#<o03 
 
 DTlDMflSll. 
 
No. 110. 
 
 THE SEASON OF DIVINE MERCY. 
 
 BY UEV. T. C. TEASDALE, D. D. 
 
 "Behold, now is the accepted time! Behold, now is 
 the day of salvation." — 2 Coa., vi. 2. 
 
 Sohlicr.i of the Army of the Confederate States: 
 
 Aljow me to address you on a subject of infinite 
 moment to you. Compared with the interests involved 
 in this subject, nil' others nro insignificant and mean. 
 1 refer to the salvation, of the soul. The blessed Jesus, 
 who made both the world and the sou 1 , and who knew 
 perfedy well the relative, value of each, in the form of 
 an interrogation, which is even more signilicant and 
 impressive than a positive affirmation, teaches u-. that a 
 man would be an almost infinite loser if he should gain 
 the world and lose his son! "For what is a man profi- 
 ted," says He, "if he gain the whole world and lose his 
 own soul? Orwhat shall a man give in exchange for his 
 . soul ?" But this priceless soul is in imminent danger of 
 being eternally lost. It is already condemned and 
 adjudged to 1 hell. It only awaits the execution of ♦he 
 penalty which it has incurred to consign it to remediless, 
 ruin and despair. It i> consoling, however, to know 
 that for the direst exigencies of the soul a complete 
 remedy has been provided. "God so loved the world 
 that he gave, his only begotten Sou, that whos ever 
 believebh in him should not perish but have everlasting, 
 life. For God sen* riot his Son into the world to con^ 
 dernn the world, hut that the world through him might 
 be saved " 
 
 Now, what I wish to impress i*pon your minus in this 
 address -- is the solemn fact thai tiikki' aki; seasons and 
 
 OlTOllTCM.lElJ PECULIARLY IAYOKABUJ FOK TILL ilioTLC- 
 
TION AND SECURITY OF THE SOUL; AND IF THESE BE NOT 
 PROPERLY IMPROVED, -THE RUIN OF THE SOUL MUST INEVI- 
 TABLY ensue. Let us seriously consider ibis subject. 
 
 1. There are times and opportunities peculiarly favor- 
 able to Vie protection and security oj the soul. This may 
 be proved, first by analogy. "In almost every pursuit 
 of life, there are occasions, and opportunities which 
 afford peculiar aid in tbe prosecution of an enterprise. 
 The judicious selection of these as the crises for action, 
 is what usually gives one man an advantage beyond 
 another. 'Riches do not come to the man of under- 
 standing, nor success to the man of might, but time and 
 chance happen to all.' That is, there are cef tain 'oppor- 
 tunities in the course of human affairs which no wisdom. 
 of man can foresee, which no power of man can control, 
 which being apparently matters of chance are" yet under 
 the direction of God, and on these depends the success 
 or failure of every enterprise. The iu; n of business is 
 aware of this and therefore places himself in a posture 
 which may enable him to watch a'l the occasions and 
 incidents that may admit of improvement. As these 
 escape him, notwithstanding - his watchfulness, he is of- 
 ten heard^to express his regrets when too late, that he 
 had* not taken advantage of the lost opportunity. — 
 "Now," says he, "I perceive the point from which I 
 err§d. Why could I not see it at the very ti*ne ? Why 
 was I so dull of apprehension as not to" have seized that 
 idea which no'w appears so obvious, that I might have 
 matufed it" into important results? Alas! it is now too 
 late! I have lost the favoring tido of circumstances and 
 must be content to see others- shnr in g the advantages 
 which my supineness has caused me to lose.'" .• 
 
 The same may be said of almost every human avoca- 
 tion. The men of the world have no doubt of the 
 existence of such a disposition- in thfc course of humeri 
 events. Th'-y keep it perpetually in view. Tfaey,regu« 
 late all their actions by a regard to it. They uiako their 
 
l?B/t 
 
 calculations with a special reference (o the controlling f*°3 
 influence of what the wise roan styles "time and chance. • 
 
 Now, the same disposition in divine tilings pnsSesafea 
 nn influence of the same kind, hut as much more impor- 
 tant as the things of eternity are move important than 
 those of time. There are harvest times ami summer 
 seasons 1o the soul. Every sinner has a time of *•«(&*- 
 ciful visitation." So analogy teaches. 
 
 2. But the truth of this important doctrine does not 
 rest upon analogy alone. It is emphatically a doctrine 
 of the Sacred Scriptures. "We cannot turn to that uner- 
 ring page, on which is written out all wisdom and all 
 truth, without making out a certaip<y for this doctrine. 
 The Old Testament Prophets inculcated .it ; and the 
 teachings of Christ and his Apostles confirm it. * 
 • In ■ alluding to this doctrine, Solomon says: "Man 
 also knoweth not his tunc." And he recognizes the 
 doctrine still "more distinctly when he says to the 
 young, ''Remember now thy Creator in the. days of thy 
 youth, when the evil duy9 com;; not nor the years draw 
 nigh in which thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in 
 them." Isaiah says: "Seek ye the Lord while he may 
 be found, call ye upo'n him while he is near." This 
 language is obviously intended to mark the existence of 
 intervals and times in which effort may be crowned with 
 success. But if these auspicious seasons bo not im- 
 prove I at the proper time all subsequent effort will be 
 unavailing. Jeremiah says : "The harvest is past, the 
 summer is over and we are not saved." The Prophet 
 here utters very distinctly an intimation that the 
 wretched circumstances of that unhappy people had 
 been cause 1 by their neglect of favorable opportunities 
 of amendment. 
 
 The Saviour, the great unerring Teacher, also distinctly 
 recognizes this doctrine. The reason which he assigns 
 for the awful overthrow of Jerusalem is, that "she knew 
 not the time of her merciful visitation." "If thou hadst 
 
known, even thou, in this thy day, the things that belong 
 to thy peace, but now they are hidden from thy eyes." 
 This lamentation of the Saviour clearly involves the doc- 
 trine of special opportunity in religions concernments. 
 They had Had a day of merciful visitation ; when the 
 providence of God conveyed to them opportunities to be 
 saved ; when the smile of benignant Heaven seemed to 
 rest upon them arid invite them to honor and happiness ; 
 when numerous_ unsolicited aids to. salvation were in 
 actual attendance upon them. But these auspicious sea- 
 sons had p-assed over; the favoring tide of ciictim'stances 
 was lost ; and the things that belonged to their peace 
 were hidden from their eye\ The opportunity for being 
 saved was thus completely lost. The Apostles also taught 
 this doctrine. Paul says, ' : Behold, now is the accepted 
 time! Behold, now is the d-ay of salvation 1" And again, 
 "To-day, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts." 
 Is it not clear then that the doctrine ot special opportuni- 
 ty, in relation to the salvation of the soul, is most emphat- 
 ically a Bible doctrine? 
 
 3. There is yet one other source of evidence to which 
 we may refer in support of this doctrine. It is that of 
 personal consciousness. We know it is so. There is 
 an innate consciousness of the truth of this doctrine in 
 every rational mind. We have an illustration of the 
 correctness of this remark in the case of the thoroughly 
 awakened sinner. Go to such a sinner and endeavor to 
 comfort him, and how soon he "betrays his apprehensions 
 on this very point. "Oh! 1 fear it is too late. I fear I 
 have sinned away my day o; -grace. I fear that all is now 
 lost and lost forever!" 
 
 And so it is with the dying sinner. I never shall forget 
 the impressions made on my mind by the exclamations of 
 a dyiug man, while yet the dew of youth was on my brow. 
 I had been sent for to converse and pray with him in his 
 last moments. As I entered the chamber of death, the 
 poor map reached out his cold hand to me and exclaimed, 
 "Oh ! sir, I fear it is now too late!" Poor fellow, it was-"too 
 late" in his case; for he soon afterwards died in dreadful 
 
despair. And f ffe follow the lost soul down to perdition, 
 we shall there find a confirmation of this important doc- 
 trine. In tint world ol^ll despair, the wretched inhabi- 
 tant-! constantly but, nnavailingly (Isidore their negled of 
 
 all opportunities to be saved, and their delinquency in 
 this regard Constitutes a frightful source of their inexpres- 
 sible misery. Hear them exclaim, "how have we hated 
 instspction and despised reproof.'' Now, "the harvest is 
 passed, the summer is ended and we are not saYcd." 
 
 Here, then, we reach the'-climax of the argument. Let 
 us pause for a moment and solemnly consider the conclu- 
 sion to wlych we are thus conducted. Is it not clearly 
 this?— Oh! listen to it — is it not that the impenitent sin- 
 ner Is every moment, and by every step he takes, advancing 
 towards that awtul line beyond which mercy never travels 
 and hope is never foupd? How true it is, that 
 
 'Merev knows the iippointed bound 
 And turuS to vengeance there." 
 
 Dr. Alexander very touchingly inculcates this truth in a 
 Dumber of stanzas from which' we select the following : 
 
 ''There is a time, We know not when, • 
 A point, we know not where, 
 
 That marks the destiny of uieu 
 To glory or despair. 
 
 There is a line, by us unseen, 
 
 That crosses every path; 
 The hidden boundary between 
 
 God's patience and his wrath. 
 
 Oh ! where is that mysterious bourne 
 
 IJy which our path is crossed, 
 Bevond which God himseif hath swora 
 
 That he who goes is lost? 
 
 H"W long may men go on in sin? .. 
 
 How long will (Sod forbear? 
 Where doefl hope end, and where begin 
 
 The confines of despair? 
 
An answer from the sk^ls is sent ; 
 
 Ye that from God depart, 
 While it is cuUed today, repent, 
 
 And harden not jour heart." 
 
 0. reader! art thou still Tivmg in unrepented sin? Art 
 •Ibou still re'ecting Christ and dashing down at thy guilty 
 feet the proffered cap of" salvation? Beware! Thy steps 
 take hold on hell!- Thou art already tottering on the 
 brink of ruin! To-morrow thou mayest be lost, and lost 
 forever! 'Behold, now is the accepted time I Behold, now i3 
 the day of salvation." "To-day if thou wilt hear his voiee^ 
 harden not thy heart." 
 
 If. But I shall leave - my task incomplete if I do not en- 
 detwor .0 point out to you, ray dear^ soldier friends, some 
 of those times and occasions which are most favorable 
 for the protection and security of the soud. Hence I re- 
 mark, 
 
 1. That of all the stasons for securing the salvation of 
 the soul, the youth-time of our existence is the most im- 
 portant. This might be proved by mental philosophy, by 
 Bible encouragements, and by indisputable facts. The 
 iimul at that season is less cumbered with worldly cares j 
 the heart is less -indurated by sin ; and the soul is more 
 susceptible to. divine impressions. The Scriptures, too, 
 afford peculiar encouragement to the young. Mercy per- 
 sonified says, i'J love them that love me, and tbe-y that 
 seek me early shall find me. ; ' Numerous facts also uUeet 
 the truth of this proposition. The great majority of shose 
 who are ever converted to God, are converted in the mor- 
 ning of their days. The period of youth, then, is air 
 important "harvest-time and summer season" to the, soul. 
 O, youn^ man, lay this truth to heart. Thou art. now 
 enjoying the mast precious opportunity to b*e saved. "Re- 
 member now tby Cre itor in the days of thy youth, whew 
 the evil dc;ys came not nor the years draw nigh in which 
 thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them." 
 
 2. Another 01 those occasions most favorable for - the, 
 protection and security of tbe soul is a season of religious 
 
revival. At such times ministers usually preach more 
 plainly and more earnestly ; Christians pray more fervently 
 and with greater faith ; sinners fed more deeply ; and the 
 Holy Spirit operates more miphtily. 0, soldier friends, 
 heed the divine admonition, and "Repent and be converted 
 when the times of refreshing come from the presence of 
 the Lord." 
 
 • 3. Another of these auspicious occasions occurs when a 
 special interest is evinced by God's people in tbe spiritual 
 Welfare of particular individuals. 01 of particular classes of 
 unconverted persons. Tbe doting parent is anxious now 
 abouthis dear son. The pious wife breathes outlier impor- 
 tunate prayers for tbe salvation of her beloved husband. 
 And the affectionate' sister is found in wrapt communion 
 with her God in behalf of her impenitent brothers. Is not 
 this a ^'harvest-time and summer season" to the soul? 
 And when, too, the whole christian community is deeply con- 
 cerned for the spiritual welfare of the s< ldier§ in mir various 
 armies, is it not "an accepted time" und a "day of salvation" to 
 them? How much interest is' felt; how much emotion has been 
 excited in pious hearts, and how many fervent players have 
 been offered for absent loved ones in the army by thtir frieuds 
 at home, the developments of J he jndgment will'alohe disclose. 
 O, my soldier friends, disregard not this interest in your be- 
 half, and tread not the tears and prayers of tbe friends that love 
 you under your heedless feet 1 Think! Perhaps at this ve*y 
 moment your honored lather of loving mother or youthful wife 
 may be praying for your salvation ! shall they pray in vain ? 
 4. I have space to mention but one other auspicious season to 
 the soul ; and that is, token G<>d speaks in tlie thundertone of 
 his judgment* to the people. When his judgments are abroad in 
 the land, surely the people should learn righteousness. And is 
 not this a time ? Was there ever a people moie severely chas- 
 tised than ours? And though our sufferings may be inflicted 
 by the hand of an implacable foe, yet God is none the less con- 
 cerned in our afflictions. He often use-*' the wicked as the 
 instruments of chastisement to bjs peop'e. Talk not of our 
 calamities as the-product of accidtafcor of any fortuitous con- 
 currence of secondary causes. They all proceed from the ben- 
 evolent Sovereign, of the universe, and are. designed expressly 
 for "ur spiritual good. Happv for ns if we herd his*voice in 
 hia dc-bwlaliug judgments ! liuppy for in* W this last agency t|| 
 
8 
 
 "winch lie resorts, when all the resources nf goodness and fbr- 
 bearauce have been expended in vain, shall produce in our 
 bosoms a salutary, compunction ! But if this solemn rebuke of 
 Jehovah shall not lead us to repentance and salvation, then 
 what hope is there that anything; in the whole circle of moral 
 influences will ever bring- us into cordial obedience to the Cross 
 of Christ ? What reason have we to condude that we are not 
 of that unhappy number "who have trodden under foot the Son 
 of God ; counted the blood of the covenant \ herewith he was 
 sanctified an unholy thing ; and done, despite to the spirit of 
 bis iirace ?" May we not justly fear that we are "past feeling;" 
 and that the season of divine mercy, is to us clean gone forever?' 
 Soldier friends, I am now done What will you do with thia 
 important subject? Will y<fU still neglect, the "great salva- 
 tion?" Will you still postpone attention to this'chief interest? 
 .Remember, God has said, "My Spirit shall not always strive 
 wiih man." Will you delay another day ? To-mffrrcm it may 
 be too late ! O, then, hasten to the cross of Christ ! "Remem* 
 ber Lot's wife!" Embrace profit red mercy today! To-day 
 make your peace with God ! .AW, this noun, this very MO- 
 MENT, give your heart, in confiding trust, to the blessed 
 Jesus! Let nothing, deter yon ! Your all for eternity is at 
 stake! YourMesiiny will snnn be fixed! Your day of grace 
 will soon close ! What you do must, bw done quickly ! O, do 
 it TO DAY ! do it NOW ! 
 
Hollinger Corp. 
 pH8.5