One day when passing the jail our Witch was moved with an impulse to go
inside. The warden allowed her to pass in. Her heart ached for these
poor wretches whose faces from behind the bars looked so hopeless and
unhappy, and whose blasphemous language chilled her. She longed for the
time when:
Every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. II
Timothy ii, 19.
Who knew but these criminals were as innocent in the light of God's
All-Searching Eye as those who less tried have committed less evil?
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Romans iii,
23.
If we say that we have no sin we deceive ourselves, and the truth
is not in us. John i, 8.
Some have better childhood memories of good influences brought to bear
on their susceptible innocence, and would not humanity, begot and
reared in iniquity, have a natural inclination to evil, and
consequently be pardonable for greater crimes than those of a healthier
nourishment? And would not those stronger ones with great mental gifts
have more to answer for accordingly than those of weaker natures? Well,
it is beyond any human comprehension to execute perfect justice.
Then hear thou from Heaven, thy dwelling place, and forgive, and
render unto every man according unto all his ways, whose heart thou
knowest; for thou only knowest the hearts of the children of men.
II Chronicles vi, 30.
I, the Lord, search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every
man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his
doings. Jeremiah xvii, 10.
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. Psalms
xix, 9.
But why dost thou judge thy brother? Or why doth thou set at nought
thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of
Christ. Let us not therefore judge one another any more; but judge
this rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to
fall in his brother's way. Romans xiv, 10, 13.
Thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art, that judgest; for
wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself. Romans ii,
1.
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged; condemn not, and ye shall
not be condemned; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Luke vi, 37.
Therefore judge nothing before the time until the Lord come, who
both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will
make manifest the counsels of the hearts. I Corinthians iv, 5.
But crime will come to an end in that happy time when we will know each
other's innermost thoughts.
What a grand and awful time will be the day of judgment, when the
Spirit quickens the dust of centuries! Grand for those who have
sincerely tried to serve the King!
Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? He that walketh
righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of
oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that
stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from
seeing evil: he shall dwell on high; his place of defence shall be
the munitions of rocks; bread shall be sure. Isaiah xxxiii, 14, 15,
16.
Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with
the whole heart. Psalms cxix, 2.
They that feared the Lord spake often one to another; and the Lord
hearkened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written
before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his
name.
And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of Hosts, in that day when I
make up my jewels; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own
son that serveth him. Malachi iii, 16, 17.
Awful for the hypocrites when God's magnetic eyes burn into their
souls. In this way the world of sin will be dissolved, but space, in
which we move and have our being, will never be destroyed.
One generation passeth away and another generation cometh; but the
earth abideth forever. Ecclesiastes i, 4.
For this hath the Lord said: The whole land shall be desolate, yet
will I not make a full end. Jeremiah iv, 27.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath;
for the heavens shall vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall
wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in
like manner; but my salvation shall be forever, and my
righteousness shall not be abolished. Isaiah li, 6.
Who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he
appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire. Malachi iii, 2.
Every man's work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare
it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try
every man's work of what sort it is. I Corinthians iii, 13.
For our God is a consuming fire. Hebrews xii, 29.
The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved; I bear up
the pillars of it. Psalms lxxv, 3.
All the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy.
Zephaniah iii, 8.
Their flesh shall consume away while they stand upon their feet,
and their eyes shall consume away in their holes, and their tongue
shall consume away in their mouth. Zechariah xiv, 12.
As wax melteth before the fire; so let the wicked perish at the
presence of God. Psalms lxviii, 2.
Therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned and few men left.
Isaiah xxiv, 6.
All the hosts of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall
be rolled together as a scroll. Isaiah xxxiv, 4.
Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour
widow's houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore ye
shall receive the greater damnation. Matthew xxiii, 14.
For the congregation of hypocrites shall be desolate, and fire
shall consume the tabernacles of bribery. Job xv, 34.
I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will
I plead with you face to face.
And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein
ye have been defiled; and ye shall loathe yourselves in your own
sight for all your evils that ye have committed. Ezekiel xx, 35, 43.