<TITLE>10. Par 87-98</TITLE>L-87 I--I like a man of vision. I like people that's got something they're fighting for, just not just lay around, "Well, ever what comes along will be all right." Oh, be up and at it! And Lincoln never let his education stand in the way; he had something to do. I think every Christian ought to be that way, find your purpose and go do it.

L-88 Every member of this chapter, just not, "Well, we have a breakfast once a month," that isn't it, "or once every Saturday." Have a purpose in life, something you're going to do. Let's. God has placed you here; do something about it, every member of every church. There is a revival in town. That revival is there for a purpose. Let's get something out of it. Let's do something about it.

L-89   Mr. Lincoln. There was a man that... young fellow, he--he was in the war, and--and he was--he was coward, to begin with. And in the time of duty, he--he--he withdrew from his post; and they found something against him, that he was going to have to be shot. And, oh, he... it was terrible. And one young fellow loved him so well, went to Mr. Lincoln, to get a pardon. He was President at the time, in the United States here, and so he went to him for a pardon.

L-90 And he said to him, as he was getting out of his carriage; and Mr. Lincoln, a tall, bearded, typical southern, skinny. And he said, "Mr. Lincoln, there is a boy that's going to die, in two days from now, be shot, because that he run in time of battle." And he said, "Mr. Lincoln, the boy isn't a bad boy. But all those muskets a-firing, and--and people dying, he was nervous. And he was so upset, that, he threw up his hands and started screaming." And said, "I have knowed the boy." Said, "Mr. Lincoln, only your name on this piece of paper can spare him. Will you do it?"

L-91 Course, this Christian gentleman, quickly signed the paper, "Pardoned, So-and-so." Signed his name, "Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States."

L-92   Went the messenger back as hard as he could. And he run to the cell, he said, "You're free! You're free! Here is Mr. Lincoln's, Mr. Lincoln's signature. You are free!"

L-93 He said, "Why would you come to mock me, knowing that I die tomorrow?" He said, "Take that away from here, you're only mocking me." And he would not receive it. He said, "No, I--I don't want it." Said, "You're only making..." Said, "If that was the--the President," said, "it would have the--the coat of arms, and it would have his right paper."
He said, "But it's his signature!"

L-94 He said, "How will I know his signature?" He said, "You're just mocking me, you're trying to make me feel good." And he just started screaming, turned his back. The boy was shot the next morning.

L-95 Then after the boy being dead, and the President's name on this piece of paper, that he was pardoned, then what? And they tried it in the federal court. And here was the decision of our federal courts, which is the ultimate of all of our courts. What they say sometimes, we don't like their decision, but we have to abide by it anyhow, see, because that's the tie post. That's the ultimate. Now, it said this decision, "A pardon is not a pardon unless it be received as a pardon."

L-96 And that's the way the Word of God is. It's a pardon if It be received as a pardon. And It's the Word of God, It's the power of God, to those who will believe It and accept It.

L-97 No matter, you're looking at It, and you say, "Oh, that's been tangled up, there's been a million translations, and all that." It might be that to someone.

L-98 But, to me, It's still the Word of God, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever." He is duty bound to stay by that Word.


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