The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-06-24
THE WoRSuIp OF MAsMOy

heaven.
THE WORSHIP OF MAaiMoN.
Bat there are Others who, while their
worldly occupation has no particular
fascination over them. are entirely alb
sorbed in the gains that come to that
occupation. This is the worship of
NIainlnon The ring OF dollars and
cents is the only litany they ever utter.
Though in the last day the earth itself
will not he worth a lartling, n heap OF
ashes scattered in the whirlHind, they
are now giving their time and eternity
for the acquisition of so much of it as
you might ut last hold in the hollow of
one hand.
The American Indian who gave
enough land to make state ont of for
u string of beads made II princely bar
gain 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
fortunes to their heirs! Do they ever
como up to count the gold they hoard
cd or walk through the mansions they
builtl Though they could have bought
an empire, they have not now rs much
money as you havo this moment in
your pocket. Solomon looked upon his
palace and the grounds surrounding it,
pools trimmed with gold and circling
roads along Which at times rushed his
fourteen hundred chariots, while under
the outbranching sycamores and cedars
walked tho apes and peacocks which
by the navy OF Hiram had been
brought from Tarshisll, and from the
window curtains with embroidered gold
and purple through which came out
the thrill Of harps and psalteries min
gliEs with the song of the waters.
When Solomon saw that all these
uxlr;es Of sight and sound had been
purchased by his wealth he broke forth
in the exclamation. Money answereth
all thing" But we cannot receive it
as literal. 1t cannot still the voice OF
conscience. 1t cannot drown the sor-
rows OF the soul. Il cannot put 2 bride
in the hand of death. 1t cannot unlock
the gate of heaven The tower of 81
loan fell and killed eighteen OF its adj
nlirers, but this idol. to whose worship
the exchanges and banks and custom
houses of the world have been dedi-
Gated, will fall and crush to death its
thousands. But | cannot enumeratc
the idolatries to which lnen give them
selves. They are kept by them from a
religious life. 'Ye cannot 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.
DO NOT TURN BACK BECAUSE OF DREAD.
But it was not only the gods of Moab
that made Orpal leave her sister and
mother-in-law. She doubtless had a
dread Of the hardship 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, ana driven back by
tie self-denials OF the Christian lie.
The taunt of the wor!l. the charge OF
hypocrisy which they s.oald sometimes
be obliged TO confront, i,as kept many
away from the land Of Bethlehem.
T!ey spend their life in counting tic
cost; and because Christian life de
.nands somuc;l courage and faith they
dare not begin to build Perhaps they
are courageous in cvery other respect.
They are not tiiul in presence of any
danger except thot OF trusting in tic
infinite mercy of Christ
Tie sheep arc more AFRAID OF the shep
herd than of thu wolves Thcy SHRINK
away from thc presence of Christ as
though lie were u tyraat rather than
friend who sticketh closer than broth
or. They feel more sa.fc III the ranks
OF tn c,ia.ny, where thcy mist suffer
iaiini.a defeat t!lan--in the army o.
Girl. which shall be more than con
q,lc;.aas through lIiin that hath loved
t,lem. Mem aliv2r and tremb!o before
rcli5icn - tough they were command.
cd to throw their life away, as though
it we're . surrender Of homer and man
Iincss, and reason a:id self respect, and
all that is worth l.ecping.
WHY SHOULD GODS MERCY 81: DoEETTD:
What his God ever done that his
mercy should he doubted? Was there
ever sorrow of his fr,jilest child that
he did not pity? Was there ever a soul
that lie left unhelped in the darkness:
Was there ever Il martyr that he did
not strengthen in the llanese Was
there ever dying !uan to whose reiie!
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 hiin9 Did he make
the whole earth desert9 Are all the
skies dark and storm swept Is life all
sickness Is the ar I'll plague2 Are
there nothing but rcGs and scorpions
and furnaces. God knew how many
suspicious and unbeliefs men would
entertain in regard to him, and there
FORE after malzing.a multitude of plain
and precious promises, lie 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 d;eth.
Why, then, fight Against God2 This
day the battle RACES. Thou art armed
with thy sins, thy ingratitude, thy neg
lacts and Christ is armed against thee,
but his weapons are tears, are dying
agonies, are calls to mercy. and the bat
tie cry which he this day sends over
thy soul as he rushes toward thee is.
"Save thee from going down to the pit,