is
carriage, drove back to his home, the servants saw him go out into the
grove where his wife was buried, throw himself on the grave and shriek
aloud. Some time later the boy returned and the father met him at the
door to say, "You must go away; you have disgraced my name and killed
your mother and broken my heart." This is the measure of a father's
love perhaps in this one instance, but think how many times you have
trifled with God, spurned his love, disregarded his Son, and yet he has
loved you. And remember also that word which says,

"There is a time, we know not when,
A place, we know not where,
That seals the destiny of men
For glory or despair."

Second: _Towards God_. How easy a thing it is, therefore, to be saved
if there is but one way and this way runs in opposite directions,
meaning either life or death. It is just to "right about face," as the
soldier would say, by an act of the will and with the help of God to
turn away from sin and from self. I am very sure we can do it, because
it is commanded in this text, and God would not mock us with a command
which could not be obeyed. I am equally sure that we must do it now,
for God has plainly stated this in his Word.

III

_Choose Life_. As has been indicated, the text proves that we may
choose life if we will, but I have more especially in mind the
question, "Why should we do it?" and I answer, because it is the best
sort of life and the only life.

One of my friends used to tell of a man whom he saw in Colonel Clarke's
mission. The man rose for prayers and accepted Christ. Later on he
saw him again in the mission. He went forward to testify. He had that
look upon his face the result of sin, because of which you could not
tell whether he was young or old, and leaning up against the platform
he gave his testimony. Among other things he said: "I came to Chicago
some little time ago from my home in the east, my father having made
two requests--first, that I should change my name because I had
disgraced his; second, that I should go away and never return. I had
fallen too low here for them to receive me even in the station house,
and I was on my way to end it all when I heard the music of this
mission and came in and found Christ. As I came down the aisle this
evening I heard one man say to another, 'He is getting paid for this,'
and I wish to say that I am. I have a letter in my pocket from my
father, and he tells me that