The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-20
What They Are and How
They Should Be Used.
Duties of Those Who Live at
Others HearthStOneS.
Very Practical Discourse by the
Rev. Wallace Nuttlng.

At the Union Congregational Church
yesterday the Rev. Wallace Nutting
preached to a very large congregation.
He took as his text "Peace be to this
House. Luke x:5.
Most of us occasionally make visits,
and large cement of our popu-
lation may be classed under that unsatis-
factory epithet, boarders. Many people
no longer look forward TO being the heal
OF a home or the mistress therein. Col
lege and professional men, persons who
have lost part OF or the whole of their
families, relatives and multitude more
dwell in homes as sojourners, having no
certain continuance. Many go away in
the summer, and many more who DO not,
receive into their homes the broken relics
of families that are left. How TO be a
Christian under such conditions is a ques-
tion which touches US, For think such
condition of life is open TO certain
temptations peculiar TO itself, and has
peculiar duties and privileges. We are
often bid to entertain strangers as perhaps
about: IL you are being entertained are
you thoughtful to be angelic. For take
the obligation is Just as strong.
have had a large, sad aud varied expe-
rience on this subject having never expert
enced until the past seven years the JOY of
a home And as a deacon said in prayer
meeting have passed through seems and
unseens.
| notice first that boarder is very
much concerned to know whether he has
the worth of his money. He is accorded
the privilege of entry into a human home
the first and holiest sanctuary, and he
has the best opening in life to carry Christ
with him, but his chief interest is TO
ask, 'sIs this meal up to the standard of
ha Grcf ta fttll ly ovid
that parallel between this boarder and
the Holy Three who visited Abraham
would cause the boarder to shrink. The
vital question with them was TO make
themselves blessings TO the host. They
brought him the promise of blessings be-
yond belief. Could calf fat and good
with butter In lordly dish recompense
them?
Tho boarder is seldom cheated. IL any
one on earth lives life without leisure
and with little profit IL is that person
who entertains boarders as means OF liv-
ing. However, TO you, who become
temporary member OF family, the rela-
tion can never be one of simple business.
Many try to make 1t so, but 1t is impossi-
bic. You may, perhaps, II you try trade
In a store on a purely business basis, but
YOU cannot cross the threshold of home
without shedding an atmosphere, show
ing character, being blessing or a curse.
Our Lord went about doing good. From
house to house He became guest. l am
not straining His splendid teachings when
say that when you go into a home you
must go In the spirit and With the mind
of Jesus. As surely as money considera-
tions weigh with you the spot cannot
bring to YOU the blessing of home. As a
man who counts on his wife's expenses
cannot be happy or know what home
means, so you cannot be human and
Cbrist-like until you become something
more than bargainer.
There is the. landlady. Do not look
down upon her. She is compelled, per-
haps, to board you, but perhaps she
Ia worthier than her lodger She
has family. Her daughter and son
are not below the regard of n gentleman
and Christian; on account of their pecu-
liar position they are not TO be used as
human dummies to experiment upon.
most democratic people, are continually
seeking TO set up distinctions wide as ex-
ist in monarchical countries. DO not
patronize family with whom you board.
4 should blush TO say II, were IL not a
fact that many people who call themselves
we'll bred do so unwittingly.
There you are in a home to bring mer-
cies upon II. Wherever a good man be-
comes a guest there is a lasting reyolu-
tion. They complained of Jesus that
he had gone I'm TO be a guest with n man
who was sinner. lie carried thither all
HIS graciousness, His wish 10 leave i'm
tnat home tonic power OF righteousness,
and He looked about TO see how he might
do IL. Some men are entertained because
they must be; others because their pres
ence Is q glory IN the house. Thus was II
with Elisha. with Paul, Phillip and thus
II shall be with all who have come TO un-
derstand that they go into homes net to
bring away more advantages than they
conferred, but that they are guests TO
make their memory q refreshment and a
reminder that their visits added mean
ing and worth 30 that home.
The question may arise, TO what extent
should i subor 1inate my habits to. those
OF the family IN which dwell. DO so in
ell things 80 fer ss regards the outward
man. but I'm no respect as regards the
spirit of your life. DO not cease TO pray,