Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-11-12

OF pleasure, and AL the thrones Of pomn.
ana all the ages of eternity. 1t is a ioy
ueeper than all depth, and higher than
al height, and wider than all width. and
vaSter than all immensity. It overtops,
IL undergirds, it outweighs all the unit
gG splendor and JOY of the universe.
VINO can tell what Gods Joy is?
The Rejoicing Father.
You remember reading the story of a
klhg who on some great day of festivi-
" scattered silver and gold among the
people, who sent valuable presents to
MS courtiers, but methinks when soul
comes back God is SO glad that to ex.
press his joy he filings out new worlds
INTO space kindles up new suns and
rolls among the white robed anthems of
the redeemed greater halleluiah, while
with voice that reverberates among
the mountains Of frankincense and is
echoed back from the everlasting gates
he cries, "This, my son, was dead and
is alive againl"
AT the opening of the exposition in
New Orleans saw Mexican futist.
and he played the solo, and then after
ward the eight or ten bands of music,
accompanied by the great organ, came
III, but the sound of that one flute as
compared with all the orchestra was
greater than all the combined Joy of the
universe when compared with the re-
sounding heart of Almighty God.
For ten years father went three
times day to the depot. His son went
off in aggravating circumstances, but
the father said, He will come back. "
The strain was too much, and his mind
parted, and three times day the father
went. In the early morning he watch.
ed the train-its arrival, the stepping
out of the passengers, and then the de.
parture Of train. At noon he was there
again, watching the advance of the
train, watching the departure
At night there again, watching the
coming watching the going, for ten
years. He was sure his son would come
back. God has been watching and wait
ing for some of you, my brothers, / c
years, 20 years, 30 years, 40 years, per.
haps 90 years, waiting, waiting, watch
ing, watching, and If this morning the
prodigal should come home, what a
scene of gladness and festivity and how
the great Fathers heart would rejoice
at your coming homel You will come,
some of you, will you not? You will,
you will!
Joy Over the Rspentant.
l notice also that when a prodigal
comes home there Is the joy of the min |
listers of religion. Oh, it is a grand thing
to preach this gospel know there has
been great deal said about the trials |
and the hardships of the Christian min. |
istry. / wish somebody would write
good, rousing book about the joys of the
Christian ministry. Since entered the
profession ] have seen more of the good
ness Of God than will be able to cele.
brate in all eternity. know some boast
about their equilibrium, and they do not |
rise into enthusiasm, and they do not
break down with emotion, but confess
to you plainly that when ] see man
coming to God and giving up his sin i
feel in body, mind and soul transport
When / see a man who is bound hand
and foot in evil habit emanoipated, re.
joice over it as though it We're my own
When, in our commun-
ion service, such thTopgs of young and
old stood up at the affairs and In the
presence of heaven and earth and hell
attested their allegiance to Jesus Christ,
felt JOY something akin 10 that which
the apostle describes when he says;
Whether In the body cannot tell, or
out Of the body cannot tell. God know
eth. "
Have not ministers right to rejoice
when a prodigal comes home? They
blew the trumpet, and. ought they not
10 be glad of the gathering Of the hosti
They pointed to the full supply, and
ought they not TO rejoice when souls
pant as the hart for the water brooksY
They came forth saying, Gan things
are now ready" Ought they not re-
ioioe when the prodiRal sits down at
Inc banquet?
How Ministers Are Sustained.
Life insurance men will all tell you
hat minister Of religion as class live
onger than any other. II is confirmed
~ the statistics OF all those who calcu.
ate upon human longevity. Why is III
There is more draft upon the nervous
ystem than in any other profession, and
heir toll Is most eEhausting, ! have
een ministers kept on miseFable sti
lends by parsimoniOns congregations
Who wondered at tho dullness Of the
efmou, when tho men u God were
,erpleKed almost 20 death by questions
i livelihood and had not enough nus :
ritious food 20 keep any fire IN theiT
No fuel, no fre. ! have
ometimes seen the inside " tho life "
many " tho American eleFgymen-v z
ieyer accepting their hospitality he'
.ause they cannot afford it--but have
con them struggle On with salaries u
1000 and 5000 a year, the average iess q
han that their struggle we'll depict ,
d by tho western missionary who says {
~ a letter hThagk you foE yQpF lasF :
emittanco Until " eame we had not
ny meat ~ our house foF one year
nd all last winter, allhongl u was . q
oytro winter, ouT children WQle iAelT :
I..t q