the ,,preacher4 ,i contend that ,john the ,baptist must have been one of the grandest preachers this world has ever had4 ,almost any man can get a hearing nowadays in a town or a city1 where the people live close together2 especially if he speaks in a fine building where there is a splendid choir1 and if the meetings have been advertised and worked up for weeks or months beforehand4 ,in such circumstances any man who has a gift for speaking will get a good audience4 ,but it was very different with ,john4 ,he drew the people out of the towns and cities away into the wilderness4 ,there were no ministers to back him2 no business men interested in ,christ's cause to work with him2 no newspaper reporters to take his sermons down and send them out4 ,he was an unknown man1 without any title to his name4 ,he was not the ,right-,rev4 ,john the ,baptist1 ,d4 ,d41 or anything of the kind1 but plain ,john the ,baptist4 ,when the people went to inquire of him if he were ,elias or ,jeremiah come back to life1 he said he was not4 ,who are you then8 ,i am the ,voice of one crying in the wilderness4 ,he was nothing but a voice--to be heard and not seen2 he was ,mr4 ,nobody4 ,he regarded himself as a messenger who had received his commission from the eternal world4 ,how he began his ministry1 and how he gathered the crowds together we are not informed4 ,i can imagine that one day this strange man makes his appearance in the valley of the ,jordan1 where he finds a few shepherds tending their flocks4 ,they bring together their scattered sheep1 and the man begins to preach to these shepherds4 ,the kingdom of heaven1 he says1 is about to be set up on the earth2 and he urges them to set their houses in order--to repent and turn away from their sins4 ,having delivered his message1 he tells them that he will come back the next day and speak again4 ,when he had disappeared in the desert1 ,i can suppose one of the shepherds saying to another3 ,was he not a strange man8 ,did you ever hear a man speak like that8 ,he did not talk as the rabbis or the ,pharisees or the ,sadducees do4 ,i really think he must be one of the old prophets4 ,did you notice that his coat was made of camel's hair1 and that he had a leathern girdle round his loins8 ,don't the ,scriptures say that ,elijah was clothed like that8 ,says another3 ,you remember how ,malachi says that before the great and dreadful day of the ,lord1 ,elijah should come8 ,i really believe this man is the old prophet of ,carmel4 ,what could stir the heart of the ,jewish people more than the name of ,elijah8 ,the tidings of ,john's appearance spread up and down the valley of the ,jordan1 and when he returned the next day1 there was great excitement and expectation as the people listened to the strange preacher4 ,perhaps till ,christ came he had only that ,,one ,,text3 ,repent1 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand4 ,day after day you could hear his voice ringing through the valley of the ,jordan3 ,repent6 repent6 repent6 ,the ,king is at the door4 ,i do not know the day or the hour1 but ,he will be here very soon4 ,by and by some of the people who flocked to hear him wanted to be baptized1 and he took them to the ,jordan and baptized them4 ,the news spread to the surrounding villages and towns1 and it was not long before it reached ,jerusalem4 ,then the people of the city began to flock into the desert to hear this prince among preachers4 ,his fame soon reached ,galilee1 and the people in the mountains began to flock down to hear him4 ,men left their fishing-smacks on the lake1 that they might listen to this wonderful preacher4 ,when he was in the zenith of his popularity1 as many as twenty or thirty thousand people perhaps flocked to his ministry day after day4 ,no doubt there were some old croakers who said it was ,,all ,,sensation4 ,catch me there6 ,no1 sir2 ,i never did like sensational preaching4 ,just as some people speak nowadays when any special effort is made to reach the people6 ,great harm will be done1 they say4 ,i wish all these croakers had died out with that generation in ,judea2 but we have plenty of their descendants still4 ,i venture to say you have met with them4 ,why1 my dear friends1 there is more excitement in your whisky shops and beer saloons in one night than in all the churches put together in twelve months4 ,what a stir there must have been in ,palestine under the preaching of ,john the ,baptist1 and of ,christ6 ,the whole country reeled and rocked with intense excitement4 ,don't be afraid of a little excitement in religious matters2 it won't hurt4 ,one might hear those old ,pharisees and ,scribes grumbling about ,john being such a sensational preacher4 ,it won't last4 ,and when ,herod had ,john the ,baptist beheaded1 they would say1 ,didn't ,i tell you so8 ,do not let us be in a hurry in passing judgment4 ,john the ,baptist lives to-day more than ever he did2 his voice goes ringing through the world yet4 ,he only preached a few months1 but for more than eighteen hundred years his sermons have been repeated and multiplied1 and the power of his words will never die as long as the world lasts4 ,i can imagine that just when ,john was at the height of his popularity1 as ,herod sat in his palace in ,jerusalem looking out towards the valley of the ,jordan1 he could see great crowds of people passing day by day4 ,he began to make inquiries as to what it meant1 and the news came to him about this strange and powerful preacher4 ,some one1 perhaps1 reported that ,john was preaching treason4 ,he was telling of a king who was at hand1 and who was going to set up his kingdom4 ,a king at hand6 ,if ,caesar were coming1 ,i should have heard of it4 ,there is no king but ,caesar4 ,i must look into the matter4 ,i will go down to the ,jordan1 and hear this man for myself4 ,so one day1 as ,john stood preaching1 with the eyes of the whole audience upon him1 the people being swayed by his eloquence like tree-tops when the wind passes over them1 all at once he lost their attention4 ,all eyes were suddenly turned in the direction of the city4 ,one cries3 ,look1 look6 ,herod is coming6 ,soon the whole congregation knows it1 and there is great excitement4 ,i believe he will stop this preaching1 says one4 ,and if they had in those days some of the compromising weak-kneed ,christians we sometimes meet1 they would have said to ,john3 ,don't talk about a coming ,king2 ,herod won't stand it4 ,talk about repentance1 but any talk about a coming ,king will be high treason in the ears of ,herod4 ,i think if any one had dared to give ,john such counsel1 he would have replied3 ,i have received my message from heaven2 what do ,i care for ,herod or any one else8 ,as he stood thundering away and calling on the people to repent1 ,i can see ,herod1 with his guard of soldiers around him1 listening attentively to find anything in the preacher's words that he can lay hold of4 ,at last ,john says3 ,the ,king is just at the door4 ,he will set up ,his kingdom1 and will separate the wheat from the chaff4 ,i can imagine ,herod then saying to himself3 ,i will have that man's head off inside of twenty-four hours4 ,i would arrest him here and now if ,i dared4 ,i will catch him to-morrow before the crowd gathers4 ,by and by1 as ,herod listens1 some of the people begin to press close up to the preacher1 and to question him4 ,some soldiers are among them1 and they ask ,john3 ,what shall we do8 ,john answers3 ,do violence to no man1 neither accuse any falsely2 and be content with your wages4 ,that is pretty good advice1 ,herod thinks2 ,i have had a good deal of trouble with these men1 but if they follow the preacher's advice1 it will make them better soldiers4 ,then he hears the publicans ask ,john1 as they come to be baptized3 ,what shall we do8 ,the answer is3 ,exact no more than that which is appointed you4 ,well1 says ,herod1 that is excellent advice4 ,these publicans are all the time overtaxing the people4 ,if they would do as the preacher tells them1 the people would be more contented4 ,then the preacher addresses himself to the ,pharisees and the ,sadducees in the crowd1 and cries3 ,o generation of vipers6 ,who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come8 ,bring forth fruits worthy of repentance4 ,says ,herod within himself3 ,i like that4 ,i am glad he is giving it pretty strong to these men4 ,i do not think ,i will have him arrested just yet4 ,so he goes back to his palace4 ,i can imagine he was ,,not ,,able ,,to ,,sleep ,,much that night2 he kept thinking of what he had heard4 ,when the ,holy ,ghost is dealing with a man's conscience1 very often sleep departs from him4 ,herod cannot get this wilderness preacher and his message out of his mind4 ,the truth had reached his soul2 it echoed and re -echoed within him3 ,repent1 for the kingdom of heaven is at hand4 ,he says3 ,i went out to-day to hear for the ,roman ,government2 ,i think ,i will go to-morrow and hear for myself4 ,so he goes back again and again4 ,my text says that he heard him gladly1 that he observed him1 and feared him1 knowing that he was a just man and a holy4 ,he must have known down in his heart that ,john was ,a ,,heaven-,,sent ,,messenger4 ,had you gone into the palace in those days1 you would have heard ,herod talking of nobody but ,john the ,baptist4 ,he would say to his associates3 ,have you been out into the desert to hear this strange preacher8 ,no2 have you8 ,yes4 ,what6 you1 the ,roman ,governor1 going to hear this unordained preacher8 ,yes1 ,i have been quite often4 ,i would rather hear him than any man ,i ever knew4 ,he does not talk like the regular preachers4 ,i never heard any one who had such influence over me4 ,you would have thought that ,herod was a very hopeful subject4 ,he did many things4 ,perhaps he stopped swearing4 ,he may have stopped gambling and getting drunk4 ,a wonderful change seemed to have passed over him4 ,perhaps he ceased from taking bribes for a time2 we catch him at it afterwards1 but just then he refrained from it4 ,he became quite virtuous in certain directions4 ,it really looked as if he were near the kingdom of heaven4 ,i can imagine that one day1 as ,john stands preaching1 the truth is going home to the hearts and consciences of the people1 and the powers of another world are falling upon them1 one of ,john's disciples stands near ,herod's chariot1 and sees the tears in the eyes of the ,roman ,governor4 ,at the close of the service he goes to ,john and says3 ,i stood close to ,herod today1 and no one seemed more impressed4 ,i could see the tears coming1 and he had to brush them away to keep them from falling4 ,have you ever seen a man in a religious meeting trying to keep the tears back8 ,you noticed that his forehead seemed to itch1 and he put up his hand2 you may know what it means--he wants to conceal the fact that the tears are there4 ,he thinks it is a weakness4 ,it is no weakness to get drunk and abuse your family1 but it is weakness to shed tears4 ,so this disciple of ,john may have noticed that ,herod put his hand to his brow a number of times2 he did not wish his soldiers1 or those standing near1 to observe that he was weeping4 ,the disciple says to ,john3 ,it looks as if he were coming near the kingdom4 ,i believe you will have him as an inquirer very soon4 ,when a man enjoys hearing such a preacher1 it certainly seems a hopeful sign4 ,herod might have been present that day when ,christ was baptized4 ,was there ever a man lifted so near to heaven as ,herod must have been if he were present on that occasion8 ,i see ,john standing surrounded by a great throng of people who are hanging on his words4 ,the eyes of the preacher1 that never had quailed before1 suddenly began to look strange4 ,he turned pale and seemed to draw back as though something wonderful had happened1 and right in the middle of a sentence he ceased to speak4 ,if ,i were suddenly to grow pale1 and stop speaking1 you would ask3 ,has death crept onto the platform8 ,is the tongue of the speaker palsied8 ,there must have been quite a commotion among the audience when ,john stopped4 ,the eyes of the ,baptist were fixed upon a ,stranger who pushed ,his way through the crowd1 and coming up to the preacher1 requested to be baptized4 ,that was a common occurrence2 it had happened day after day for weeks past4 ,john listened to the ,stranger's words1 but instead of going at once to the ,jordan and baptizing ,him1 he said3 ,i need to be baptized of ,thee6 ,what a thrill of excitement must have shot through the audience6 ,i can hear one whispering to another3 ,i believe that is the ,messiah6 ,yes1 it was the long-looked-for ,one1 for whose appearing the nation had been waiting these thousands of years4 ,from the time ,god had made the promise to ,adam1 away back in ,eden1 every true ,israelite had been looking for the ,messiah2 and there ,he was in their midst6 ,he insisted that ,john should baptize ,him1 and the forerunner recognized ,his authority as ,master1 took ,him to the ,jordan1 and baptized ,him4 ,as ,he came up from the water1 lo6 the heavens opened1 and the ,spirit of ,god in the form of a dove descended and rested on ,him4 ,when ,noah sent forth the dove from the ,ark1 it could find no resting-place2 but now the ,son of ,god had come to do the will of ,god1 and the dove found its resting-place upon ,him4 ,the ,holy ,ghost had found a home4 ,now ,god broke the silence of four thousand years4 ,there came a voice from heaven1 and ,herod may have heard it if he was there that day3 ,this is my beloved ,son1 in whom ,i am well pleased4 ,even if he had not witnessed this scene and heard the voice1 he must have heard about it2 for the thing was not done in a corner4 ,there were thousands to witness it1 and the news must have been taken to every corner of the land4 ,yet ,herod1 living in such times1 and hearing such a preacher1 missed the kingdom of heaven at last4 ,he did many things because he feared ,john4 ,had he feared ,god he would have done everything4 ,he did many things2 but there was one thing he would not do-- ,,he ,,would ,,not ,,give ,,up ,,one ,,darling ,,sin4 ,the longer ,i preach1 the more ,i am convinced that that is what keeps men out of the kingdom of ,god4 ,john knew about ,herod's private life1 and warned him plainly4 ,if those compromising ,christians of whom ,i have spoken had been near ,john1 one of them would have said3 ,look here1 ,john1 it is reported that ,herod is very anxious about his soul1 and is asking what he must do to be saved4 ,let me give you some advice2 don't touch on ,herod's secret sin4 ,he is living with his brother's wife1 but don't you say anything about it1 for he won't stand it4 ,he has the whole ,roman ,government behind him1 and if you allude to that matter it will be more than your life is worth4 ,you have a good chance with ,herod2 he is afraid of you4 ,only be careful1 and don't go too far1 or he will have your head off4 ,there are those who are willing enough that you should preach about the sins of other people1 so long as you do not come home to them4 ,my wife was once teaching my little boy a ,sabbath-school lesson2 she was telling him to notice how sin grows till it becomes habit4 ,the little fellow thought it was coming too close to him1 so he colored up1 and finally said3 ,mamma1 ,i think you are getting a good way from the subject4 ,john was a preacher of this uncompromising kind1 for he drove the message right home4 ,i do not know when or how the two were brought together at that time1 but ,john kept nothing back2 he boldly said3 ,herod1 it is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife4 ,the man was breaking the law of ,god1 and living in the cursed sin of adultery4 ,thank ,god1 ,john did not spare him6 ,it cost the preacher his head1 but the ,lord had got his heart1 and he did not care what became of his head4 ,we read that ,herod feared ,john1 but ,john did not fear ,herod4 ,i want to say that ,i do not know of a quicker way to hell than by the way of adultery4 ,let no one flatter himself that he is going into the kingdom of ,god who does not repent of this sin in sackcloth and ashes4 ,my friend1 do you think ,god will never bring you into judgment8 ,does not the ,bible say that no adulterer shall inherit the kingdom of ,god8 ,do you think ,john the ,baptist would have been a true friend of ,herod if he had spared him1 and had covered up his sin8 ,was it not a true sign that ,john loved him when he warned him1 and told him he must quit his sin8 ,herod had before done many things1 and heard ,john gladly2 but he did not like him then4 ,it is one thing to hear a man preach down other people's sins4 ,men will say1 ,that is splendid1 and will want all their friends to go and hear the preacher4 ,but let him touch on their individual sin as ,john did1 and declare 7as ,nathan did to ,david71 ,thou art the man1 and they say1 ,i do not like that4 ,the preacher has touched a sore place4 ,when a man has broken his arm1 the surgeon must find out the exact spot where the fracture is4 ,he feels along and presses gently with his fingers4 ,is it there8 ,no ,is it there8 ,no4 ,presently1 when the surgeon touches another spot1 ,ouch6 says the man4 ,he has found the broken part1 and it hurts4 ,john placed his finger on the diseased spot1 and ,herod winced under it4 ,he put his hand right on it3 ,herod1 it is not lawful for thee to have thy brother ,philip's wife6 ,herod did not want to give up his sin4 ,many a man would be willing to enter into the kingdom of ,god1 if he could do it without giving up sin4 ,people sometimes wonder why ,jesus ,christ1 who lived six hundred years before ,mohammed1 has got fewer disciples than ,mohammed to-day4 ,there is no difficulty in explaining that4 ,a man may become a disciple of ,mohammed1 and continue to live in the foulest1 blackest1 deepest sin2 but a man cannot be a disciple of ,christ without giving up sin4 ,if you are trying to make yourself believe that you can get into the kingdom of ,god without renouncing your sin1 may ,god tear the mask from you6 ,can ,satan persuade you that ,herod will be found in the kingdom of ,god along with ,john the ,baptist1 with the sin of adultery and of murder on his soul8 ,and now1 let me say this to you4 ,if your minister comes to you frankly1 tells you of your sin1 and warns you faithfully1 thank ,god for him4 ,he is your best friend2 he is a heaven-sent man4 ,but if a minister speaks smooth1 oily words to you2 tells you it is all right1 when you know1 and he knows1 that it is all wrong1 and that you are living in sin1 you may be sure that he is a devil-sent man4 ,i want to say ,i have a contempt for a preacher that will tone his message down to suit some one in his audience2 some ,senator1 or big man whom he sees present4 ,if the devil can get possession of such a minister and speak through him1 he will do the work better than the devil himself4 ,you might be horrified if you knew it was ,satan deceiving you1 but if a professed minister of ,jesus ,christ preaches this doctrine and says that ,god will make it all right in the end1 that though you go on living in sin1 it is just the same4 ,don't be deluded into believing such doctrine--it is as false as any lie that ever came from the pit of hell4 ,all the priests and ministers of all the churches cannot save one soul that will not part with sin4 ,there is an old saying that1 ,every man has his price4 ,esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage2 pretty cheap1 was it not8 ,ahab sold out for a garden of herbs4 ,judas sold out for thirty pieces of silver--less than #ag of our money4 ,pretty cheap1 was it not8 ,herod sold out for adultery4 ,,what ,,is ,,the ,,price that you put upon your soul8 ,you say you do not know4 ,i will tell you4 ,it is the sin that keeps you from ,god4 ,it may be whisky2 there is many a man who will give up the hope of heaven and sell his soul for whisky4 ,it may be adultery2 you say3 ,give me the harlot1 and ,i will relinquish heaven with all its glories4 ,i would rather be damned with my sin than saved without it4 ,what are you selling out for1 my friend8 ,you know what it is4 ,do you not think it would have been a thousand times better for ,herod to-day if he had taken the advice of ,john the ,baptist instead of that vile1 adulterous woman8 ,there was ,herodias pulling one way1 ,john the other1 and ,herod was in the balance4 ,it's the same old battle between right and wrong2 heaven pulling one way1 hell the other4 ,are you going to make the same mistake yourself8 ,we have ten thousand-fold more light than ,herod had4 ,he lived on the other side of the cross4 ,the glorious gospel had not shone out as it has done since4 ,think of the sermons you have heard1 of the entreaties addressed to you to become a ,christian4 ,some of you have had godly mothers who have prayed for you4 ,many of you have godly wives who have pleaded with you1 and with ,god1 on your behalf4 ,you have been surrounded with holy influences from year to year1 and how often you have been near the kingdom of ,god6 ,yet here you are to-day1 further off than ever6 ,it may be true of you1 as it was of ,herod1 that you hear your preacher gladly4 ,you attend church1 you contribute liberally1 you do many things4 ,remember that none of these avail to cleanse your soul from sin4 ,they will not be accepted in the place of what ,god demands--repentance and the forsaking of every sin4 ,a child was once playing with a vase1 and put his hand in and could not draw it out again4 ,his father tried to help him1 but in vain4 ,at last he said3 ,now1 make one more try4 ,open your fingers out straight1 and let me pull your arm4 ,oh1 no1 papa1 said the son1 ,i'd drop the penny if ,i opened my fingers like that6 ,of course he couldn't get his hand out when his fist was doubled4 ,he didn't want to give up the penny4 ,just so with the sinner4 ,he won't cut loose from his sins4 ,your path and mine will perhaps never cross again4 ,but if ,i have any influence with you1 ,i beseech and beg of you to break with sin now1 let it cost you what it will4 ,herod might have been associated with ,joseph of ,arimathea1 and with the twelve apostles of the ,lamb1 if he had taken the advice of ,john4 ,there might have been a fragrance around his name all these centuries4 ,but alas6 when we speak of ,herod1 we see a sneer on the faces of those who hear us4 ,if one had said to ,herod in those days1 ,do you know that you are going to silence that great preacher1 and have him beheaded8 he would have replied1 ,is thy servant a dog that he should do such a thing8 ,i never would take the life of such a man4 ,he would probably have thought he could never do it4 ,yet it was only a little while after that he had the servant of ,god beheaded4 ,do you know that the ,gospel of ,jesus ,christ proves either a savor of life unto life1 or of death unto death8 ,you sometimes hear people say3 ,we will go and hear this man preach4 ,if it does us no good1 it will do us no harm4 ,don't you believe it1 my friend6 ,every time you hear the ,gospel and reject it1 the hardening process goes on4 ,the same sun that melts the ice hardens the clay4 ,the sermon that would have moved you a few years ago would make no impression now4 ,do you not recall some night when you heard some sermon that shook the foundations of your skepticism and unbelief8 ,but you are indifferent now4 ,i believe ,herod was seven times more a child of hell after his conviction had passed away than he was before4 ,there is not a true minister of the ,gospel who will not say that the hardest people to reach are those who have been impressed1 and whose impressions have worn away4 ,it is a good deal easier to commit a sin the second time than it was to commit it the first time1 but it is a good deal harder to repent the second time than the first4 ,if you are near the kingdom of ,god now1 take the advice of a friend and step into it4 ,don't be satisfied with just getting near to it4 ,christ said to the young ruler1 ,thou art not far from the kingdom1 but he failed to get there4 ,don't run any risks4 ,death may overtake you before you have time to carry out your best intentions1 if you put off a decision4 ,it is sad to think that men heard ,jesus and ,paul1 and were moved under their preaching1 but were not saved4 ,judas must many times have come near the kingdom1 but he never entered in4 ,i saw it in the army--men who had ,,almost ,,decided to become ,christians cut down in battle without having taken the step that would have made them sure of eternal life4 ,i confess there is something very sad about it4 ,in one of the tenement houses in ,new ,york city1 a doctor was sent for4 ,he came1 and found a young man very sick4 ,when he got to the bedside the young man said3 ,doctor1 ,i don't want you to deceive me2 ,i want to know the worst4 ,is this illness to prove serious8 ,after the doctor had made an examination1 he said3 ,i am sorry to tell you you cannot live out the night4 ,the young man looked up and said3 ,well1 then1 ,i have missed it at last6 ,missed what8 ,i have missed eternal life4 ,i always intended to become a ,christian some day1 but ,i thought ,i had plenty of time1 and put it off4 ,the doctor1 who was himself a ,christian man1 said3 ,it is not too late4 ,call on ,god for mercy4 ,no2 ,i have always had a great contempt for a man who repents when he is dying2 he is a miserable coward4 ,if ,i were not sick ,i would not have a thought about my soul1 and ,i am not going to insult ,god now4 ,the doctor spent the day with him1 read to him out of the ,bible1 and tried to get him to lay hold of the promises4 ,the young man said he would not call on ,god1 and in that state of mind he passed away4 ,just as he was dying the doctor saw his lips moving4 ,he reached down1 and all he could hear was the faint whisper3 ,i have missed it at last6 ,dear friend1 make sure that you do not miss eternal life at last4 ,will you go with ,herod or with ,john8 ,bow your head now and say3 ,son of ,god1 come into this heart of mine4 ,i yield myself to ,thee1 fully1 wholly1 unreservedly4 ,he will come to you1 and will not only save you1 but will keep you to the end4 ,,the ,,man ,,born ,,blind ,,and ,,joseph ,,of ,,arimathea ,there were two extraordinary men living in the city of ,jerusalem when ,christ was on earth4 ,one of them has come down through history nameless--we do not know who he was2 the name of the other is given4 ,one was not only a beggar1 but blind from his birth2 the other was one of the rich men of ,jerusalem4 ,yet in the ,gospel of ,john1 there is more space given to this blind beggar than to any other character4 ,the reason why so much has been recorded of this man is because he took his stand for ,jesus ,christ4 ,look at the account given in ,john ix41 beginning at the fifth verse4 ,in the previous chapter ,christ had been telling them that ,he was the ,light of the world1 and that if any man would follow ,him he should not walk in darkness1 but should have the light of life4 ,after making a statement of that kind1 ,christ often gave ,,an ,,evidence ,,of ,,the ,,truth of what ,he said by performing some miracle4 ,if ,he had said ,he was the ,light of the world1 ,he would show them in what way ,he was the ,light of the world4 ,if ,he had said ,he was the ,life of the world1 ,he would prove ,himself to be such by quickening and raising the dead2 just as ,he did1 after telling them that ,he was the ,resurrection and the ,life1 by going to the graveyard of ,bethany and calling ,lazarus forth4 ,when ,lazarus heard the voice of his friend saying1 ,lazarus1 come forth6 he came forth immediately4 ,the ,son of ,god does not ask men to believe ,him without a reason for so doing4 ,we need to keep this in mind4 ,you might as well ask a man to see without light or eyes1 as to believe without testimony4 ,he gave them good reason for believing in ,him1 and proved ,his ,messiahship and authority4 ,he not only told them that ,he had the power1 but ,he showed them that ,he had4 ,these two men1 then1 were both at ,jerusalem4 ,one held as high a position1 and the other as low a position1 as any in the city4 ,one was at the top of the social ladder1 and the other at the bottom4 ,and yet they both made a good confession2 and one was as acceptable to ,jesus as the other4 ,i ,the man mentioned in this chapter was born blind4 ,we find the ,lord's disciples asking ,him3 ,master1 who did sin1 this man or his parents1 that he was born blind8 ,jesus answered1 ,neither hath this man sinned1 nor his parents2 but that the works of ,god should be manifest in him4 ,when ,he had thus spoken1 ,he spat on the ground1 and made clay of the spittle2 and ,he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay1 and said unto him3 ,go wash in the pool of ,siloam4 ,the blind man went his way and washed1 and his eyesight was restored4 ,observe what that man did4 ,he did just what ,christ told him to do4 ,the ,savior's command to him was to go to the pool of ,siloam and wash2 and he went his way therefore1 and came seeing4 ,he was blessed in the very act of obedience4 ,another thought3 ,god does not generally repeat ,himself4 ,of all the blind men who were healed while ,christ was on earth1 no two were healed in exactly the same way4 ,jesus met blind ,bartimeus near the gates of ,jericho1 and called him to ,him and said3 ,what wilt thou that ,i should do unto thee8 ,the answer was3 ,lord1 that ,i might receive my sight4 ,now1 see what ,he did4 ,he did not send ,bartimeus off to ,jerusalem twenty miles away to the pool of ,siloam to wash4 ,he did not spit on the ground1 and make clay1 and anoint his eyes2 but with a word ,he wrought the cure1 saying3 ,go thy way2 thy faith hath made thee whole4 ,suppose ,bartimeus had gone from ,jericho and had met the other blind beggar at the gate of the city of ,jerusalem1 and asked him how it was he got his sight2 suppose they began to compare notes--one telling his experience1 and the other telling his4 ,imagine the first saying3 ,i do not believe that you have got your sight1 because you did not get it in the same way that ,i got mine4 ,would the different ways the ,lord ,jesus had in healing them make their cases the less true8 ,yet there are some people who talk just that way now4 ,because ,god does not deal with some exactly as ,he does with others1 people think that ,god is not dealing with them at all4 ,god seldom repeats ,himself4 ,no two persons were ever converted exactly alike1 so far as my experience goes4 ,each one must have an experience of his own4 ,let the ,lord give sight in ,his own way4 ,there are thousands of people who ,,keep ,,away ,,from ,,christ because they are looking for the experience of some dear friend or relative4 ,they should not judge of their conversion by the experiences of others4 ,they have heard some one tell how he was converted twenty years ago1 and they expect to be converted in the same way4 ,persons should never count upon having an experience precisely similar to that of some one else of whom they have heard or read4 ,they must go right to the ,lord ,himself1 and do what ,he tells them to do4 ,if ,he says1 ,go to the pool of ,siloam and wash1 then they must go4 ,if ,he says1 ,come just as you are1 and promises to give sight1 then they must come1 and let ,him do ,his own work in ,his own way1 just as this blind man did4 ,it was a peculiar way by which to give a man sight2 but it was the ,lord's way2 and the man's sight was given him4 ,we might think it was enough to make a man blind to fill his eyes with clay4 ,true1 he was now doubly blind2 for if he had been able to see before1 the clay would have deprived him of his sight4 ,but the ,lord wanted to show the people that they were not only spiritually blind by nature1 but that they had also allowed themselves to be blinded by the clay of this world1 which had been spread over their eyes4 ,but ,god's ways are not our ways4 ,if ,he is going to work1 we must let ,him act as ,he pleases4 ,shall we dictate to the ,almighty8 ,shall the clay say to the potter1 ,why hast thou made me thus8 ,who art thou1 ,o man1 that repliest against ,god8 ,let ,god work in ,his own way2 and when the ,holy ,ghost comes1 let ,him mark out a way for ,himself4 ,we must be willing to submit1 and to do what the ,lord tells us1 without any questioning whatever4 ,he went his way1 therefore1 and washed1 and came seeing4 ,the neighbors1 therefore1 and they which before had seen him that he was blind1 said1 ',is not this he that sat and begged8' ,some said1 ',this is he'2 others said1 ',he is like him4' ,now1 if he had been like a good many at the present time1 ,i am afraid he would have remained silent4 ,he would have said3 ,well1 now ,i have got my sight1 and ,i will just keep quiet about it4 ,it is not necessary for me to confess it4 ,why should ,i say anything8 ,there is a good deal of opposition to this man ,jesus ,christ4 ,there are a great many bitter things said in ,jerusalem against ,him4 ,he has a great many enemies4 ,i think there will be trouble if ,i talk about ,him2 so ,i will say nothing4 ,some said1 ,this is he2 others said1 ,he is like him4 ,but he said1 ,i am he4 ,he not only got his eyes opened1 but1 thank ,god1 he got his mouth open too6 ,surely1 the next thing after we get our eyes opened is for us to open our lips and begin to testify for ,him4 ,the people asked him1 ,how were thine eyes opened8 ,he answered3 ,a man that is called ,jesus made clay and anointed mine eyes1 and said unto me1 ,go to the pool of ,siloam and wash3 and ,i went and washed1 and ,i received sight4 ,he told a straightforward story1 just what the ,lord had done for him4 ,that is all4 ,that is what a witness ought to do--tell what he knows1 not what he does not know4 ,he did not try to make a long speech4 ,it is not the most flippant and fluent witness who has the most influence with a jury4 ,this man's testimony is what ,i call experience4 ,one of the greatest hindrances to the progress of the ,gospel to-day is that the narration of the experience of the ,church is not encouraged4 ,there are a great many men and women who come into the ,church1 and we never hear anything of their experiences1 or of the ,lord's dealings with them4 ,if we could1 it would be a great help to others4 ,it would stimulate faith and encourage the more feeble of the flock4 ,,the ,,apostle ,,paul',s ,,experience has been recorded three times4 ,i have no doubt that he told it everywhere he went3 how ,god had met him2 how ,god had opened his eyes and his heart2 and how ,god had blessed him4 ,depend upon it1 experience has its place2 the great mistake that is made now is in the other extreme4 ,in some places and at some periods there has been too much of it--it has been all experience2 and now we have let the pendulum swing too far the other way4 ,i think it is not only right1 but exceedingly useful1 that we should give our experience4 ,this man bore testimony to what the ,lord had done for him4 ,and it was the ,sabbath day when ,jesus made the clay1 and opened his eyes2 ,then again the ,pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight4 ,he said unto them1 ',he put clay upon mine eyes2 and ,i washed1 and do see4' ,therefore said some of the ,pharisees1 ',this man is not of ,god1 because he keepeth not the ,sabbath day4' ,others said1 ',how can a man that is a sinner do such miracles8' ,and there was a division among them4 ,they say unto the blind man again1 ',what sayest thou of ,him1 that ,he hath opened thine eyes8' ,what an opportunity he had for evading the questions6 ,he might have said3 ,why1 ,i have never seen ,him4 ,when ,he met me ,i was blind2 ,i could not see ,him4 ,when ,i came back ,i could not find ,him2 and ,i have not formed any opinion yet4 ,he might have put them off in that way1 but he said3 ,he is a prophet4 ,he gave them his opinion4 ,he was a man of backbone4 ,he had moral courage4 ,he stood right up among the enemies of ,jesus ,christ1 the ,pharisees1 and told them what he thought of ,him-- ,he is a prophet4 ,if you can get young ,christians to talk1 not about themselves1 but about ,christ1 their testimony will have power4 ,many converts talk altogether about their own experience--,i1 ,i1 ,i1 ,i4 ,but this blind man got away to the ,master1 and said1 ,he is a prophet4 ,he believed1 and he told them what he believed4 ,but the ,jews did not believe concerning him1 that he had been blind1 and received his sight1 until they called the parents of him that had received his sight4 ,and they asked them1 saying1 ',is this your son1 who ye say was born blind8 ,how then doth he now see8' ,his parents answered them1 and said1 ',we know that this is our son1 and that he was born blind3 but by what means he now seeth1 we know not3 or who hath opened his eyes1 we know not3 he is of age2 ask him3 he shall speak for himself4' ,these words spake his parents1 because they feared the ,jews2 for the ,jews had agreed already that if any man did confess that ,he was ,christ1 he should be put out of the synagogue4 ,therefore said his parents1 ',he is of age2 ask him4' ,i have always had great contempt for those parents4 ,they had a noble son1 and their lack of moral courage then and there to confess what the ,lord ,jesus ,christ had done for their son1 makes them unworthy of him4 ,they say1 ,we do not know how he got it1 which looks as if they did not believe their own son4 ,he is of age2 ask him4 ,it is sorrowfully true to-day that we have hundreds and thousands of people who are professed disciples of ,jesus ,christ1 but when the time comes that they ought to take their stand1 and give a clear testimony for ,him1 they testify against ,him4 ,you can always tell those who are really converted to ,god4 ,the new man always takes his stand for ,god2 and the old man takes his stand against ,him4 ,these parents had an opportunity to confess the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and to do great things for ,him2 but they neglected their golden opportunity4 ,if they had but stood up with their noble son1 and said1 ,this is our son4 ,we have tried all the physicians1 and used all the means in our power1 and were unable to do anything for him2 but now1 out of gratitude1 we confess that he received his sight from the prophet of ,galilee1 ,jesus of ,nazareth1 they might have led many to believe on ,him4 ,but1 instead of that1 they said1 ,we know that this is our son1 and that he was born blind3 but by what means he now seeth1 we know not4 ,do you know why they did not want to tell how he got his sight8 ,simply because it would ,,cost ,,them ,,too ,,much4 ,they represent those ,christians who do not want to serve ,christ if it is going to cost them anything2 if they have to give up society1 position1 or worldly pleasures4 ,they do not want to come out4 ,this is what keeps hundreds and thousands from becoming ,christians4 ,it was a serious thing to be put out of the synagogue in those days4 ,it does not amount to much now4 ,if a man is put out of one church1 another may receive him2 but when he went out of the synagogue there was no other to take him in4 ,it was the ,state church3 it was the only one they had4 ,if he were cast out of that1 he was cast out of society1 position1 and everything else2 and his business suffered also4 ,then again the ,jews called the man that was blind1 and said unto him1 ',give ,god the praise2 we know that this man is a sinner4' ,it looks now as if they were trying to prejudice him against ,christ3 but he answered and said1 ',whether ,he be a sinner or no1 ,i know not2 one thing ,i know1 that whereas ,i was blind1 now ,i see4' ,there were no infidels or philosophers there who could persuade him out of that4 ,there were not men enough in ,jerusalem to make him believe that his eyes were not opened4 ,did he not know that for over twenty years he had been feeling his way around ,jerusalem2 that he had been led by children and friends2 and that during all those years he had not seen the sun in its glory1 or any of the beauties of nature8 ,did he not know that he had been feeling his way through life up to that very day8 ,and do we not know that we have been born of ,god1 and that we have got the eyes of our souls opened8 ,do we not know that old things have passed away and all things have become new1 and that the eternal light has dawned upon our souls8 ,do we not know that the chains that once bound us have snapped asunder1 that the darkness is gone1 and that the light has come8 ,have we not liberty where we once had bondage8 ,do we not know it8 ,if so1 then let us not hold our peace4 ,let us testify for the ,son of ,god1 and say1 as the blind man did in ,jerusalem1 ,,one ,,thing ,i ,,know1 that whereas ,i was blind1 now ,i see4 ,i have a new power4 ,i have a new light4 ,i have a new love4 ,i have a new nature4 ,i have something that reaches out toward ,god4 ,by the eye of faith ,i can see yonder heaven4 ,i can see ,christ standing at the right hand of ,god4 ,by and by1 when my journey is over1 ,i am going to hear that voice saying1 ',come hither1' when ,i shall sit down in the kingdom of ,god4 ,then said they to him again1 ',what did ,he do to thee8 how opened ,he thine eyes8' ,but he answered them1 ',i have told you already1 and ye did not hear2 wherefore would ye hear it again8 ,will ye also be ,his disciples8' ,this was a most extraordinary man4 ,here was a young convert in ,jerusalem1 not a day old1 ,,trying ,,to ,,make ,,converts of these ,pharisees--men who had been fighting ,christ for nearly three years6 ,he asked them if they would also become ,his disciples4 ,he was ready to tell his experience to all who were willing to hear it4 ,if he had covered it up at the first1 and had not come out at once1 he would not have had the privilege of testifying in that way1 neither would he have been a winner of souls4 ,this man was going to be a soul-winner4 ,i venture to say he became one of the best workers in ,jerusalem4 ,i have no doubt he stood well to the front on the day of ,pentecost1 when ,peter preached1 and when the wounded were around him2 he went to work and told how the ,lord had blessed him1 and how ,he would bless them4 ,he was a worker1 not an idler1 and he kept his lips open4 ,it is a very sad thing that so many of ,god's children are dumb2 yet it is true4 ,parents would think it a great calamity to have their children born dumb2 they would mourn over it1 and weep2 and well they might2 but did you ever think of the many dumb children ,god has8 ,the churches are full of them2 they never speak for ,christ4 ,they can talk about politics1 art1 and science2 they can speak well enough and fast enough about the fashions of the day2 but they have ,,no ,,voice ,,for ,,the ,,son ,,of ,,god4 ,dear friend1 if ,he is your ,savior1 confess ,him4 ,every follower of ,jesus should bear testimony for ,him4 ,how many opportunities each one has in society and in business to speak a word for ,jesus ,christ6 ,how many opportunities occur daily wherein every ,christian might be instant in season and out of season in pleading for ,jesus6 ,in so doing we receive blessing for ourselves1 and also become a means of blessing to others4 ,this man wanted to make converts of those ,pharisees1 who only a little while before had their hands full of stones1 ready to put the ,son of ,god to death1 and even now had murder in their hearts4 ,they reviled him1 saying1 ,thou art ,his disciple1 but we are ,moses' disciples4 ,we know that ,god spake unto ,moses4 ,as for this fellow1 we know not from whence ,he is4 ,well1 now the once blind man might have said1 ,there is a good deal of opposition1 and ,i will say no more2 ,i will keep quiet1 and walk off and leave them4 ,but1 thank ,god1 he stood right up with the courage of a ,paul6 ,he answered and said unto them3 ,why1 herein is a marvellous thing1 that ye know not from whence ,he is1 and yet ,he hath opened mine eyes6 ,now we know that ,god heareth not sinners2 but if any man be a worshiper of ,god1 and doeth ,his will1 him ,he heareth4 ,now1 ,i call that logic4 ,if he had been through a theological seminary he could not have given a better answer4 ,it is sound doctrine1 and was a good sermon for those who were opposed to the work of ,christ4 ,if this man were not of ,god ,he could do nothing4 ,this is very strong proof of the man's conviction as to who the ,lord ,jesus was4 ,it is as though he said3 ,i1 a man born blind1 and ,he can give me sight4 ,he a sinner6 ,why1 it is unreasonable6 ,if ,jesus ,christ were a man only1 how could ,he give that man sight8 ,let philosophers1 skeptics1 and infidels answer the question1 ,neither had he to wear glasses4 ,he received good sight1 not short sight1 or weak sight1 but as good sight as any man in ,jerusalem1 and perhaps a little better4 ,they could all look at him and see for themselves4 ,his testimony was beyond dispute4 ,after his splendid confession of the divinity and power of ,christ1 they answered and said unto him1 ',thou wast altogether born in sin1 and dost thou teach us8' ,and they cast him out4 ,they could not meet his argument1 and so they cast him out4 ,so it is now4 ,if we give a clear testimony for ,christ1 the world will cast us out4 ,it is a good thing to give our testimony so clearly for ,christ that the world dislikes it2 it is a good thing when such testimony for ,christ causes the world to cast us out4 ,let us see what happened when they cast him out4 ,jesus heard1 that is the next thing4 ,no sooner did they cast him out than ,jesus heard of it4 ,no man was ever cast out by the world for the sake of ,jesus ,christ but ,he heard of it2 indeed1 ,he will be the first one to hear of it4 ,jesus heard that they had cast him out2 and when ,he found him ,he said unto him1 ',dost thou believe in the ,son of ,god8' ,he answered and said1 ',who is ,he1 ,lord1 that ,i might believe on ,him8' ,and ,jesus said unto him1 ',thou hast both seen ,him1 and it is ,he that talketh with thee4' ,and he said1 ',lord1 ,i believe6' ,and he worshiped ,him4 ,that was ,a ,,good ,,place ,,to ,,leave ,,him --at the feet of ,jesus4 ,we shall meet him by and by in the kingdom of ,god4 ,his testimony has been ringing down through the ages these last nineteen hundred years4 ,it has been talked about wherever the ,word of ,god has been known4 ,it was a wonderful day's work that man did for the ,son of ,god2 doubtless there will be many in eternity who will thank ,god for his confession of ,christ4 ,by thus showing his gratitude in coming out and confessing ,christ1 he has left a record that has stirred the ,church of ,god ever since4 ,he is one of the characters that always stirs one up1 imparting new life and fire1 new boldness and courage when one reads about him4 ,this is what we need to-day as much as ever--to stand up for the ,son of ,god4 ,let the ,pharisees rage against us2 let the world go on mocking1 and sneering1 and scoffing2 we will stand up courageously for the ,son of ,god4 ,if they cast us out1 they will cast us right into ,his own bosom4 ,he will take us to ,his own loving arms4 ,it is a blessed thing to live so godly in ,christ ,jesus that the world will not want you--that they will cast you out4 ,,ii ,now we come to ,joseph of ,arimathea4 ,i do not think he came out quite so nobly as this blind beggar did2 but he did come out1 and we will thank ,god for that4 ,we read in ,john that for fear of the ,jews he was kept back from confessing openly4 ,and after this1 ,joseph of ,arimathea1 being a disciple of ,jesus1 but secretly1 for fear of the ,jews1 besought ,pilate that he might take away the body of ,jesus2 and ,pilate gave him leave4 ,he came1 therefore1 and took the body of ,jesus4 ,read the four accounts given in the four ,gospels of ,joseph of ,arimathea4 ,there is very seldom anything mentioned by all four of the ,evangelists4 ,if ,matthew and ,mark refer to an event it is often omitted by ,luke and ,john2 and1 if it occur in the latter1 it may not be contained in the former4 ,john's ,gospel is made up of that which is absent from the others in most instances--as in the case of the blind man alluded to4 ,but all four record what ,joseph did for ,christ4 ,all ,his disciples had forsaken ,him4 ,one had sold ,him1 and another had denied ,him4 ,he was left in gloom and darkness1 when ,joseph of ,arimathea came out and confessed ,him4 ,it was the death of ,jesus ,christ that brought out ,joseph of ,arimathea4 ,probably he was one of the number that stood at the cross when the centurion smote his breast1 and cried out1 ,truly1 this was the ,son of ,god1 and he was doubtless convinced at the same time4 ,he was a disciple before1 because we read that on the night of the trial he did not give his consent to the death of ,christ4 ,there must have been some surprise in the ,council-chamber on that occasion1 when ,joseph of ,arimathea1 a rich man1 stood up and said3 ,i will never give my consent to ,his death4 ,there were seventy of those men1 but we have very good reason to believe that there were two of them that1 like ,caleb and ,joshua of old1 had the courage to stand up for ,jesus ,christ--these were ,joseph of ,arimathea and ,nicodemus3 neither of them gave their consent to the death of ,christ4 ,but ,i am afraid ,joseph did not come out and say that he was a disciple--for we do not find a word said about his being one until after the crucifixion4 ,i am afraid there are ,,many ,,josephs ,,today1 men of position1 of whom it could be said they are secret disciples4 ,such would probably say to-day1 ,i do not need to take my stand on ,christ's side4 ,what more do ,i need8 ,i have everything4 ,we read that he was a rich and honorable councillor1 a just and a good man1 and holding a high position in the government of the nation4 ,he was also a benevolent man1 and a devout man too4 ,what more could he need8 ,god wants something more than ,joseph's good life and high position4 ,a man may be all ,joseph was and yet be without ,christ4 ,but a crisis came in his history4 ,if he was to take his stand1 now was the time for him to do it1 ,i consider that this is one of the grandest1 the noblest acts that any man ever did1 to take his stand for ,christ when there seemed nothing1 humanly speaking1 that ,christ could give him4 ,joseph had no hope concerning the resurrection4 ,it seems that none of our ,lord's disciples understood that ,he was going to rise again even ,peter1 ,james1 and ,john1 as well as the rest1 scarcely believed that ,he had risen when ,he appeared to them4 ,they had anticipated that ,he would set up ,his kingdom1 but ,he had no sceptre in ,his hand2 and1 so far as they could see1 no kingdom in view4 ,in fact1 ,he was dead on the cross1 with nails through ,his hands and feet4 ,there ,he hung until ,his spirit took its flight2 that which had made ,him so grand1 so glorious1 and so noble1 had now left the body4 ,joseph might have said1 ,it will be no use my taking a stand for ,him now4 ,if ,i come out and confess ,him ,i shall probably lose my position in society and in the council1 and my influence4 ,i had better remain where ,i am4 ,there was no earthly reward for him2 there was nothing1 humanly speaking1 that could have induced him to come out2 and yet we are told by ,mark that he went boldly into ,pilate's judgment-hall and begged the body of ,jesus4 ,i consider this was ,,one ,,of ,,the ,,sublimest1 ,,grandest ,,acts that any man ever did4 ,in that darkness and gloom1 ,his disciples having all forsaken ,him2 ,judas having sold ,him for thirty pieces of silver2 the chief apostle ,peter having denied ,him with a curse1 swearing that he never knew ,him2 the chief priests having found ,him guilty of blasphemy2 the ,council having condemned him to death2 and when there was a hiss going up to heaven over all ,jerusalem1 ,joseph went right against the current1 right against the influence of all his friends1 and begged the body of ,jesus4 ,blessed act6 ,doubtless he upbraided himself for not having been more bold in his defence of ,christ when ,he was tried1 and before ,he was condemned to be crucified4 ,the ,scripture says he was an honorable man1 an honorable councillor1 a rich man1 and yet we have only the record of that one thing--the one act of begging the body of ,jesus4 ,but ,i tell you1 that what he did for the ,son of ,god1 out of pure love for ,him1 will live for ever2 that one act rises up above everything else that ,joseph of ,arimathea ever did4 ,he might have given large sums of money to different institutions1 he might have been very good to the poor1 he might have been very kind to the needy in various ways2 but that one act for ,jesus ,christ1 on that memorable1 that dark afternoon1 was one of the noblest acts that a man ever did4 ,he must have been a man of great influence1 or ,pilate would not have given him the body4 ,and now you see another secret disciple1 ,nicodemus4 ,nicodemus and ,joseph go to the cross4 ,joseph is there first1 and while he is waiting for ,nicodemus to come1 he looks down the hill2 and ,i can imagine his delight as he sees his friend coming with a hundred pounds of ointment4 ,although ,jesus ,christ had led such a lowly life1 ,he was to have a kingly anointing and burial4 ,god has touched the hearts of these two noble men and they drew out the nails1 and took the body down1 washed the blood away from the wounds that had been made on ,his back by the scourge1 and on ,his head by the crown of thorns2 then they took the lifeless form1 washed it clean1 and wrapped it in fine linen1 and ,joseph laid ,him in his own sepulchre4 ,when all was dark and gloomy1 when ,his cause seemed to be lost1 and the hope of the ,church buried in that new tomb1 ,joseph took his stand for the ,one despised and rejected of men4 ,it was the greatest act of his life2 and1 my reader1 if you want to stand with the ,lord ,jesus ,christ in glory2 if you want the power of ,god to be bestowed upon you for service down here1 you must not hesitate to take your stand boldly and manfully for the most despised of all men--the ,man ,christ ,jesus4 ,his cause is unpopular4 ,the ungodly sneer at ,his name4 ,but if you want the blessings of heaven on your soul1 and to hear the ,well done1 good and faithful servant1 enter thou into the joy of thy ,lord1 take your stand at once for ,him2 whatever your position may be1 or however much your friends may be against you4 ,decide for ,jesus ,christ1 the crucified but risen ,savior4 ,go outside the camp and bear ,his reproach4 ,take up your cross and follow ,him1 and by and by you will lay it down and take the crown to wear it for ever4 ,i remember some meetings being held in a locality where the tide did not rise very quickly1 and bitter and reproachful things were being said about the work4 ,but one day1 one of the most prominent men in the place rose and said3 ,i want it to be known that ,i am a disciple of ,jesus ,christ1 and if there is any odium to be cast on ,his cause1 ,i am prepared to take my share of it4 ,it went through the meeting like an electric current1 and a blessing came at once to his own soul and to the souls of others4 ,depend upon it1 there is ,,no ,,crown ,,without ,a ,,cross4 ,we must take our proper position here1 as ,joseph did4 ,it cost him something to take up his cross4 ,i have no doubt they put him out of the council and out of the synagogue4 ,he lost his standing1 and perhaps his wealth3 like other faithful followers of ,christ1 he became1 henceforth1 a despised and unpopular man4 ,the blind man could not have done what ,joseph did4 ,some men can do what others cannot4 ,god will hold us responsible for our own influence4 ,let each of us do what we can4 ,even though the conduct of our ,lord's professed followers was anything but helpful to those who1 like ,joseph1 had but little courage to come out on the ,lord's side1 he was not deterred from taking his stand4 ,whatever it costs us1 let us be true ,christians1 and take a firm stand4 ,it is like the dust in the balance in comparison to what ,god has in store for us4 ,we can afford to suffer with ,him a little while if we are going to reign with ,him for ever4 ,we can afford to take up the cross and follow ,him1 to be despised and rejected by the world1 with such a bright prospect in view4 ,if the glories of heaven are real1 it will be to ,his praise and to our advantage to share in ,his rejection now4 ,may the ,lord keep us from halting2 and may we1 when weighed in the balance1 not be found wanting6 ,may ,god help every reader to do all that the poor blind beggar did1 and all that ,joseph did6 ,let us confess ,him at all times and in all places4 ,let us show our friends that we are out and out on ,his side4 ,every one has a circle that he can influence1 and ,god will hold us responsible for the influence we possess4 ,joseph of ,arimathea and the blind man had circles in which their influence was powerful4 ,i can influence people that others cannot reach2 and they1 in their turn1 can reach a class that ,i could not touch4 ,it is only for a little while that we can confess ,him and work for ,him4 ,it is only for a few months or years2 and then the eternal ages will roll on1 and great will be our reward in the crowning day that is coming4 ,we shall then hear the ,master say to us3 ,well done1 good and faithful servant1 enter thou into the joy of thy ,lord4 ,god grant it may be so6 ,,the ,,penitent ,,thief ,it should give us all a great deal of hope and comfort that ,jesus saved such a man as the penitent thief just before ,he went back to heaven4 ,every one who is not a ,christian ought to be interested in this case1 to know how he was converted4 ,any one who does not believe in sudden conversions ought to look into it4 ,if conversions are gradual1 if it takes six months1 or six weeks1 or six days to convert a man1 there was no chance for this thief4 ,if a man who has lived a good1 consistent life cannot be converted suddenly1 how much less chance for him6 ,turn to the #bc;d chapter of ,luke1 and see how the ,lord dealt with him4 ,he was a thief1 and the worst kind of a thief1 or else they would not have punished him by crucifixion4 ,yet ,christ not only saved him1 but took him up with ,himself into glory4 ,let us look at ,christ hanging on the cross between the two thieves4 ,the ,scribes and ,pharisees wagged their heads1 and jeered at ,him4 ,his disciples had fled4 ,only ,his mother and one or two other women remained in sight to cheer ,him with their presence among all the crowd of enemies4 ,hear those spiteful ,pharisees mocking among themselves3 ,he saved others2 ,himself ,he cannot save4 ,the account also says that the two thieves cast the same in his teeth4 ,,reviling4 ,the first thing we read1 then1 of this man is that he was a reviler of ,christ4 ,you would think that he would be doing something else at such a time as that2 but hanging there in the midst of torture1 and certain to be dead in a few hours1 instead of confessing his sins and preparing to meet that ,god whose law he had broken all his life1 he is abusing ,god's only ,son4 ,surely1 he cannot sink any lower1 until he sinks into hell6 ,,under ,,conviction4 ,the next time we hear of him1 he appears to be under conviction3 ,and one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on ,him1 saying1 ,if thou be ,christ1 save ,thyself and us4 ,but the other answering rebuked him1 saying1 ,dost not thou fear ,god1 seeing thou art in the same condemnation8 ,and we indeed justly2 for we receive the due reward of our deeds3 but this ,man hath done nothing amiss4 ,what do you suppose made so great a change in this man in these few hours8 ,christ had not preached a sermon1 had given him no exhortation4 ,the darkness had not yet come on4 ,the earth had not opened her mouth4 ,the business of death was going on undisturbed4 ,the crowd was still there1 mocking and hissing and wagging the head4 ,yet this man1 who in the morning was railing at ,christ1 is now confessing his sins and rebuking the other thief4 ,we indeed justly6 ,no miracle had been wrought before his eyes4 ,no angel from heaven had come to place a glittering crown upon ,his head in place of the bloody crown of thorns4 ,what was it wrought such a change in him8 ,i will tell you what ,i think it was4 ,i think it was the ,savior's prayer3 ,father1 forgive them1 for they know not what they do4 ,i seem to hear the thief ,,talking ,,to ,,himself in this way3 ,what a strange kind of man this must be6 ,he claims to be king of the ,jews1 and the superscription over ,his cross says the same4 ,but what sort of a throne is this6 ,he says ,he is the ,son of ,god4 ,why does not ,god send down ,his angels and destroy all these people who are torturing ,his ,son to death8 ,if ,he has all power now1 as ,he used to have when ,he worked those miracles they talked about1 why does ,he not bring out ,his vengeance1 and sweep all these wretches into destruction8 ,i would do it in a minute if ,i had the power4 ,i wouldn't spare any of them4 ,i would open the earth and swallow them up6 ,but this man prays to ,god to forgive them6 ,strange1 strange6 ,he must be different from us4 ,i am sorry ,i said one word against ,him when they first hung us up here4 ,what a difference there is between ,him and me6 ,here we are1 hanging on two crosses1 side by side2 but all the rest of our lives we have been far enough apart4 ,i have been robbing and murdering1 and ,he has been feeding the hungry1 healing the sick1 and raising the dead4 ,now these people are railing at us both6 ,i begin to believe ,he must be the ,son of ,god2 for surely no man could forgive his enemies like that4 ,yes1 that prayer of ,christ's did what the scourge could not do4 ,this man had gone through his trial1 he had been beaten1 he had been nailed to the cross2 but his heart had not been subdued1 he had raised no cry to ,god1 he was not sorry for his sins4 ,yet1 when he heard the ,savior praying for ,his murderers1 that ,,broke ,,his ,,heart4 ,it flashed into this thief's soul that ,jesus was the ,son of ,god1 and that moment he rebuked his companion1 saying3 ,dost thou not fear ,god8 ,the fear of ,god fell upon him4 ,there is not much hope of a man's being saved until the fear of ,god comes upon him4 ,solomon says1 ,the fear of ,god is the beginning of wisdom4 ,we read in ,acts that great fear fell upon the people2 that was the fear of the ,lord4 ,that was the first sign that conviction had entered the soul of the thief4 ,dost thou not fear ,god8 ,that was the first sign we have of life springing up4 ,,confessing4 ,next1 he confessed his sins3 ,we indeed justly4 ,he took his place among sinners1 not trying to justify himself4 ,a man may be very sorry for his sins1 but if he doesn't confess them1 he has no promise of being forgiven4 ,cain felt badly enough over his sins1 but he did not confess4 ,saul was greatly tormented in mind1 but he went to the witch of ,endor instead of to the ,lord4 ,judas felt so bad over the betrayal of his ,master that he went out and hanged himself2 but he did not confess to ,god4 ,true1 he went and confessed to the priests1 saying1 ,i have sinned in that ,i have betrayed innocent blood2 but it was of no use to confess to them --they could not forgive him4 ,how different is the case of this penitent thief6 ,he confessed his sins1 and ,christ had mercy on him there and then4 ,the great trouble is1 people are always trying to make out that they are not sinners1 that they have nothing to confess4 ,therefore1 there is no chance of reaching them with the ,gospel4 ,there is no hope for a man who folds his arms and says3 ,i don't think ,god will punish sin2 ,i am going to take the risk4 ,there is no hope for a man until he sees that he is under just condemnation for his sins and shortcomings4 ,god never forgives a sinner until he confesses4 ,,justifying ,,christ4 ,the next thing1 he justifies ,christ3 ,this ,man hath done nothing amiss4 ,when men are talking against ,christ1 they are a great way from becoming ,christians4 ,now he says1 ,he hath done nothing amiss4 ,there was the world mocking him2 but in the midst of it all1 you can hear that thief crying out3 ,this ,man hath done nothing amiss4 ,,faith4 ,the next step is faith4 ,talk about faith6 ,i think this is about the most extraordinary case of faith in the ,bible4 ,abraham was the father of the faithful2 but ,god had him in training for twenty-five years4 ,moses was a man of faith2 but he saw the burning bush1 and had other evidences of ,god4 ,elijah had faith2 but see what good reason he had for it4 ,god took care of him1 and fed him in time of famine4 ,but here was a man who perhaps had never seen a miracle2 who had spent his life among criminals2 whose friends were thieves and outlaws2 who was now in his dying agonies in the presence of a crowd who were rejecting and reviling the ,son of ,god4 ,his disciples1 who had heard ,his wonderful words1 and witnessed ,his mighty works1 had forsaken ,him2 and perhaps the thief knew this4 ,peter had denied ,him with oaths and cursing2 and perhaps this had been told the thief4 ,judas had betrayed ,him4 ,he saw no glittering crown upon ,his brow2 only the crown of thorns4 ,he could see no sign of ,his kingdom4 ,where were ,his subjects8 ,and yet1 nailed to the cross1 racked with pain in every nerve1 overwhelmed with horror1 his wicked soul in a tempest of passion1 this poor wretch managed to lay hold on ,christ and trust ,him for a swift salvation4 ,the faith of this thief1 how it flashes out amid the darkness of ,calvary6 ,it is one of the most astounding instances of faith in the ,bible6 ,when ,i was a boy ,i was a poor speller4 ,one day there came a word to the boy at the head of the class which he couldn't spell1 and none of the class could spell it4 ,i spelled it2 by good luck2 and ,i went from the foot of the class to the head4 ,so the thief on the cross passed by ,abraham1 ,moses and ,elijah1 and went to the head of the class4 ,he said unto ,jesus3 ,lord1 remember me when thou comest into ,thy kingdom4 ,thank ,god for such a faith6 ,how refreshing it must have been to ,christ to have one own ,him as ,lord1 and believe in ,his kingdom1 at that dark hour6 ,how this thief's heart goes out to the ,son of ,god6 ,how glad he would be to fall on his knees at the foot of the cross1 and pour out his prayer6 ,but this he cannot do4 ,his hands and feet are nailed fast to the wood1 but they have not nailed his eyes and his tongue and his heart4 ,he can at least turn his head and look upon the ,son of ,god1 and his breaking heart can go out in love to that ,one who was dying for him and dying for you and me1 and he can say3 ,lord1 remember me when ,thou comest into ,thy kingdom4 ,,what ,a ,,confession of ,christ that was6 ,he called ,him ,lord4 ,a queer ,lord6 ,nails through ,his hands and feet1 fastened to the cross4 ,a strange throne6 ,blood trickling down ,his face from the scars made by the crown of thorns4 ,but ,he was all the more ,lord because of this4 ,sinner1 call ,him ,lord now4 ,take your place as a poor condemned rebel1 and cry out3 ,lord1 remember me6 ,that isn't a very long prayer1 but it will prevail4 ,you don't have to add--when ,thou comest into ,thy kingdom1 because ,christ is now at ,his ,father's right hand4 ,three words2 a chain of three golden links that will bind the sinner to his ,lord4 ,some people think they must have a form of prayer1 a prayer-book1 perhaps1 if they are going to address the ,throne of ,grace properly2 but what could that poor fellow do with a prayer-book up there1 hanging on the cross1 with both hands nailed fast8 ,suppose it had been necessary for some priest or minister to pray for him1 what could he do8 ,nobody is there to pray for him1 and yet he is going to die in a few hours4 ,he is out of reach of help from man1 but ,god has laid help upon ,one who is mighty1 and that ,one is close at hand4 ,he prayed out of the heart4 ,his prayer was short1 but it brought the blessing4 ,it came to the point3 ,lord1 remember me when ,thou comest into ,thy kingdom4 ,he asked the ,lord to give him1 right there and then1 what he wanted4 ,,the ,,answered ,,prayer4 ,now consider the answer to his prayer4 ,he got more than he asked1 just as every one does who asks in faith4 ,he only asked ,christ to remember him2 but ,christ answered3 ,to-day shalt thou be with me in ,paradise6 ,immediate blessing--promise of fellowship--eternal rest2 this is the way ,christ answered his prayer4 ,,darkness4 ,and now darkness falls upon the earth4 ,the sun hides itself4 ,worse than all1 the ,father hides ,his face from ,his ,son4 ,what else is the meaning of that bitter cry3 ,my ,god6 my ,god6 ,why hast ,thou forsaken me8 ,ah6 ,it had been written1 ,cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree4 ,jesus was made a curse for us4 ,god cannot look upon sin3 and so when even ,his own ,son was bearing our sins in ,his body1 ,god could not look upon ,him4 ,i think this is what bore heaviest upon the ,savior's heart in the garden when ,he prayed3 ,if it be possible1 let this cup pass from me4 ,he could bear the unfaithfulness of ,his friends1 the spite of ,his enemies1 the pain of ,his crucifixion1 and the shadow of death2 ,he could bear all these2 but when it came to the hiding of ,his ,father's face1 that seemed almost too much for even the ,son of ,god to bear4 ,but even this ,he endured for our sins2 and now the face of ,god is turned back to us1 whose sins had turned it away1 and looking upon ,jesus1 the sinless ,one1 ,he sees us in ,him4 ,in the midst of all ,his agony1 how sweet it must have been to ,christ to hear that poor thief confessing ,him6 ,he likes to have men confess ,him4 ,don't you remember ,his asking ,peter1 ,whom do men say that ,i am8 and when ,peter answered1 ,some people say you are ,moses1 some people say you are ,elias1 and some people say you are one of the old ,prophets1 ,he asked again1 ,but1 ,peter1 whom do you say ,i am8 ,when ,peter said1 ,thou art the ,son of ,god1 ,jesus blessed him for that confession4 ,and now this thief confesses ,him--confesses ,him in the darkness4 ,perhaps it is so dark he cannot see ,him any longer2 but he feels that ,he is there beside him4 ,christ wants us to confess ,him in the dark as well as in the light2 when it is hard as well as when it is easy4 ,for ,he was not ashamed of us1 but bore our sins and carried our sorrows1 even unto death4 ,when a prominent man dies1 we are anxious1 to get his last words and acts4 ,,the ,,last ,,act ,,of ,,the ,,son ,,of ,,god was to save a sinner4 ,that was a part of the glory of ,his death4 ,he commenced ,his ministry by saving sinners1 and ended it by saving this poor thief4 ,shall the prey be taken from the mighty1 or the lawful captive delivered8 ,but thus saith the ,lord3 ,even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away1 and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered4 ,he took this captive from the jaws of death4 ,he was on the borders of hell1 and ,christ snatched him away4 ,no doubt ,satan was saying to himself3 ,i shall have the soul of that thief pretty soon4 ,he belongs to me4 ,he has been mine all these years4 ,but in his last hours the poor wretch cried out to the ,lord1 and ,he snapped the fetters that bound his soul1 and set him at liberty4 ,he threw him a passport into heaven4 ,i can imagine1 as the soldier drove his spear into our ,savior's side1 there came flashing into the mind of the thief the words of the prophet ,zechariah3 ,in that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of ,david1 and to the inhabitants of ,jerusalem1 for sin and for uncleanness4 ,you see1 in the conversion of this thief1 that ,,salvation ,,is ,,distinct ,,and ,,separate ,,from ,,works4 ,some people tell us we have to work to be saved4 ,what has the man who believes that to say about the salvation of this thief8 ,how could he work1 when he was nailed to the cross8 ,he took the ,lord at ,his word1 and believed4 ,it is with the heart men believe1 not with their hands or feet4 ,all that is necessary for a man to be saved is to believe with his heart4 ,this thief made a good confession4 ,if he had been a ,christian fifty years1 he could not have done ,christ more service there than he did4 ,he confessed ,him before the world2 and for nineteen hundred years that confession has been told4 ,matthew1 ,mark1 ,luke and ,john all recorded it4 ,they felt it so important that they thought we should have it4 ,see how ,,salvation ,,is ,,separate ,,and ,,distinct ,,from ,,all ,,ordinances --not but that ordinances are right in their place4 ,many people think it is impossible for any one to get into the kingdom of ,god if he is not baptized into it4 ,i know people who were greatly exercised because little children died unbaptized4 ,i have seen them carry the children through the streets because the pastor could not come4 ,i don't want you to think ,i am talking against ordinances4 ,baptism is right in its place2 but when you put it in the place of salvation1 you put a snare in the way4 ,you cannot baptize men into the kingdom of ,god4 ,the last conversion before ,christ perished on the cross ought to forever settle that question4 ,if you tell me a man cannot get into ,paradise without being baptized1 ,i answer1 ,this thief was not baptized4 ,if he had wanted to be baptized1 ,i don't believe he could have found a man to baptize him4 ,i have known people who had sick relatives1 and because they could not get a minister to come to their house and administer the sacrament1 they were distressed and troubled4 ,now1 ,i am not saying anything against the ordinance by which we commemorate the death of our ,lord1 and remember ,his return4 ,god forbid6 ,but let me say that it is not necessary for salvation4 ,i might die and be lost before ,i could get to the ,lord's table2 but if ,i get to the ,lord ,i am saved4 ,thank ,god1 salvation is within my reach always1 and ,i have to wait for no minister4 ,this poor thief certainly never partook of the sacrament4 ,was there a man on that hill that would have had faith to believe he was saved8 ,would any church to-day have received him into membership8 ,he had not to wait for this4 ,the moment he asked life1 our ,savior gave it4 ,baptism is one thing2 the sacrament of the ,lord's ,supper is another thing2 and salvation through ,christ is quite another thing4 ,if we have been saved through ,christ1 let us confess ,him by baptism1 let us go to ,his table1 and do whatever else ,he bids4 ,but let us not make stumbling-blocks out of these things4 ,that is what ,i call sudden conversion--men calling on ,god for salvation and getting it4 ,you certainly won't get it unless you call for it1 and unless you take it when ,he offers it to you4 ,if you want ,christ to remember you--to save you--call upon ,him4 ,,two ,,sides4 ,the cross of ,christ divides all mankind4 ,there are only two sides1 those for ,christ1 and those against ,him4 ,think of the two thieves2 from the side of ,christ one went down to death cursing ,god1 and the other went to glory4 ,what a contrast6 ,in the morning he is led out1 a condemned criminal2 in the evening he is saved from his sins4 ,in the morning he is cursing2 in the evening he is singing hallelujahs with a choir of angels4 ,in the morning he is condemned by men as not fit to live on earth2 in the evening he is reckoned good enough for heaven4 ,in the morning nailed to the cross2 in the evening in the ,paradise of ,god1 crowned with a crown he should wear through all the ages4 ,in the morning not an eye to pity2 in the evening washed and made clean in the blood of the ,lamb4 ,in the morning in the society of thieves and outcasts2 in the evening ,christ is not ashamed to walk arm-in-arm with him down the golden pavements of the eternal city4 ,the thief was ,,the ,,first ,,man ,,to ,,enter ,,paradise after the veil of the ,temple was rent4 ,if we could look up yonder1 and catch a glimpse of the throne1 we would see the ,father there1 and ,jesus ,christ at ,his right hand2 and hard by we would see that thief4 ,he is there to-day4 ,nineteen hundred years he has been there1 just because he cried in faith3 ,lord1 remember me when ,thou comest into ,thy kingdom4 ,you know ,christ died a little while before the thief4 ,i can imagine that ,he wanted to hurry home to get a place ready for ,his new friend1 the first soul brought from the world ,he was dying to redeem4 ,the ,lord loved him because he confessed ,him in that dark hour4 ,it was a dark hour for many who reviled the ,savior4 ,you have heard of the child who did not want to die and go to heaven because he didn't know anybody there4 ,but the thief would have one acquaintance4 ,i can imagine how his soul leaped within him when he saw the spear thrust into our ,savior's side1 and heard the cry3 ,it is finished6 ,he wanted to follow ,christ4 ,he was in a hurry to be gone1 when they came to break his legs4 ,i can hear the ,lord calling3 ,gabriel1 prepare a chariot4 ,make haste4 ,there is a friend of mine hanging on that cross4 ,they are breaking his legs4 ,he will soon be ready to come4 ,make haste1 and bring him to me8 ,the angel in the chariot swept down from heaven1 took the soul of that penitent thief1 and hastened back to glory4 ,the gates of the city swung wide open1 and the angels shouted welcome to this poor sinner who had been washed white in the blood of the ,lamb4 ,and that1 my friends1 is just what ,christ wants to do for you4 ,that is the business on which ,he came down from heaven4 ,that is why ,he died4 ,and if ,he gave such a swift salvation to this poor thief on the cross1 surely ,he will give you the same if1 like the penitent thief1 you repent1 and confess1 and trust in the ,savior4 ,somebody says that this man was saved at the eleventh hour4 ,i don't know about that4 ,it might have been the first hour with him4 ,perhaps he never knew of ,christ until he was led out to die beside ,him4 ,this may have been the very first time he ever had a chance to know the ,son of ,god4 ,how many of you gave your hearts to ,christ the very first time ,he asked them of you8 ,are you not farther along in the day than even that poor thief8 ,some years ago1 in one of the mining districts of ,england1 a young man attended one of our meetings and refused to go from the place till he had found peace in the ,savior4 ,the next day he went down into the pit1 and the coal fell in upon him4 ,when they took him out he was broken and mangled1 and had only two or three minutes of life left in him4 ,his friends gathered about him1 saw his lips moving1 and1 bending down to catch his words1 heard him say3 ,it was a good thing ,i settled it last night4 ,settle it now1 my friends1 once for all4 ,begin now to confess your sins1 and pray the ,lord to remember you4 ,he will make you an heir of ,his kingdom1 if you will accept the gift of salvation4 ,he is just the same ,savior the thief had4 ,will you not cry to ,him for mercy8 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,a cross1--and one who hangs thereon1 in sight ,of heaven and earth4 ,the cruel nails are fast ,in trembling hands and feet1 the face is white ,and changed with agony1 the failing head ,is drooping heavily2 but still again1 ,and yet again1 the weary eyes are raised ,to seek the face of ,one who hangeth pale ,upon another cross4 ,he hears no shrill ,and taunting voices of the crowd beneath1 ,he marks no cruel looks of all that gaze ,upon the woeful sight4 ,he sees alone ,that face upon the cross4 ,oh1 long1 long look1 ,that searcheth there the deep and awful things ,which are of ,god6 ,in his first agony ,and horror he had joined with them that spake ,against the ,lord1 the ,lamb1 who gave ,himself ,that day for us4 ,but when he met the look ,of those calm eyes1--he paused that instant2 pale ,and trembling1 stricken to the heart1 and faint ,at sight of ,him4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,at length ,the pale1 glad lips have breathed the trembling prayer1 ,o ,lord1 remember me6 ,the hosts of ,god ,with wistful angel-faces1 bending low ,above their dying ,king1 were surely stirred ,to wonder at the cry4 ,not one of all ,the shining host had dared to speak to ,him ,in that dread hour of woe1 when ,heaven and ,earth ,stood trembling and amazed4 ,yet1 lo6 the voice ,of one who speaks to ,him1 who dares to pray1 ,o ,lord1 remember me6 ,a sinful man ,may make his pitiful appeal to ,christ1 ,the sinner's ,friend1 when angels dare not speak4 ,and sweetly from the dying lips that day ,the answer came4 ,oh1 strange and solemn joy ,which broke upon the fading face of him ,who there received the promise3 ,thou shalt be ,in ,paradise this night1 this night1 with ,me4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,o ,christ1 the ,king6 ,we also wander on the desert-hills1 ,though haunted by ,thy call1 returning sweet ,at morn and eve4 ,we will not come to ,thee ,till ,thou hast nailed us to some bitter cross1 ,and made us look on ,thine1 and driven at last ,to call on ,thee with trembling and with tears4-- ,thou lookest down in love1 upbraiding not1 ,and promising the kingdom6 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 ,a throne1--and one ,who kneels before it1 bending low in new ,and speechless joy4 ,it is the night on earth4 ,the shadows fall like dew upon the hills ,around the ,holy ,city1 but above1 ,beyond the dark vale of the sky1 beyond ,the smiling of the stars1 they meet once more ,in peace and glory4 ,heaven is comforted1-- ,for that strange warfare is accomplished now1 ,her ,king returned with joy3 and one who watches ,the far-off morning in a prison dim1 ,and hung at noonday on the bitter cross1 ,is kneeling at ,his feet1 and tasteth now ,the sweet1 sweet opening of an endless joy4