The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-07-03

utter. Though In the last day the earth itseli
will not DO worth farthing, a heap OF ashes
scattered in the whirlwind, they are now Civ
ing their time and eternity for the acquisition
of so much of II as you might at last hold "
the hollow of one hand.
The American Indian who gave enough
land TO make 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 his own soul. How
much comfort do the men take who died un
forgiven ten years ago, leaving large for
tunes to their heirsg Do they ever come up
TO count the gold they boarded or walk
through the mansions they builtl Though
they could have bought an empire, they have
not now as much money as you have thi,
mo rent in your pocket, Solomon looked
upon his palace and the grounds surrounding
IL, pools trimmed with gold and circlins
roads along which at times rushed his four
teen hundred chariots while under the cut
branching syc1mores and cedars walked this
apes and peacocks which by the navy o.,
Hiram had been brought from Tarshish, aud
from tho window curtains with embroidered
gold and purple through which came out tn,
thrill of harps and psalteries mingling With
the song of the waters
When Solomon saw that all these luxuriei
of sight and sound had been purchased by
his wealth, no broSe forth in the exclama.
ton, money answeTeth all thingsn But W,
cannot receive il as literal. 1t cannot still
the voice OF conscience, II cannot drown
the sorrows of the soul. II cannot put ,
bride 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 10 whose worship tho exchanges
and banks and clstom houses OF the world
have been dedicated, will fall aud crush to
death its thousands. But | cannot enumer-
Ia faa tlnta tt.ia e., s,l
selves. They are kept by them from re.
lgious life. "Ye cannot serve God and Mann
mon, and tbs first thing that Christ does
when He comes into the temple of the soul Is
to drive out the exchangers.
But it was not only the gods Of Moab that
made Orpah lelve her sister ana mother-in-
law. She doubtless had dread of the hard.
ship to which they would be exposed on the
journey to Bethlehem, aud Orpah was not
alone in the fear. Doubtless some OF you
have been appalled, and driven back by the
self denials OF ths Christiln life. The tauns
Of the world, the charged of hypocrisy which
they would sometimes be obligei to confront,
has kept many away from the land of Beth
lehan. 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 ar, courageous in
every Other respect. They ara not tinnid in
presence Of any danger except that of trust
ing in the infinite mercy Of Christ.
The sheep are more afrail OF the shepherd
than of thu wolves They shrink away from
the presence of Christ rs though He were
tyrant rather than a friend who sticketh
closer than brother. They feel more safe
in the ranks of the ensmy where they must
suffer infinite defeat than in the army Of
Christ, which shall be more than conquarors
through Him that loved them. Men SILVER
and treIble before religion as though they
were commanded to throw their life away,
as though it were a surrender of honor and
manliness and reason and self-respact and all
that is worth keeping.
What has God ever done that His mercy
should be doubted? Was there ever a sorrow
of His frailest child that He did not pityi
Was there ever soul that He left unheped
in the darkness? Was there ever martyr
that He did not strengthen il the flames,
Was there ever dying man TO whose relief
He did not come at the cry of Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit?' Aye, my SOUL what has
God done that so basely thou has doubted
Him? Did He make the whole earth a
desert? Are all the skies dark and storm
swept Is life all sickness? Is the air all
plague? Are there nothing but rods and
scorpions and furnaces: God knew how
many suspicious and unbeliefs men would
entertain in regard to Him, and therefore,
after making a multitude of pain and
precious promises, He places His hand on His
own heart and swears by His own existence:
"As L live, saith the Lord God, have no
pleasure in the death Of him that dieth.n
Why then fight against God? 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 are calls to
mercy, and the battle cry which He this day
sends over thy soul as He rushes toward thes
is Save thee from going down to the pit,
for have found a ransom" I would not
envy thy victory, o bearer, if thou dost con-
quer, for what wilt thou do with the wea-
pons thou hast snatche1 from the armed
Redeemer, what with the tears, what with
His dying agonies what with His calls to
mercy? Would God that Orpah would get
tired of Moab! Would God that Orpah
would SO TO BethleIe9'