The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-11-13
Sunday Services.

Chaplain ]. II. Albert conducted the services
Sunday. He took for his text Matthew xxi. 1881:
but what think ye? A certain man had two sons;
and he came to the first, and said. Son. go work to-
day in my vineyard. He answered and said,
will not; but afterward he repented, and went
And he came to the second and said likewise.
And he answered and said. go. sir; and went not
Whether of them twain did the will of his father?
them. Verify say unto you, That the pubicans
and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before
you.'
The chaplain began his discourse by describing
Christ's method of teaching by parallels as the
simplest and most impressive way of teaching
But the parable has its faIings, for those who do
not want to hear the truth in any form will not
take the right meaning out of it, Men resist the
truth when it conflicts with their selfish ambitions
The meaning of the parable of the text was clear
enough to the Jews. but they chose not to COM
prehend. They were cold, selfish, and calculating
and Christ Gkened them to the second son who
promised on the impulse but on second thought
concluded to not honor his fathers command.
The first son did wrong on the impulse by refusing
to obey. but afterward when he thought the mat
ter over, he went into the vineyard to work. The
Jews pretended to consider the one who promised
to CO. but went not, as the more obedient son.
And this shows the disposition of the people to
have been to set more value upon mere outward
show than upon true worth. The first young man
did wrong impulse. but when he had taken
time for sober reflection he saw his error and
turned about and did what his conscience told
him was his duty. Every true man changes to
meet the necessities of his situation. Men are
often held up to contempt for sudden changes of
opinion purpose; but these changes are often
the result of rightly responding to a change Of
circumstances. If man did not change to suit the
changeable nature of things he could not be con-
sidered rational being. But much of the good
we do in the world we do upon the impulse or the
inspiration of the moment, and if did not do it
at that time the opportunity would pass. or if we
waited to calculate the cost our selfshness or
prejudice would gain the mastery. We say that
these impulsve people not reliable, and this is
true of some who are of weak character; but there
is the soul current bearing man along, opening
up before him new scenes that awaken new inn.
pulses and new aspirations. The great failing of
many is that they do not live up to their impulses
Men 60 into the church and are lifted up by noble
impulses. but the door is scarcely shut behind
them before they have forgotten them. 1t is this
continual abuse Of the good impulses that leads to
the Indifference and hardness of men and takes
them out of the reach of the power of Christianity
There are times when men SO wrought up by
circumstances that they throw caution away and
act by impulses alone and it is at such times they
do their best and noblest acts. People should act
more on impulses, for second thought often takes
away the desire to do the right thing. So, my
friends, if ere is one impulse in Won for some.
thing better hold to it for life.