The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-07-24


chides them and corrects their faults and
gives them great deal OF good advice. and
then wonders all the rest of the year that his
children do not do better when they have
the wonderful advantage OF that seml-annuai
caStigation.
The family table, which ought to be the
place for pleasant discussion and cheerful
ness. often becomes the place OF perlous
expedition. If there be any blessing asked
at all, it is cut off at both ends and with the
hand on the carving knife. He counts on
his fingers. making estimates in the inter
stices Of the repast. The work done, the nat
goes to the head, and he starts down the
street and before the family have arisen
from the table he has bound up another
bundle OF goods and says to the customer,
ANYTHING more I can do for you to-day,
sr?" man has more responsibilities than
those which are discharged by putting com
petent instructors over his children and CIV
ing them drawing master and music
teacher. The physical culture Of the child
will not be attended to unless the
father looks to it. He must some
times lose his dignity. He must unlim,
Der his joints. He must sometimes lead
them out 20 their sports and games. Tae
parent who cannot forget the severe duties
of life sometimes, to fly the kite and trundle
the hoop and chase the ball and Jump. the
rope with his children, ought never to nave
been tempted out Of crusty and unredeem-
able solitariness. If you want to keep your
children away from places OF sin you can
only do it by making your home attractive.
You may preach sermons and advocate re-
forms and denounce wickedness, and yet
your children will be captivated by the gilt
tering saloon OF sin unless you can make
your home a brighter place than any
other place on earth to them. o4:
gather all charms into your house. II
YOU can afford it, bring books and pic
lures and cheerful entertainments to the
household. But above all teach those
children, not by half an hour twice
wear on the Sabbath day, but day after day
and every day teach them that religion IS q
great gladness: that it throws chains OF gold
about the neck. that it takes no spring from
the foot, no hlitheness from the heart, no
sparkle from the eye, no ring from the laugh
ter, but that .'her ways are ways OF pleasant
ness, and all her paths are peace. sympa.
thize with the work being done in many OF
our cities by which beautiful rooms are set
apart by our Young Mems Christian Associa-
tions, and I pray God to prosper item in all
things. But tell you there is something
back of that and before that. We need more
happy, consecrated, cheerful Christian
homes everywhere.
Again remark that a great many OF our
business men are tempted to put the attain
ment of money above the value OF the soul.
1t is a grand thing to have plenty of money.
The more you get Of it the better, II 1t come
honesty and go usefully. For the lack OF II
sickness dies without medicine, and hunger
finds it coffin in the empty bread tray, ana
nakedness shivers for lack Of clothes and hre.
When hear a man in canting TRADE against
money-a Christian man-as though 1t mad
no possible use on earth and he had no In
terest in it ut all, come almost to think
that the heaven that would be appropriate
for him would be an everlasting poorhouse
While, my friends, we do admit there ls
such thing as the lawful use Of money
"a profitable use of money-let us rec
ognize also the fact that money cannot satis-
fy mans soul; that it cannot glitter In the
dark valley; that it cannot pay our fare
across the Jordan of death; that 1t cannot
unlock the gate of heaven. There are mon
In all occupations who seem to act as though
they thought that a pack OF bonds and mort.
cages could be traded of for title to
heaven and as though gold would be a law.
full tender in that place where it Is so COM
mon that they make pavemehts out OF II.
Salvation by Christ is the only salvation.
Treasures in heaven are the only incorruptl.
BILE treasures
Have you ever ciphered out in the rule o!
loss and gain the sum, what shall it profit
a man if he gain the whole world and lose hts
own soul?" However fine your apparel, the
winds of death will futter it like rags. Home
spun and u threadbare coat have sometimes
been the shadow OF coming robes made white
in the blood of the Lamb, The pearl OF great
price is worth more than any gem you can
bring from the ocean, than Australian or
Brazilian mines strung In one carcanet. Seek
after God, find His righteousness, and all
shall be we'll here-all shall be well here
after.
Some Of you remember the shipwreck OF
the Central America. That noble ship had,
think, about 500 passengers aboard. Sud-
denly the storm came, and the surges
tramped the decks and swung into the
matches, and there went up hundred voiced
death shrek. The foam on the jaw OF the
wave. The pitching OF the steamer as though
it were leaping 4 mountain. The dismal
flare of the signal rockets. The long cough
of the steam pipes. The hiss of extinSuished
furnaces. The walking Of God on the wave!
The steamer went not down without q strug-
gle. As the passengers stationed themselves
in rows to bail out the vessel, hark to the
thump Of the buckets, as men unused to toll,
with blistersd hands and strained muscle,
tug for their lives. There is sail seen
against the sky. The flash OF the distress
gun is noticed; its voice heard not, for it is
choked in the louder booming Of the sea.
A few passengers escaped, but the steamer
gave one great lurch and was gone! So
there are some men who sail on prosperously
in life Ais we'll, alIs we'll. But at last
some financial disaster comes-a euroclydon.
Down they go! The bottom Of the CONNER
cial sea is strewn with shattered hulks. But
because your property goes do not let your
soul so. Though all else perish, save that,
for have to tell you of more stupendous
shipwreck than that which just mentioned.
God launched this world 5000 years ago. 1t
has been going on under freight Of noun.
tains and immortals, but one day it will
stasger at the cry OF fire. The tinbers OF
rock will burn, the mountains flame
like masts, and the clouds like sails in the
Judgment hurricane. Then God shall take
the passengers off the deck, and from the
berths those who have long been asleep in
Jesus, and He will set them far beyond the
reach Of storm and peril. But how many
shall go down will never be known until 1t
shall be announced one day in heaven. The
shipwreck Of a world. So many millions
saved! So many millions drowned! Oh, my
dear hearers whatever you lose, though
your houses so, though your lands go,
though all your earthly possessions perish.
may God Almighty, through the blood OF the
everlasting covenant, save all your souls