Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-03-25
EAIE IElfs foe EEe 2"

1 gentleman, q nerchent Of large for
tune, had built for himself beautiful and
costly residence. The grounds wero ex-
tensiye and tastefully laid out, and adorned
with arbors and statuary. The building
was furnished throughout in style corre-
spending with It's own elegance, and the, for
tunate proprietor was duly settled in il
with his happy and much envied family.
1t was not long before he was visited by
an old friend, recently from California,
who had there acquired great wealth, and
had returned to the more eastern States to
enjoy it. He was shown through the ele-
gant establishment and beautiful grounds,
and was SO much pleased with the whole
that he Immediately proposed to purchase
the entire property, offering liberal
price.
mo" sod the merchant, 'snothing
world induce me to sell it. I have expen,
dee upon its plan much thought, and given
to its execution much careful attention, in
order 30 adapt it, as far as possible, to the
convenience and comfort Of my family
and here expect to spend with them the
remainder Of my days" His friend re-
tired, convinced that it was useless to
urge the matter
That evening as the merchant, surround
cd by his family, sat IN his sumptuous
apartment, engaged in family worship, he
read the chapter containing that touching
declaration Of our dear Redeemer respect
ing his own extreme poverty. ''The foxes
have holes, and the birds OF the air have
nests, but the Son Of man hath not where
TO lay his head"
AS he read, his attention was arrested as
never before by the latter clause, ''the Son
of man hath not where to lay his head"
He paused, and gazed around upon the
splendid walls and furniture, and his heart
smOte him. ''All this for me-" he said to
himself, ''ana yet the Son Of man had not
where to lay his head" He was greatly
troubled. He felt sorely rebuked by his
Own selfish prodigality. He saw, as never
before, that IN his case the servant was
indeed not SIS the master; that he had
utterly failed to initiate bis blessed Lord
in the denial of SELF but on the contrary
IL all his expenditures was chiefly intent
upon his own selfish qualification. AS we'll
as his state Of mind would permit, he
closed the evening service, and retired to
his private apartment
Here again, as ms looked around upon
| the luxurious couches and various arrange
ments for comfort, the thought occurred
to him, "All this for me, and yet the Son
OF man had not where to lay his head -
he passed a sleepless night, this one idea
constantly revolving in his mind, aid rose
feyoTIsh and unrefreshed.
Descending TO his dining room, as he
surveyed the elaborate table furniture and
expensive food, bis heart again smote
him, and he mentally exclaimed, ''All this
for me, and yet the Son of nan had not
where to lay his head
He walked forth into his garden. There
the rare exotics the beautiful statuary, the
arbored walks rebuked him as he thought,
''Ali this for me, and yet my divine LORD
and Redeemor had not where to lay his
head" He went to his Office, but found
himself incapable Of attending to business,
this one thought being eyer present to his
mind, The Son OF man had not where to
lay his head.
AS the day wore on he became more vi
wildly impressed with the tb ought of his
own unfaithfuIness as a steward of God,
and his extreme selfshnegs in expending
So natch for himself and comparatively SO
liHle for that dear Saviour who had sacri-
feed SO much for him. He saw that this
same selfshness and extrayagapt expendi-
ture must prove q snare to his soul, es
tranging him still more to Christ, and
greatly increasing that love Of the world
which already had much too strong hold
upon him.
Toward the close of the day he sent for
his friend OF the previous evening, and
said to him, ''Sir, were you In earnest IN
offering me the sum you did for my resi-
dence Yes said his friend, 81 should
be too happy to urchase it. ''Then" said
the merchant, 'fhe place is yours. 1 dare
not keep it, for the Son of man had not
whore 10 lay his head.
The property was soon transferred, a
comfortable but farmore humbie residence
secured, into which the merchant and his
family cheerfully removed.
The large sum received fer the splendid
mansion was as cheerfuIIy given to that
Redeemer ''Who had not where to lay his |
head, " now ten thousand times more pre-
cious f~om a new and wonderful manifes- |
tation of his love, filling his soul with al
peace and JOY before unknown.-American
Messenger. |