The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-05
LAYING UP OF RICHES.
DIR. PEARSON THINKS THEY ARE A
GOOD THING, BUT DANGEROUS.

Bard Class for Preachers to Get
At-Dr. Pearson Tackles the Church
Fair and supper-The Church He
Does Not Consider a Pauper and
He Wants 1t Run on Its Merits.
The union meetings at Wesley Monu-
mental church continue with undated in
terest.
The church vas crowded. as usual. last
night 10 hear Dr. Pearson's sermon on lay
ing up riches, directed especially TO business
men. Almost the entire lower floor was oc-
cupied by men, the gallery being filled with
ladies and children.
The opening services were conducted by
Rev. DR.. Vsss Of the First Presbyterian
church.
DR.. Parsons text was Matthew vi, ~,
20: Lay not up for yourselves treasures
upon earth" An egreglous incorrect
idea prevails, be said. that it is sinful TO
have riches. But Abraham was wealthy and
was friend Of God. 1t is mistake, he
added, to think that there is virtue in pow
erty. But many very poor men are very
sinful.
Many men think that 1t must be all bus
mess and no religion. Such will land In an
eternal hell. If again 1t is all religion and
no business, you will land soon in tho poor
house. But the Bible says be ferveut in
spirit, as we'll as diligent In business. A rich
Christian man is power on earth. God
will hold every man to rigid account OF
his stewardship as he holds preachers &C
countable for theirs.
A common error is that because salvation
is free money has nothir g 10 do.with religion.
But man whose pocket hook is not cons
verified is in a bad case. God says lay not
up treasures for yourself. Luke xix, 20, 81:
Soul thou hast much goods laid up for
many years, etc: "God said thou fool, etc.
That man lost his soul. Why's He was so
immersed IN business that he forgot to pre-
pare to meet God He seems to have been
an upright man in trade. Every man
ought to he But "to forget Godn will
damn a soul Here is the business man who
goes to the postoffice on Sunday. His BUSH
ness crowds out God that day. So with
lawyers and others who settle business
make out briefs and sell drugs, cigars, etc.
Forgetting God Another is reading his
Sunday newspaper, or going out to his lit
tie farm 10 get fresh air.
"W hen the young man heard that saying
he went away sorrowful, for he had great
possessions" Matthew xix, %.
WEALTH CAUSES NEGLECT.
Next wealth makes a man neglect
Christ, as did this young man with great
possessions. When the issue was joined,
Christ or riches, the man went away
sorro ~ful. Rich Fifth avenue sinners are
as hard to reach as heather. They will not
deny themselves for Christ. The experience
of city pastors Is that the hardest class Of
men 20 reach is the upper ten" There is
no room In the heart for Christ.
Riches choke the word OF God. Sow
mustard seed among thistles and weeds,
hoxv
loaning men in tight places money at ex-
tortionste rates' Taking mems labor for
less than it is WORTH You are choking
Gods word out of you. Are you dealing in
lottery tickets, dealing in futures, gambling,
getting something fox nothingl You are
hardening the heart and choking out
truth.
"Verily say unto you that rich man
shall hardly enter into the kingdom of
heaven" Matthew xix. %.
Does poverty save menl DR.. Pears on
asked. No. But when money chokes
Christ and the Bible out Of the heart, be
must lose heaven. How can a man make
money and be ssfei By letting the outgo
be proportional to the Income" 1t was so
with Abraham.
DR.. Pearson argued for the validity of
the tithing system. That law has never
been repealed and stands to-day, he said.
His own practice was to rigidly lay aside
one-tenth of all he received, and 1t was a
means Of grace and he would as soon cease
TO pray as to cease tithing. 1t is health for
the soul The man who does not pay God
his 1.-THE, robs God Of his rent.
DOWN on CHURCH AFFAIRS.
DR.. Pearson arraigned the whole system
of church suppers, fairs, etc., for raising
money for the church. Gods cause he
said. is not the cause of a psuper Run the
church on its merits. and support it in an
honorable way, he said. Moses built the
tabernacle from free gifts
THE love of money is the root of ell
evil" l. Timothy vi, o, 10. Riches drown
men in destruction, They who will be rioh
think more ebout money than salvation.
Young men to-day are unwilling to be eco
nomical and make money slowly. He gave
many prominent examples of men to-day,
who had gone down in financial social,
moral and eternal destruction.
Another trouble, DR.. Pearson said, is that
earthly riches fade away. Men Of the world
are like lot of big boys rolling up big balls
of snow that the sun of Righteousness melts
all away.
They satisfy not. Jay Gould ia as unsat
isfied today as when he peddled a mouse
trap on the streets Of New York. A rich
woman in New York paid her cook g. 900 a
year, and she could eat nothing but
little milk and hoeoake. All. the soul
Riches profit not in the day Of wrath.
There are no side-pockets in your sbroud.
II you could carry your wealth with You
what would IL profit youl
These riches will rust and canker. II has
not been used. You have not been a faith
full steward. How are you making your
money! Are you boarding it up for your
self. 1t viii canker. Your garments are
moth-eaten. Women keeping I'D with So
ciety and multiplying dress, when the poor
are suffering, these robes will eat UP COM
fort.
but thou o man Of Goo, flee these things
and follow after Righteousness, goodness.
faith, love, patience. meekness." l. limo
thy vi, II.
'Flee these things, men and women of
Savannah. Lay hold on eternal life and
secure eternal riches and inheritance he
said.
DIR. Pearson quoted scripture freely
throughout, showing the unfavorable dis
position Of the Bible toward riches.
1t was announced that the subject of the
Bible reading this morning at IL o'clock will
be Looking to Jesus"
Tonight DR.. Pearson will preach on the
subject Of Excuse for Not Coming to
Jesus
The lower floor of the church will be re.
served again for men tonight and the gal
Iery for ladies.