The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-06-25

huus ehSe6Ai phVJ OOuAu INV .hOcA 9hU
thought they could feel. A new religion
had been brought to her attention. She
had married godly man. She must
often have heard her mother-in-law talk
of the God Of Israel She was so much
shaken In her original belief that
she concluded to leave her idolatries;
but, coming to the margin Of
the land OF Bethlehem, her deter
mination failed her, and speedily
she returned to her gods. This is the
very reason why multitudes Of persons
never become Christians. They can not
bear to give up their gods, Business is
the American Juggernaut that brushes
more men than the great car Of the Hin
docs. To it they say their morning and
evening prayers. A little OF Christ's re-
ligion may creep into the Sabbath, but
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurs
day, Friday and Saturday are the days
devoted to this American idol. Every
hour there is sacrifice on the altar.
Home duties, health OF body, manly
strength and immortal affections must
all burn in this holocaust Men act as
though they could take their bonds, and
mortgages, and saws, and trowels, and
axes and dsy-books with them into the
Kingdom Of Heaven.
There are many who have no unholy
thirst for gold, yet who are devoting
themselves to their worldly occupations
with ruinous intensity. Men Of the
stock exchange, men of the yardstick,
men OF the saw, men Of the trowel, OF
the daybook, what will become Of you,
II unforgiyen in the great day when
there are no houses to build, and no
goods to sell, and no bargains
to makeP 1t is possible to de-
vote oneself even to lawful calling
until 1t becomes sinful. There is no
excuse on the earth or under the earth
for the neglect Of our deathless spirit.
Lydia was a seller of purple, yet she did
not allow her extensive occupation to
keep her from becoming q Christian.
Daniel was Secretary of State and At
torney General In the empire OF Baby
lon, and yet, three times day ho found
time to pray with his face toward Jerusa-
lem. Tho man who has no time 10 at
tend to religion will have no time to
enter Heaven.
But their arc others who, while their
worldly occupation has no particular fas-
cination over them, are entirely abb
sorbed in the gains that come TO that
occupation. This is the worship OF
Mammon. The ring OF dollars and cents
is the only litany they ever utter.
Though In the last days tho earth
itself will not be worth farthing, a
heap OF ashes scattered in the whirl.
wind, they arc now giving their time
and eternity for the acquisition OF SC
much Of 1t as you might at last hold In
the hollow Of one hand. The American
Indian who gave enough land to make
q State out Of, for string Of beads,
made a princely bargain compared
with the speculation Of that man who
gains the whole world and loses hi'
own soul. How much comfort did the
men take who died unforgiven ter
years ago, leaving large fortunes to thei
heirs? Do they ever come up to coun
the gold they boarded or walk through
the mansions they built? Though they
could have bought an empire, they hav,
not now as much money as you have
this moment in your pocket. Solomon
looked upon his palace and the grounds
surrounding 1t, pools trimmed with gold
and circling roads, along which, at times
rushed his fourteen hundred chariots
while under the out-branching syca
mores and cedars walked the apes ant
peacocks, which by the navy Of Hiram
had been brought from Tarshish, ant
from the window curtains with en-
broidered gold and purple through which
came out the thrill Of harps and psalter
les mingling with the song Of the waters
When Solomon saw thatall theseluxurie!
Of sight and sound had been purchased
by his wealth, he broke forth in the
exclamation, money answereth al
things." But we can not receive 1t Al
literal. 1t can not still the voice o.
conscience. II can not drown tho sor
rows OF the soul. 1t can not put bribt
in the hand Of death. II can not unlock
the gate Of heaven. The tower OF Siloau
fell and killed eighteen OF its admirers,
but this idol 10 whose worship the ex-
change, and banks and custom-houses oi
the world have been dedicated, will fall
and crush 10 death Its thousands. But
/ can not enumerate the .idolatries "
which men give themselves They are
kept by them from q religiops life. "Yt
can not serve God and Manmon," and
the first thing Christ does when hs
comes into. the temple Of the soul is x
drive out the exchsngers
But II was not only the gods Of Moat
that made 0rpah leave her sister and
mother-in.law. She. doubtless had I
dread cot the, hardship to which, theJ
would Be exposed con the journey &c
Bethlehem, and orpah was not alone In
the fear. Doubtless some Of you have
been appalled, and driven back By
the self-denials OF the Christian
life. The taunt Of the world, the
charge Of hypocrisy which they
would sometimes be obliged TO con
'front.' has kept smany away from the
land Of Bethlehem. They spend theil
life in counting the cost, and because I
Christian life demands so much courage
and faith, they dare not begin to build
Perhaps they are courageous In every
other respect They are not timid In
presence Of any danger except thai
oi trusting In the inAhite mer
cy of Christ The sheep are more
afraid Of the shepherd than Of the
wolves They shrink away from
the presence Of Christ as though
He were tyrant rather than friend