St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-05-04
THE UNFINISHED TOWER.
Rev. ID. j. Burreil Explains
Christ's Parable on the Subject.

Rev. ID. j. Burrell Explains
Christ's Parable on the Subject.
THE Unfinished Tower was DR.. d.
J. Burrell's subject last night He
preached from Luke xiv, $3.50. He
said:
'As one passes along the road lead
| ing out from Capernaum along the lake
| shore he may see to the north the snowy
caps CT Lebanon, to the east the cliffs
beyond Jordan, and to the west the mists
rising from the Mediterranean sea. A
dweller in Capernaum in the olden
time, struck with the beauty of the cut
look, said: OF all places in the world
this IS the spot for a summer home
and without ceremony he gave
orders for the building OF one. He
| might better have proceeded with
greater deliberatiJn, for scarcely was
the foundation laid before his workmen
applied for more money, and his funds
having given out, he was obliged to suS-
pend operations. For years the founda-
ton stools just as those workmen had
left them, quite useless, until one day
Jesus passing that way found use for
them i'll brief parable. 1t was at the
time OF His greatest popularity. Multi
tudeS were following him, some out of
hear His words respecting the great
spiritual problems; some like many
church gOerS, because they had nothing
better to do. Then he turned and spoke
plainly to them of what it really meant
to follow him; subordinating of all
other considerations to his service, a de-
nying of self and taking up the cross.
1t was in this discourse that he pointed
10 the old tower" and said, For which
of you, intending to build a tower, sit
teth not down first and counteth the
cost; whether we have sufficient to fin
iSh it; lest haply, after he hath laid the
foundation and is not able TO finish, all
that behold it begin to mock him, say
ing, This man began to build and was
not able to finish And upon that he
proceeded to ring the changes Oh this
precept. Count the cost! Count
the costn 1t was little wonder,
and sad enough, that many
Of the multitude turned back
and followed him no more. In any case,
however, we recognize the frankness of
our Master. We want an honest Christ,
and we have such one. If any of us
are contemplating setting out on the
Christian life we cannot do better than
to face the question calmly and deliber-
ately. 1t is life service, and common
prudence bids US weigh the matter
we'll"
The speaker undertook at this point
to weigh the considerations on both
sides. On one side, to enter upon
a Christian life means to give
up, first, sin; second, attachment
TO this world as an abiding home;
third, all offensive pleasures; fourth, all
such personal morality as falls under
the head of "merit-making;" and fifth,
working for ones self, the life-work
being thereafter to cooperate. with
Christ in the building up of the king
dom of God. On the other side it means,
first. a word of pardon, "Thy sins be
forgiven thee;" second, right hand of
guidance, He leadeth me-" third,
right arm barred for our protection and
defense so that all things are made to
work together for our good; fourth,
benediction of peace; fifth,
the Joy of holy service: sixth,
a promise for the life that now is; sew
enth, hopethat maketh not ashamed;
eighth, FREDERICKSBURG life"
If any are disposed, upon this reckon
Ing, to reject the Christian life or post
pone its acceptance, let them consider
the converse side of this problem-as
elsewhere given by our Lord: "What
shall it profit man if he gain the whole
world and lose his own soul?" 1t is
wise to consider we'll this important
matter, but it is not wise TO prOcrasti-
nate and call it prudence. If we be-
lieve in Jesus we should set out at once
to follow Him. Let us be wise to-day.