The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1890-07-10
they say their morning and evening pray

Et they say their morning and evening pray
crs. "A little OF ChrisEs religion may creep
into tho Sabbath, but Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and iSatur-
day are the days devoted to this Am arican
Idol. Every hour there is sacrifice On the
altar. Home duties, health Of body, manly
strength and immortal affections must aE
burn in this holocaust. Men act as though
they could take their bonds and mortgages
and saws and trowels and axes and day
books with them into the kingdom of heaven.
There are many who have no unholy
thirst for gold, yet who are devoting them
felves to their worldly occupations with q
ruinous intensity. Men OF tho Stock EX-
change, men of the yardstic&, men Of the
saw, men Of the trowe, men of the day
book, what will become OF you, il unfor-
given, in the great day when there ara no
houses to build, and no goods to sell, and
no bargains to make? 1t is possible to de-
vote ones self even to lawful calling until
it becomes sinful. There is no excuse on the
earth or under the earth for the neglect of
our deathless spirit. Lydia was seller OF
purple, yet she did not allow her offensive
occupation to keep her from becoming a
Christian. Daniel was secretary Of State
and attorney general in the empire Of Baby
lon, and yet three times C. day he found
time to pray with his faco toward Jcrusa-
lem. The man who has no time to attend to
religion will have no time to enter heaven.
But there are others who. while their
worldly occupation has no particular fascina-
lion over them, are entirely absorbed in the
gains that come to that occupation. This IS
the worship of Mammon. The ring of dol
lars and cents is the only litany they ever
utter. Though in the last day the earth itself
will not be worth farthing, q heap of ashes
scattered in the whirlwind, they are now CIV
ing their time and eternity for the acquisition
of so much Of it as you might at lest hold in
the hollow Of one hand.
The American Indian who gave enough
land to make State out Of for c. string Of
beads made q princely bargain compared
with the speculation Of that man who gains
the whole world and loses his own soul. How
much comfort do the men take who died un-
forgiven ten years ago, leaving large for
tunes to their heirs? Do they ever come up
10 count the gold they boarded or walk
through the mansions they built: Though
they could have bought an empire, they have
not now as much money as you have this
mo nent in your pocket. Solomon looked
upon his palace and the grounds surrounding
it, pools trimmed with gold and circling
roads along which ct times rushed his four
teen hundred chariots while under the out
branching sycamores and cedars walked the
.pes and ,peacocks which by the nay OF
Hiram had been brought from Tarshish, and
from the window curtains with embroidered
gold and purple through which came out the
thrill of harps and psalterieS milgling with
the song Of the waters.
When Solomon saw that oil these luSuries
Of sight and sound had been purchasel By
his wealth, he broke forth in tho exclam1-
ton, money answereth all things" Hut we
cannot receive it as literal. 1t cannot still
the voice Of conscience. &c cannot drown
the SORROWS of the soul. 1t cannot put
bribe in the hand Of death. 1t cannot un-
lock the gate Of heaven. The tower Of 81
loan fell and killed eighteen Of its admirers;
but this idol to whose worship the exchanges
aud banks and custom houses OF the world
have been dedicated, will fall aud crush to
death its thousands. But cannot anlmer-
ate the idolatries to which men give them.
selves. They are kept by then from re-
ligious life. I'VE cannot serve God and Mann
mon, and the first thing that Christ does
when He comes into the temple OF the soul Is
10 drive out the exchangers.
But it was not only the gods Of Moab that
made Orpah leave her sister and 1notter-ln-
law. She doubtless had dread of the hard
,hip to which they would be exposed on the
Journey to Bethlehem, and Orpah Was not
alone in the fear. Doubtless some oE You
have been appalled, and driven back by the
ielf denials of thu Christian life. The taunt
,f the world, the charge of hypocrisy which
they would sometimes be obliged to confront,
has kept many away from the land OF Beth
Iehsm. They spend their life in counting the
cost, and because Christian life demands SO
much courage and faith they dare not begin
to build. Perhaps they are courageous in
every other resp,cS. They are MOI tlmid In
presence Of any danger except that of trust
ing in the infinite mercy OF Christ.
The sheep are more afraid Of the shepherd
than of the wolves. They shrink away from
the presence of Christ as though F[e were
tyrant rather THAI a friend who sticketh
closer than brother They feel more safe
In the ranks of the enemy where they must
suffer infinite defeat than in the army OF
Christ, which shall be moro than conquerors
through Him that Lowell them. Men shiver
and tremhle before religion as though they
were commanded to throw thcr life away,
rs though it were surrender or honor and
marines and reason AMI self-respect and all
that is worth keeping.
What has God ever dons that His mercy
should be doubted? Was there ever sorrow
of His frailest child that He did not pity?
Was there ever soul that He left unhelped
in the darkness? Was there ever martyr
that He did not strengthen in the flames?
Was there ever dying man to whose relief
Ee did not CON, at tho cry Of LORD Jesus
receive my SPIRIT" Aye, my soul, what has
God done that 50 5as,ly thou has doubted
Him? Dill He make the whole earth
desert? Are all the skies dark and storm
swept? Is life all sickness? Is ths air all
plague? Are there nothing but rods and
scorpions and furnaces? Col knew how
many suspicious and unbeliefs men would
ell tartain in regard to Him, and therefore.
after making a multitude Of plain and
precious promises He places His hand on His
own heart and swears by His own existence:
"As live, saith tho Lord God, have no
pleasure in the death of him that dieth."
Why then fight against GodS This day
the battle RACES. Thou art armed with thy
sins, thy ingratitude, thy neglects, and
Christ is armed against thee, but His weapons
are tears, are dying agonies, ore calls to
mercy, and the battle cry which He this day
sends over thy soul as He rushes toward thee
is Save thee from going down to the pit,
for have found ransom" I would not
envy thy victory. o hearer, if thou dosi con-
quer, for what wilt thou do with the wea-
pons thou hast snatched from the armed
Releemer, what with the tears, what with
His dying agonies, what with His cells to
mercy? Would God that Orpah would get
tired of Moab! Would God that Orpah
would 60 to Bethlehem!