The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-02-05
Rev. II. w. Crabbe.

Rev. H. W. Crsbbe of the Second
United Presbyterian congregation
preached yesterday morning in the
Y. NJ. G. A. auditorium. His text was
taken from. Luke, xii 33 "a. 'Sell that
ye have and give alms; provide your
selves bags which wax not old, treas
ure in the heavens. that faileth not,
where no thief approached, neither
moth corrupteth. For where your treas
ure is there will your heart be also."
The design in speaking these words
was to lead his apostles out in thought
to higher and nobler duty; to higher
conception OF the services to Christ
Jesus. and if they were prepared to do
the first, they would be no doubt willing
to do the second command.
II we were az deeply interested in the
kingdom OF God and HE righteousness
and in the salvation OF our souls as we
ough to be, we will have neither time
nor disposition to worry about the
things that are necessary for our COM
tort in this life. nor even worry about
what we shall have in the life to come.
We may ask ourselves what good rea-
sons can Christ give, or what good res-
sons we ourselves have this morning,
"Sell that We have and give alms."
AS long as people have something of
an earthly nature they think they are
Batter off than those that. have none.
Blt il they have no confidence in God
they have nothing on which to lean.
We who have this confidence show that
we have set the kingdom of God and
His righteousness in advance OF every
| thing else. We make it first in import
ance. We show where our affections
are. If we have our treasures in heaven,
there will our thoughts be, our affec-
tions and desires. He does not mean
His disciples alone in the MUM ction,
| but every one that He calls to be His
disciples.
1t would seem perhaps like rash
thing for the disciples to do to sell all
that they had, particularly if they had
any person who WAS dependent upon
them; yet it was not inconsistent with
Gods word it was not inconsistent with
the religion they had protested; and
hence it would not be considered in any
sense rash or reckless to follow Christ to
this extent.
Peter said to Jesus upon one occasion
Master, we have left all and followed
thee; what shall we have therefor? And
Christ said to him, that the man who
has left everything in this word for NY
sake, he shall cit upon thrones of glory,
and have everlasting life.
/ have seen men who have earthly
possessions, and these possessions stand
between them and tina kingdom o.
God: And they canuot enter there un'
less they are willing to part with them
for his kingdom. There are others who
are absorbed in the pleasures and enjoy
ments ofithis life, and it would be bet
ter Tor their souls if they would give
them up for Christ's sake.
Do my possessions stand between me-
and eternal life? Is my experience such
az to show they do? Do my enjoyments
do my evil habits lift me up in my
spiritual nature? Do they make me
love Gods word more? Or do they
make me love these things less? You
experience is your schoolmaster in this
and We find by experience that nothing
in this world should stand between Vi
} and the kingdom OF God.
a Some one may say that l have moth
! ing to give God. Give self. The Lore
Jesus Christ will take self, if yon will
recognize what He will give you for ii
He will make new creature of you
10 Will give you ny" Honic III "a
change for the old: He will give tru
riches in exchange for your possession
. the riches of grace here and glor.
hereafter. For that inheritance whicl
you hold now, He will give an inherit
! ance that is incorruptible and undefilei
and that fadeth not away.
, If you will cast your sins upon Hin
He will sustain and strengthen you. H
will give you peace and pardon. Ii
will give you crown of righteousness
There is nothing that you can Civ
Him but He will give you something il
,, exchange that will be infinitely better
There will be a struggle in ever.
heart that seeks to comply with thee
commands. 1t will be desperate strug
, gle. But the reward is sure to thos
who will be steadfast to the end.