singing, and how his voice rang when he came to
that pleading verse:
"To-day the Savior calls,
For refuge fly!
The storm of Justice falls,
And death is nigh!"
After the meeting we went home. I remember going down La Salle street
with a young man, and saw the glare of flames. I said to the young
man:
"This means ruin to Chicago."
About one o'clock Farwell hall was burned; soon the church in which I
had preached went down, and everything was scattered. I never saw that
audience again.
My friends, we don't know what may happen to-morrow, but there is one
thing I do know, and that is, if you take the gift of God you are
saved. If you have eternal life you need not fear fire, death, or
sickness. Let disease or death come, you can shout triumphantly over
the grave if you have Christ. My friends, what are you going to do
with Him? Will you not decide now?
Teaching Willie Faith
Some years ago I wanted to teach my boy what faith was and so I put
him on a table. He was a little fellow about two years old. I stood
back three or four feet, and said.
"Willie, jump."
The little fellow said, "Papa, I'se afraid."
I said: "Willie, I will catch you. Just look right at me, and jump."
The little fellow got all ready to jump, and then looked down again,
and said, "I'se afraid."
"Willie, didn't I tell you I would catch you? Will papa deceive you?
Now, Willie, look me right in the eye, and jump, and I will catch
you."
The little fellow got all ready the third time to jump, but he looked
on the floor, and said:
"I'se afraid."
"Didn't I tell you I would catch you?"
"Yes."
At last I said: "Willie, don't take your eyes off me"; and I held the
little fellow's eyes, and said, "Now, jump; don't look at the floor;"
and he leaped into my arms.
Then he said to me, "Let me jump again."
I put him back, and the moment he got on the table he jumped, and
after that, when he was on the table and I was standing five or six
feet away I heard him cry, "Papa, I'se coming," and had just time to
rush and catch him. He seemed to put too much confidence in me. But
you cannot put too much confidence in God.
Act on Your Belief
When President Lincoln signed the proclamation of emancipation, copies
of it were sent to all points along the Northern line, where they were
posted. Now, supposing a slave should have seen a copy of that
proclamation and should have learned its contents. He might have
known
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