Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-03-30
JALNAGE IN THE WEST.
,,,.,,,,e,e Sermon on "The Decora-
ION Of the Soul"

,,1he Pro,ligal SOn--It Matters
Ia1''D' ,,oor we Are if We but Wear OH
pit ,," ,ma the Ring of Christ's Adoption.
49, SCOTT. Kan, March 18. The
OK y, ma Witt Talmage, d. D., of the
,.1,n tabernacle, preached here this
oAis L "a a crowded congregation. He
pm. liz subject "The Decoration of the
i9i ,,7 his text was Luke XIV. %: "Put
=, on his hand" He said:
Iii not rehearse the familiar story of
sa 'st Young man Of the parable. You
:, ~, what a splendid home he left. You
What a hard time he had. And you
S,,irr how, after that season of vaga-
i ,a,' and prodigality, he resolved to go
o "ss,, ont his sorrows on the bosom of
WEI WEI forgiveness. Well, there is great
. l,,,,. one day in front of the door of
. 07n farm house. The servants come
c 'Y, Nm and say: whats the matter?
l.iii / the matter?" But before they
u rive the old man cries out: "Put q
~ his hand" What seeming alb.
s;,r W., What can such wretched men
NY as this fellow that is tramping on
"l tbs house want with ring? Oh,
vi ,hs prodisal son. No more tending
ia ~ SWINE trough. No more longing
' .ha rods of the carob tree. No more
'arad feet. Of with the rags! On
me robe Out with the ring! Even
docs God receive every one of us when
"o,ae back. There are gold rings, and
=, rinps. and comedian rings, and dia-
,,1 rinps: but the richest ring that ever
Mai on the vision is that which our
~ ,,o,, a fOrnivon ca,,J
know that the impression is abroad
ons people that religion bemeans and
li'l man; that it takes all the sparkle
of his soul; that he has to exchange
sterjne independence for an ecclesias-
straight jacket. Not SO. When q
becomes o Christian he does not go
n he starts upward. Religion multi
one By 10000. Nay, the multiplier
in6ni,y. 1t is not a blotting QUIT
polishing, it is an arborescence, it is
LAorescenee. it is an irradiation. When
an comes into the kingdom of God he
nj sent into mental service, but the
i God Almighty from the palaces of
wen calls upon the messenger angels
wait upon the throne to fly and "put a
on his hand" In Christ are the
fes liberty, and brightest joy. and
EST honor. and richest adornment.
n ring on his hand"
remark, in the first place, that when
st1eceives soul into His love He puts
d him The ring of adoption. In my
rcl in Philadelphia there came the
resentati7e Of benevolent society in
York. He brought with him eight or
children of the street that he had
Iel up, and ne was trying to find for
b Christian homes; and as the little
stool on the pulpit and sung our
ITS melted within us. At the close of
services great hearted, wealthy man
lip and said: "I'll take this little
kht-eyed girl and I'll adopt her as one
by own children:" and he took her by
hand, lifted her into his carriage and
away.
he next day, while we were in the
rch gathering up fragments for
poor Of New York, this little child
back with bundle under her arm,
she said There's my old dress; per-
ssome Of the poor children would like
ave H." while she herself was in bright
beautiful array, and those who more
kediatey examined her said that she
airing Oh her hand. 1t was q ring of
Mon.
here are q great many persons who
lie themselves on their ancestry, and
glory over the royal blood that pours
ugh their arteries. In their line there
alord or duke or prime minister or
ng. But when the Lord, our Father,
upon us the ring of his adoption we
PINE the children of the Ruler of all ma.
5. Behold what manner Of love the
Der hath bestowed upon us, that We
uld be called the sons of God" 1t
tcrs not how poor our garments may
b this world, or how scant our bread,
ow mean the hut we live in, if we have
ring Of Christ's adoption upon our
We are assured of eternal defenses.
dept! Why, then, we are brothers and
prs to all the good of earth and Heaven.
have the family name, the family
s. the family keys. the family ward
The Father looks after us, robes us,
ms Us, blesses us. We have royal
"a IN Our veins, and there are crowns in
line. 1t we are His children, then
ceS and princesses. 1t is only a ques-
Of time when We get our coronet.
p'ed, Then we have the family So
Inc secret of the Lord is with
that fear Him." Adopted! Then
lave tie family inheritance, and in the
"hen our Father shall divide the
Is Of heaven we shall take our share
le mansions and palaces and temples.
Eesoffh let US boast no more of an
uls ancestry. The insignia of eternal
Is our coat Of arms. This ring of
''''G puts upon us all honor and privi-
NOW ~ a., Al
les Wesley, that prince of hymn
frS, and sing:
" " l'' us JON our friends above,
w" nave obtained the prize,
M; y Il tic eagle wigs OF love
ot'T celestial rise.
ny Nh ~. TIC saints terrestrial sing
pr " IN those to glory gone;
-. NC servants OF our King
~ hea'en and earth, are one
w. S,s. 'een told that when any of the
's o. any Of the great secret So
ars y: ms country are in distant city
w. III any kind of trouble, and are set
~ enemies, they have only to give
~; signal and the members of that Or
ES 'rp Wall flock around for defense.
. Snen any man belongs to this great
~ uSn u brotherhood, if he gets in trouble,
on1v ~ it pc in temptation, he
t ila 10 show this ring of Christ's
av "a, ana all the armed cohorts of
n II f WI come to his rescue.
H. i"',ler, when Christ takes o soul
Y NJ, love ne puts upon it marriage
w r;n mat IS not whim of mine:
VIM WI oetroth thee unto me forever;
sn va ?;e'toth thee unto me in righteous-
and - Judgment, and in loving kind
NV 10 mercies." At the wedding
Of Of ,ba pttluegroom puts ring upon the
~ Tue bride, sisnifying love and faith
bhola lou 81 may come upon the
r4s ana tho carpets may go, and the