The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-20
THE MOST POPULAR HYMN SUNG In MUSIC HALL TODAY.

please God by giving something to
Him when he is living in disobedencc.
Men say 10 me, "You talk about that gambler
but he Is very good to the poor." and they
think they are going to merit heaven bscause
they are good TO the poor. "God viii have to
remember him." That Is all right. or he
thinks that it makes it all right. My dear
friends, as long as we are living dis
obedient life we cannot do a
thing to please God. That boy cannot
please me until he is willing to obey and
do the very thing tell him to do. II is much
easier to bring lamb or bullock TO the altar
than II is to bring ourselves. Did you know
it2 l remember hearing story about an
Indian who wanted to come TO the Lord. He
brought his blanket, but the Lord wouldn't
have It,. He brought his gun, his dog. his bow
and arrow, but the Lord wouldn't have them
but at last he brought the poor Indian. and the
Lord took him. The Lord wanted himself.
What the Lord wants Is not what you have
got. but your seives.a you cannot do a thing
TO please God until you surrender yourself
to Him. Now you take the two
Sauls. They lived about 100 years apart.
One started out well aud ended poorly, and
the other started out poorly and ended we'll.
The first Saul got Kingdom and n crown. he
had lovely family (no father ever had
better son than Saul hid in Jonathan). he had
the friendship OF Samuel, the best prophet
there was on the face OF the earth; and yet he
lost the friendship of Samuel. lost his crown,
his Kingdom and his life, all through an act OF
dsobedience. God took the crown from his
brow and put another man in his place. Why?
Because he disobeyed. Now. you
take the Saul of thu New Testa-
ment. When God called him, he
wasn't disobediert to the Heavenly Father.
and he was given a Heavenly kingdom.
One act of obedience. one act of disobedience,
The act Of obedience gained all, and the act
n Ia
will find right through the scriptures this is
taking place constantly. believe the wretch
edness and misery and woe in our American
cities today comts from disobedience 10 God.
II they won't obey God as a nation. let US be-
gin individually. Let us make up our minds
that we will do it. cost us what IL will, and
you will have peace and joy. In the Ilth chap
ter OF Deuteronomy s6th verse, wc read, BE
hold, set before you this day a blessing
and curse; blessing, IL ye
obey the commandments Of your Lord,
which CO.. mand you this day: and curse
il We will not obey the commandments of
youI Lord. but turn aside out OF the way |
command you this day, to go after other
Gods. which yc have not known" Isn't that
enforced? a man or woman that will servo
God. Isn't the blessing of God resting upon
them? There is great reward in keeping Gods
laws and statutes, but n great curse upon
them that will disobey God. Look at the
right against tho law OF God and married un-
godly men and drunkards. See what hells
they ars living in today. Just one act OF dis
obedience. They are suffering tortures day
by day. dying by inches. The whole country
Is more or less cursed by this disc
bedicnce. A mother told me up in Mime
sofa that she had little child
that took book and threw II out of the win
dow. She told him 10 20 and pick IL up. The
little boy said, II won't" She said, What"
lie said again, II won't" she said "Iou
will. You go and pick up that book" lie
said be couldn't do IL. She took him out and
she held him right TO H. Dinner time came
and he HADN'T picked up the book. She took
him to dinner and after IL was over she took
him out again; they sat there until tea-timc
When tca-time came she took him In and
gave him his supper, and then took him out
and kent him there until bedtime. The
next morning she went out again and kept
him there until dinner-time. lie found he
was in for a life job. and he picked the book
up she said she never had any trouble with
the child afterwards. Mothers, IL you
don't make that boz obey when he Is young.
hc will break your heart. You say, Cannot
God make him obey2'' ] suppose lie could
but lie Is not going 90. He does not work on
those lines. lie isn't going 10 force you
against your will. lie is going 10 draw YOU by
the cords OF love. but ~ you are not going TO
obey Him. then you are going To suffer. One
OF my sisters told me that her little boy got
up one morning ana spoSe very unkindly to
her. The father said: what did you say
sammyr' And the little fellow repeated IL.
Ills father said: "Why YOU shoul mt SPEAK
In that way TO your mother. Go and tell
her you are sorry. and ask her TO
forgive YOU" But lac said he coudn't do
thai. "You must" lie sal be couldn't 40
f.. Ills father sslid. II shall uun>h you IL
you don't" lie was one of those nervous Eel.
lows who wos all n bnndle OF nerves. Now"
the father said. III you don't 30 eBd ask your
mother TO forgive you will have you 10.
dressed and put to bed, and you will stay
there until YOU do" He thought that wouid
bring him. but he couldn't get him To say
Mother, forgive me-" He went OF TO his
business and supposed he would hnd the little