The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1890-06-27

axes and day books with them into the
Kingdom of Heaven There are many
who have no unholy thirst for gold, yes
who are devoting themselves to their
worldly occupations with ruinous in
tensity
1t is possible to devote ones self even
to lawful calling until it becomes sim
ful. There is no excuse on the earth or
under the earth for the neglect of our
deathIess spirit But there are others
who, while their worldly occupation has
no particular fascinatioa over them, are
entirely absorbed III THE gains that
come to that occupation. This is the
worship of mammon. The ring of dol
lars and cents is the only itany they
ever utter. Though in the last day the
earth itself Will not RewoEtFa fnrthing,
heap Of ashes shattered in the whirl-
and eternitysfor the acquisition of so
much of it assyou might at last hold in
the hollow of one hand
Solomon looked upon his palace and
the grounds surrounding it, pools
trimmed with gold, and circling roads
along which, at .timess rushe2 his 1, 400
chariots, while under the oet-branchng
sycamoress and cedars walked the apes
and peacocks, which by the navy of
Hiram had been brought from Tarshish,
and from the window curtains with en-
broidered gold and purple through
which came out the thrill of harps and
psalteries mingling with the song of the
waters. When Solomon saw that all
these luxuries of sight and sound had
been purchased by his wealth, he broke
forth in the exclamation, - Money an
swereth all things" =
But we can not receive it as liberal.
It can not still the voice of conscience. :
1t can not drown the sorrows Of the soul. -
1t can not put a bride in the hand of
death. 1t can not unlock the gate of
Heaven. The tower of Sloan fell and
killed eighteen of its admirers, but
this idol, to whose worship the ex-
changes and banks and custom houses
of the world have been ded1eztGd will
fall and crush to death Its thousands.
But cannot enumeratetthe sdelatries
to which men give themselves They
are Kept by them from religious life.
rye can not serve God and Mammon,"
and the 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 0rpah leave her sister and
dread of the hardships to which they
would be exposed on the journey to
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 hypoc-
risy which they would some4iuTes be
obliged to confront, has kept many
away from Bethlehem. They spend
their life in counting the cost, and be-
cause 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
that of trusting to the Infinite mercy of
Christ. -,
! What has God ever done that His
mercy should be doubted? Was there
ever a 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 lie did
not strengthen. in 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 hast doubted Him? Did He make
the whole earth 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
plain and precious promises, He places
His hand on. His own heart and swears
by His own existence: AS live, saith
the Lord God, have no pleasure in the
death of him that dieth." 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 thee is i''saye thee from going
down to the pit foEN have found ram
son." 1 would not envy thy victory, o
nearer, if thou dost conquer, for what
wilt thou do with the weaponsthOu hast
snatched from the armed Redeemer,
what with the tears, what with His dying
agonics what with His calls to mercy?
Would God that .Orpah would get tired
of Moab! Would God that Orpah would
20 to Bethlehem.[ 49,