The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-08-29

Pierrepont Edwards, the bad, belong
to the same family. Aaron Burr, the
dissolute, had most excellent father.
Dying yet immortal nearer, by the
solemnity of the parental and filial
and conjugal relation, by the sacred
ness of the family hearth, by the honor
of the family name, by the memory of
departed kindred, point out this part
ing of Ruth and Orpah.
WHY PEOPLE REFUSE CHRIST.
Again, this subject suggests to me
two of the prominent reasons why peo-
pie refuse the kingdom of Christ. There
may have been many other reasons why
Orpah left her sister and mother-in-law
and went back home, but there were
two reasons which l think were more
prominent than the rest. She had been
brought up in idolatries. She loved the
heather gods which her ancestors had
worshiped, and though these blocks of
wood and stone could not hear, she
thought they could hear, and though
they could not see, she thought they
could see, and though they could not
feel, she thought they could feel. A
new religion had been brought to her
attention. She had married a godly
man. She must often have heard her
mother-in-law talk of the God of Israel.
She was so much shaken in her original
belief that she concluded to leave her
idolatries, but coming to the margin of
the land of Bethlehem her determine
ton failed her and speedily she returned
to her gods.
This is the very reason why multi
tudes of persons never become Chris
tians. They cannot bear to give up
their gods. Business is the American
Juggernaut that brushes more men than
the great car of the Hindoos. To it
they say their morning and evening
prayers. A little of Christ's religion
may creep into the Sabbath, but Mon
day, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.
Friday and Saturday are the days de-
voted to this American idol. Ever
hour there is a sacrifice on the
altar. Home duties, health of body,
manly strength and immortal affections
must all 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
themselves to their worldly occupations
with ruinous intensity. Men of the
stock exchange, men of the yardstick
men of the saw, men of the trowel, men
of the day book, what will become of
you, if unsorgiven, in the great day
when there are no houses to build. and
no goods to sell, and no bargains to
make9 1t is possible to devote ones self
even to lawful calling until it be-
comes 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 extensive occupation to keep
her from becoming a Christian. Daniel
was secretary of state and attorney
general in the empire of Babylon, and
yet three times day he found time to
pray with his face toward Jerusalem
The man who has no time to attend to
religion will have no time to enter
heaven.
THE WORSHIP OF MAMMON.
But 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
Mammon. The ring of dollars and
cents is the only itany they ever utter
Though in the last day the earth itself
will not be worth a farthing, heap of
ashes scattered in the whirlwind, they
are now giving their time and eternity
for the acquisition of so much of it as
you might at last hold in the hollow of
one hand.
The American Indian who gave
enough land to make state out of for
a string of beads made a princely bar
gain compared with the speculation of
that man who gains the whole world
and loses his own soul dow much
comfort do the men take who died un-
forgiven ten years ago, leaving large
fortunes to their heirs9 Do they ever
come up to count the gold they hoard
ed or walk through the mansions they
built9 Though they could have bought
an empire, they have not now as much
money as you have 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 the apes and peacocks which
by the navy 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 min
Cling with the song of the waters.
When Solomon saw that all these
Injuries of sight and sound had been
purchased by his wealth he broke forth
in the exclamation, Money answereth
all things" But we cannot receive it
as literal. 1t cannot still the voice of
conscience. 1t cannot drown the sor-
rows of the soul. 1t cannot put bride
in the hand of death. 1t cannot unlock
the gate of heaven. The tower of ST.
loan fell and killed eighteen of its ad-
mirers, 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