Morning journal and courier., 1883-12-10
First Methodist Church.

Last of Rev. MT. Bucks Series to Young PeOpIe-ChOice of 8 Whom Shall Serve.
 At the First Methodist church last evening
 Rev. MT. Buck gave the last of his series of
 sermons to young people on the great choices of life, his subject being: ''Choice of
 master; whom shall serve ?'' His text was l taken from the 18th verse of the 24th chap
 ter of Joshua, "Choose you this day whom ye will serve,"
 The words serve and servant, said Mir. Buck, are offensive to the American ear. The l man who does for you the most menial work | will not call you master, and instead of being | termed servant greatly prefers to be called ] the gentleman in your employ.
 We should hardly relish even to be called l subjects. We delight in the consciousness
 of being free American citizens. But what ever dignity of freedom we may claim we are I all really servants of some master. This ia
 as true of those who live in opulence as of
 those who labor for their daily bread Every
 man has 8 master, every life is controlled by | some principle or passion. The question is not, then, shall we serve, but whom shall we 1 serve and how?
 Many choose appetite for a master. Our natural appetites are not In themselves base, 1 but noble and God given, but over indulged 1 they become tyrants which drag their votaries | from innocence to wallow in the miro of sensuality.
 Many are made subjects to gluttony. They | would almost barter their souls fer good l dinner; they do not eat to live, but live to 1 eat. What multitudes make strong drink l their master. This is the Goliath among the 1 tyrants A cruel, relentless master indeed, bringing it's subjects under the most abject l ssrVitude, servituds ending in wretched ness and death. Burns and Poe are striking examples of brilliant intellects destroyed by this dreadful thralldom. Many allow evil passions to become masters. At first it seems little thing to give way to anger, envy, jealousy, hate, but how miserable be- comes the existence of one given over entire ly to their control. Mazeppa was tied to wild horse which was turned loose so Satan fastens himself to men through some evil passion and thus drags them to destruction. Avarice masters many 8 soul. Wealth is good thing and the desire for it legitimate 1 and right; but let that desire ripen into an
 all controlling passion and it crushes out of the soul all it's finest elements and leaves it cold and hard and nnlovely.
 Very many become slaves to ambition. In every great mind there is an instinctive
 desire for power, and this is right, but when 1t becomes an lnordlnate desire, 1t de-
 bases the whole man. To secure fame he
 will sacrifice all that is dearest and best
 Selfish ambition will trsmple in the dust
 mans purest, noblest affections. Pleasure is
 the master to whom many submit themselves.
 Their great aim in life is personal gratifca-
 tion. They give what little mind and heart
 they have to amusement. Pleasure, pleas
 ure, give me pleasure, is their constant cry.
 A life thus spent is life lost
 But forsaking all these forms of sin and
 selfshness, there are many who choose
 Christ for their master. They strive to reg
 ulate their lives by his will. They hate what
 he hates Gnd love what he loves.
 It matters not whether the work be honora- able or menial They seek his glory whether they wait or labor. They serve in home life ship. Such service is not drudgery. It
 brings the sweetest satisfaction, the richest rewards. Such are some of the masters that demand our service. Which will you choose Sin or righteousness, Satan or Christ The decision is yours. Inherited tenderness
 and educative forces may influence, but can not control it. Christ has right to service;
 his service is honorable; it brings the ap-
 provai of all. Even the devil despises his
 own servants. Christ's service gives highest
 freedom; sin is bondage; while Christs ser
 vice is full of sunshine and profit Choose
 Christ, his service is satisfying. They who
 serve Satan fare badly; they feed on husks
 ''Vanity of vanitiss, " is the cry of multitodes
 of workings. MT. Buck closed with an ap-
 peal Go all the young to make an immediate
 choice of Christ as master