The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-07-09

10 Uuuy say Uuer morning ana evening pray
ers. A little Of Christ's religion may creep
into the Sabbath, but Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Satur-
day are the days devoted to this American
idol Every hour there Is q 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 uuholy
thirst for gold, yet who are devoting them-
felves to their worldly occupations with a
change, men Of the yardstick, man Of the
saw, men Of the trowel, man Of tbs day
book, what will become Of you, If unfor-
given, in the great day whsn thsre ara no
houses to build, and no goois to sell, AMI
no bargains to make? It is possible to de-
vote ones self even to lawful calling until
it becomes sinful. There is no excuse on the
earth or under the earth for tbs neglect Of
our deathless spirit. Lydia was ssller OF
purple, yet she did not allow her offensive
occupation to keep her from becoming q
Christian. Daniel was secretary Of State
and attorney general in ths empire Of Baby
Ion, and yet thrss times day hs found
time to pray with his fac, toward Jerusa-
lem. Tbs man who has no tims to attend to
religion will have no time to enter heaven.
But there are others who, while their
worldly occupation has no particular fascina-
ton over them, are entirely absorbed In the
gains that come to that occupation. This Is
10 10 vs- - al
lars and cents is the only litany they ever
utter. Though in the last day the earth itself
will NOT be worth farthin2, hap Of ashes
scattered in the whirlwlnd, they ara now Civ
ing their time and eternity for the acquisition
OF 80 much OF it as you might at last hold in
the hollow Of ons hand.
The American Indian who gave enough
land to make State out Of for string Of
beads made princaly 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 uu-
forgiven ten years ago, leaving large for
tunes to their heirs? Do they ever coma up
to count the gold they boarded or walk
through the mansions thsy builtp Though
they could have bought an empire, thsy have
not now as much money as you have this
mo nent in your pocket. Solomon looked
upon his palace and the grounds surrounding
it, pools trimmed with gold and c;rcling
roads along which at tinss rushed his four
teen hundred chariot5, while under the out
branching Sycamoras and cedarS walked the
apes and paacocSs which by the navy OF
Hiram had bsen brought from Tarshish, and
from the window curtains with embroidered
gold and purple through which cams out the
thrill Of harps and psaltsriss minA :ny with
the song Of the>waters.
When Solomon saw that all thes, luxuries
Of sight and sound had bssn purchased by
his wealth, he broke forth in thu e1clana-
tion, s!Money answereth all things" But we
the voice Of conscience. It cannot drown
the sorrows Of the soul. It cannot put
bribe 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 to whose worship the exchanges
and banks and custom houses OF the world
have been dedicated, will fall and crush to
death its thousands. But I cannot enlmsr-
ate the idolatries to which man give tdsm-
selves. They are kept by them from re-
igious life. ''Ye cannot serve God and Nam
mon," and the first thing that Christ doss
when he comes into the tenple OF tbs soul Is
to drive out the exchangers.
But it was not only the gods Of Moab that
made Orpah leave her sister AMI m2ther-in-
law. She doubtless had dread Of the hard
ship to which they would bs exposed on the
journey to Bethlehem, and Orpaa was not
have been appalled, and driven back by the
self denials Of ths Christian life. The taunt
Of the world, the charge Of hypocrisy which
they would sometimes bs obliged to confront,
has kept many away from the land Of Beth
lehem. They spsnd their life in counting the
cost, and because Christian life demands 50
much courage and faith they dare not begin
to build. Perhaps they ara courageous In
every other respect. They are not timid In
presence of any danger except that Of trust
Ing in the infinite mercy OF Christ.
The sheep are more afraid Of the shsphsrd
than Of the wolves. They shrink away from
the presence Of Christ as though He were
tyrant rather than a friend who sticleth
closer than brother. They feel more safe
In the ranks Of the enemy whsrs they must
Christ, which shall ba more than conquerors
through Him that loved them. Men shiver
and tremble before religion as though they
were commanded to throw their life away,
as though it were surrender Of honor and
manliness and reason and sslf-respsct and all
that is worth keeping.
What has God ever done that His mercy
should be doubted? Was there ever sorrow
Of His frailest child that He did not pity2
Was there ever a soul that He left unhelped
in the darkness? Was there ever martyr
that He did not strengthen in the fanes2
Was there ever dying man to WHOSE relief
He did not come at the cry Of "Lord Jesus,
receive my spiritw Aye my soul, what has
God done that 50 basely thou has doubted
Him9 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 and
scorpions and furnaces9 God knew how
many suspicious and unbsliefs men would
entertain In regard to Him, and therefore.
after making a multitude Of plain and
precious promises, He places bis hand on bis
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 'Save thee from going down to the pit.
for have found ransom. l would not
envy thy victory, o hearer, II thou dost con-
ouer, for what wilt thou do with the wea-
pons thou hast snatched from the armed
Redeemer, what with the tears what with
His dying sgonies what with His calls to
mercy? Would God that Orpah would get
tired Of MoabI Would God that Orpah
would 90 to Bethlehem!
AN inquest recently held IN Calcutta
on the body of wealthy Hindoo dis