St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-05-16
MAKE YOUR WILL.
Rev. William Wilkinson Says Men
Should Not Wait.

Should Not w AIT.
Plain words, not to be mistaken, and
which deserve to be deeply pondered
by many men, were spoken by MIR. Will
klnson in his sermon at st. Andrews
church yesterday morning. The SUBJ
ject was David'S last words to Solo
mon, his son, as reported in the first
book of Kings. The preacher said:
1.-Two of the most remarkable men in
history, by general consent, stand be-
fore US; one with his eventful life
behind him just about to close, the
other with mis- official life before him
just about to open. David has had such
an experience as no other man ever
had; he has known sin in its most
pleasing and in its 'SaddeSt guiSe'; he
has sounded the deepest depths of SOr
row. In the eyes of two aStOniShed
armies, with single throw of smooth
stone he has laid at once the hopes of
the Phllistines and the lordly giant of
Gath in the dust, and made the hosts of
Israel JOY with exceeding joy, as the
maids said, and the matrOnS an
swered, David hath slain his tens of
thousands. In later years, OH many a
hard fought field, this man led mighty
armies to victory. For forty years he
has been king over people. 1t re-
CURED genius to rule, but he has been
equal to the task. Few men ever I'M
derstOod the human heart as this shep-
herd king did. In proof of this, we have
his psalms, which still come to us, sing
ing as they come, as they have come to
men of other lands and time for hun
dred ages. Now this man is about to
die. He knows it well. Death, gaunt
and grim, looks into his face. He
is not afraid. He is calm and
still. He asks for Solomon. Solomon
comes. David commanded him TO be
true man, to love and serve God; so
shall he come to honor, to power, to an
influence, which will abide and be
blessed. Solomon knew his fathers
will; all the people knew it. David had
not left his kingdom or his property to
arrange in his last hours, or they would
not have been arranged wisely, as they
were. David had made it sure that the
temple would be buit OH Mount Zion,
and he had prepared with holy care the
material for it. Wise, indeed, he was.
Many men now would show good
Judgment if they would make suitable
provision for the use of their wealth
after they have no more use for 1t. How
is it so many men do not. in the heydav
Of their lives, make their wills? 1t is
not that they think that to do so is to
hasten death, for they know well that is
foolish superstition. Is it not, rather,
because they do not love to think about
the time when they shall leave the-tO
them-delectabIe things they now toll
so hard to win and strive SO to enjoy?
This is the reason many men do put off
what is solemn duty to themselves;
E. 4, lt.ff.
it is trust, and should he used
for the comfort of those who have
perspective, when claims are not con-
sidered which ought to have preference;
when the poor are not provided for,
and the works of religion receive no
recognition or help. Those who read
such wills, whose eyes are open to read
the signs of the times, know well what
is meant. The chaSm, now wide, be
tween rich and poor, between capital
and labor, is widened, and the work of
those who are trying to unity men and
to make one all men, in common bond
of love and mutual service, is
made harder, and the task of the
anarchist is so much the easier.
Goodness is put at disadvantages; evil
receives new power. God is not hon
Ored; men are unblessed. 1t is in the
glad acknowledgment of trust for the
benefit of others, and corresponding
action in regard to wealth, that the rich
men of our time will find their highest
Joy and most permanent security. No
one man, no one family can, in reason
able way, use and enjoy the modern
fortune. Steam and other powers
which our modern mechanics know so
we'll how to use make the fortunes
of the olden days appear small and
unimportant by contrast. and we ought
as churchmen constantly to bear in
mind. as servants of Jesus Christ. that
in this money-making age, when the
tendency is for us as people to become
gross and selfish, that it is our duty to
cry aloud, and to spare not, against the
worship of cash and the selfish use
thereof; to plead for the poor, the help
less and thOSe-whose name is legion
who need the sympathy, assistance and
blessing that wealth can give. In do
ing this we are following, and teaching
others to follow, the example of our
Saviour, who gave Himself for the up
lifting and salvation of E:en.