VIII. The Second Blast

           OnthefollowingSabbaththeminister’stextwas,"Whenthelightwithinyouisdarkness,howgreatisthatdarkness!"Thistimetherewasnofalteringintheapplication.Thecongregation,menandwomen,werearraignedatthebarassinnersbydeedorbyconnivance,andhehadanaudiencehushednotintheordinarySabbathdecorum,butinafearfulapprehension.Everymomentheseemedtobeabouttonamethesinner,andifhedidnotsingleoutpersonshemadeitblindinglyclearthatitwasnotforlackofknowledge.Neverhadhepreachedwithgreaterfreedom,neverhadpassionsotrembledineachsentence.Wordsseemedtobegivenhim,stinging,unforgettablewordsthatmustflaythesoulsoftheguilty."Blindedself-deceivers,"hecried,"youthinkyoucantamperwithdevilryandyetkeepyourinterestinChrist.Youaresetupwithcovenants,publicandprivate,butItellyouthatyourcovenantiswithDeathandHell.Themanwhobelievesheiselectedintosalvation,andthinksthattherebyhehaslibertytotransgressandthathistransgressionswillbeforgivenhim,hassinnedagainsttheHolyGhost--thatsinforwhichthereisnoforgiveness."HedeclaredthattilltherewasageneralconfessionandrepentancetherewouldbenoCommunionintheparishofWoodilee,forthosewhosatdownattheLord’sTablewouldbeeatinganddrinkingdamnationtothemselves....Butattheendhebrokedown.WithtearsinhiseyesandasobinhisvoicehebesoughtapeoplewhomhelovedtoabasethemselvesbeforetheMercySeat.