The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1889-08-29

masters. The Christian minister goes
over to Venice, looks at the ''Crucifxion
of Christ" and comes back to his Ameri-
can pulpit to talk as never before of the
sufferings of the Saviour. The private
tourist goes to Rome and looks at
RaphaePs picture of the Last Judg
ment." The tears start, and he goes
back to his room in the hotel, and prays
God for the preparation for that day
when,
Shrivelng like a parched scroll,
The flaming heavens together roll.
Our Sunday school newspapers and
walls are adorned with pictures Of Joseph
in the court, Daniel in the den, Shadrach
in the fire, Paul in the shipTreek, Christ
on the cross. Oh, that we might in our
families, think more of the power of
Christian pictures One little sketch of
Samuel kneeling in prayer viii mean
more to your children than twenty SER
mons on devotion. One patient face of
Christ by the hand of the artist will be
more to your child than fifty sermons on
forbearance. The art of the world is to
be taken for Christ. What has become of
Thornwaldsen's chisel and Ghirlandajo's
crayon? Captured for the truth.
So, | remark, it is with business acumen
and tact. When Christ was upon earth
the people who followed Him, for the
most part, had no social position. There
was but one man naturally brilliant in all
the apostleship. Joseph of Arimathea,
the rich man, risked nothing when He
offered hole in the rock for the dead
Christ. How many Of the merchants in
a STA Minor hafTipn1a1 Tac11e T i4oI- Of
only one, Lydia. How many of the castles
on the beach of Galilee entertained
Christ? Not one. When Peter came to
Joppa he stopped with one Simon, tan
ner. What power had Christ's name on
the Roman Exchange. or in the bazaars
of Corinth? None. The prominent men
of the day did not want to risk their repU-
tation for sanity by pretending to be one
of his followers. Now that is all changed.
Among the mightiest men in our great
cities to-day are Christian merchants
and Christian bankers; and if to-mor.
row, at the Board of Trade, any man
should get up and maIign the name OF
Jesus, he would be quickly silenced or
put out. In the front rank of all our
Christian workers day are the Chris
tan merchants; and the enterprises of
the world are coming on the right side.
There was a farm willed away some
years ago, all the proceeds of that farm
TO go for spreading infdel books. Some
how matters have changed, and now all
the proceeds Of that farm go toward the
missionary cause. One OF the finest print
ing presses ever built was built for the
express purpose of publishing infdel
tracts and books. Now it does nothing
bat print Holy Bibles. believe that the
time will come when, in commercial
circles, the voice of Christ will be the
mightiest of all voices, and the ships of
Tarshish will bring presents, and the
Queen of Sheba her glory, and the wise
men of the East their myrrh and frank
incense. I look off upon the business
men of our cities and rejoice at the pros
pect that their tact and ingenuity and
talent will, after awhile, all be brought
into the service of Christ. 1t will be one
of the mightieSt of weapons.
There is none like that; give it me.
Now, if what have said be true, away
with all downheartedness If science is
to be on th right side, and the travelling
disposition If the world on the right side,
and the learning of the world on the right
side, and the picture making on the right
side, aud the business acumen and tact OF
the world on the right side-Thine, o,
Lord, is the kingdomI Oh, fall into
line, all ye peoplel 1t is a grand
thing to be in such an army, and led by
such commander, and on the way to
such victory. If what I have said is
true, then Christ is going to gather up for
out of this world every thing that
is worth any thing, and there will be
nothing but the scum left. A proclama-
ton of amnesty goes forth now from the
throne of God, saving: ''Whosoever will,
let him come" However long you NAV
have wandered, however great your sins
may have been, whatsoever will,
let him come" Oh, that 1 could
all this audience on the side
of Christ. He is the best friend a
man ever had. He is so kind-He is SO
lovely, so sympathetic. I can not see
how you can stay away from Him. Come
now and accept His mercy. Behold Him
as He stretches out the arms of His sal
walton, saying: Look unto me, all We
ends of the earth, and be ye saved; for l
am God" Make final choice now. You
will be either willows planted by the
water courses or the chaff which the wind
driveth away.