The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-26

behest, that humanity might receive
the lesson of sacrifice.
1t is quality of life that gives to
existence all it's value. To those who
have it not, the fact that they may
have it is the one thing that gives
value to their living and breathing;
all their struggles, their SORROWS and
their joys, their ups and downs would
be useless, worthless but for the poss
ibility of eternal life that is in each.
That out of common life may come
a worthy life gives to the common its
value; that out of an ignoble life may
come a hero invests the ignoble with
something sacred. So our divine
Lord saw and estimated life and for
babe that any man should be "called
common or unclean."
We are prepared now to say that
this rich man did not weigh values
wisely or well. What were his mill
ions compared with eternal life? In
deed, what is life without this eternal
quality = this treasure in heaven?
This is the question that should be
allowed to come into our minds and
into our consciences with all its force.
We say this rich man was unwise;
but, shall we condemn him with our
words, and commend him in our ac-
ton? That man is now dead; how wild
his folly appears in viaw of this fact!
Perhaps he went away from the pres
ence of the Good Master" and tried
the old experiment of drowning his
sorrow in wilder schemes of specula-
tions in the wilder hope that more
gold, and grander palaces, and great
err extravagances in banquetings-
more wines, more intoxication of
worldly pleasures would satisfy him.
Sitting there in his counting room,
messenger comes in and reports: "Sir,
the stocks you bought last week have
doubled in value" A second mes
senger arrives: Sir, your speculation
in the olive groves in Galilee yields
one hundred and fifty per cent" The
hard lines of his face soften little,
his weary eyes sparkle for moment
and then he gives the order for more
stocks and for larger speculations,
and throws himself back with weary
sigh and remembers the words, "Yet
lackest thou one thing" Aye, aye,
one thing one thing that gold can
not buy, one thing, one thing!
His funeral was large, there were
many horses and carriages, and many
people, and great ostentation, and in
the casket handful of dust. He had
lost all; and the angels who saw his
wrinkled soul wept for very pity over
his failure
1t is the common story for it is true
not only of many who are rich but of
the greater multitude who cling with
narrow selfishness to smaller means
with the same tenactity, and with the
same spirit.
Now let it be clearly understood
that we do not interpret our Lord as
a denouncer of wealth. or any of the
honorable means by which riches are
accumulated. Neither is he a de-
nouncer of the virtues of economy,
frugality, and attentiveness to bust
ness by which money is made.
Neither is he, in any wise, to be I'M
derstood to discourage the well-nigh
universal effort to gain a good living
in this world. We cannot over esti-
mate the value of this earnest univer-
sal push of men to better conditions,
to drive business, to build ships and
railroads, and establish great indus
tries. All these are civilizing forces
as we'll as for bread winning, and are
bringing all mankind into acknowl-
edged relations of mutual depend
ence and peaceful and helpful broth
erhood.
What our Lord demands is, that
we be not deceived as to what life
means. He says, "Take heed, and
beware of covetousness; for a mans
life consistent not in the abundance
of things which he posseseth." 81
am the Way, the Truth and the Life"
Life means me. / am the truth-the
real. The way to attain life, and to
know the real, is by me. The one
great cry is: Don't forget this; don't
overlook the real in your worldly
efforts; don't confuse meanings; let
the supreme interests be considered.
"Seek first the Kingdom of God, and
his righteousness" not in the
order of time perhaps, but certainly
in the order of importance-in the
order of values. Without this, exist
ence has no meaning. Of course,
when workers are wanted for special