Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-07-03

hear, She thought they could lear, and,
though .tcy could not see, she thought
they could see, and, though thss eenld
not feel, she thought they could feel, A
new religion had been brought to her
attention. She had married a gedlf
man. She must efteh have heard her
methe--in-iaw talk of the God of Israel,
She was so much shaken in her original
belief that she, concluded to leafs
her idolstries, bit coming to the
margin of the land of Bethlehem, her
determination failed her, and speedily
she returned to her gods. This is the
very reason why multitudes of persons
/ never become Christians. They can not
bear to give up their gods Business ia
the American jhggernaut that GfusHes
n1ore men than the great ear OF the
Hindoos. To it they say their morning
and evening prayers. A little OF Christ's
religion may creep into the Sabbath, but
Monday. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurs
day, Friday and Saturday, are the days
devoted to this American idol. Every
hour there is 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 theft 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 in
tensity.
1t is possible to devote ones self even
to lawful calling until 1t becomes sin
full. There is no excuse on the earth or
under the earth for the neglect of our
deathless spirit. But there are others
who while their worldly occupation has
no particular fasc nation over them, are
entirely absorbed in the gains that
como to that occupation. This is the
worship of mammon. The ring of dol
lars and cents is the only litany they
ever utter. Though in the last day the
earth itself will not be worth farthihg,
heap of ashes scattered in the whirl-
wind, 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.
Solomon looked upon his palace and
the grounds surrounding it, pools
trimmed with gold, and circ1ing roads
along which, at times, rushed his /, 400
char.ots, while under the out-branching
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 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.
1t can not still the voice of conscience.
1t can not drown the sorrows of the soul.
1t can not put 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 dedicated, will
fall and crush to death its thousands.
But l can not enumerate the idolatries
to which men give themselves. They
are kept by them from a religious life.
"Ye 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 Orpah leave her sister and
mother-in-law. She doubtless had a
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 sometimes 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 a soul
that He left unhelped in the darkness?
Was there ever martyr that He 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, nv
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 |
lay sends over thy soul as He rushes
toward thee is save thee from going |
down to the pit for 1 have found ran
son." would not envy thy victory o !
hearer, if thou dost conquer, for what |
wilt thou do with the weapons thou hast |
snatched from the armed Redeemer, |
what with the tears, what with His dying |