The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-20
REV. ]. B. SWEETS
EARNEST SERMON
Delivered from His Pulpit in the Simp.
son NJ. E. Church.
SOME THOUGHTS HE SUGGESTED
The World Demands Everything and
Refuses Any Remuneration to the
Giver..GCd Asks for All and Re.
ceiying Ii Returns All Unto the
Giver with Blessings and HOnOrs.

Rev. J. r. Sweet, the recently ap-
pointed pastor OF the Simpson Methodist
Episcopal church. of the West Side,
preached Il sermon last evening on the
texts, And no man gave unto Him,
Luke, XVI, part of sixteenth verse;
He that spared not his own Son but
delivered Him up for us all, how shall
he not with Him also freely give us all
things" Romans. Niii:32. The congre-
cation was large one. Mr.. Sweets
discourse follows:
Two thoughts here suggest them
selves. First, The world demands every
thing ana receiving the same holds it
fast with iron grip and refuses any re-
muneration to the giver. Second. God
asks for all and receiving it. He returns
all unto the siver, blessed and honored
beyond computing.
Now is II not strange that under such
circumstances there could be any heSi-
fancy as TO with whom we should open
negotiations" Nay, rather is 1t not
passing strange that under any circum-
stance there should he yielding of self
unto Il dominant, arbitrary power, who
asks everything and never gives back
in return? When known of and to all
another nower invites the giving and
interest. Rut. apparently, ON the part
of many there is no consideration OF
the subject with knowledge of results;
there Is no thought as io how results
are to be reached: there is no care as
10 outComes, and 'let tomorrow take
care OF itself. sufficient unto the day
is Tia" evil thereof" becomes the cry. We
live today-we feast, we revel We dance
and drink; life is life. This is good pay.
SO thought the young man OF the hrst
part of our text. lie looked at the world
and said, O how inviting il is! 1t says
to me, give me of your service. Home.
What Is home but restrictions? Come
out into my service and be free. and the
houses Of revelry and bacchantion
pleasures shall all open to you, Father!
BEHIND THE TINES.
What is father but an old man, with
fogcyish Ideas You know more than
he: he is behind the times. Come out
and | viii be a father 10 you. Brother.
What is brother but one to quarrel
with: he thinks chat he owns the house,
and is always domineering. Come
away; leave the home, and father, aud
brother. then all the world shall be your
brother: take the portion of goods that
falleth to you. Come with me and
spend it, and in the midst of your
spending pleasures know that all are
Your friends, ana you have no need OF
home. or father or mother, or brother.
Come on, come ON. And the young man
calls for his patrimuny goes out ihto
the worlds service to find home. and
father and brother
So We see him down yonder In the
city, reyelry and deviltry. and reigning
supr"me Money is his. The world
!. "a II IL
world invites il. Eeauty in deshabille
is at his side and feet for money.
Fawning aychophants with fulsomencss
Halter and cajOle him for money.
Strains of music, the may dance. the
passing wine cup. the shouts Of intoXi-
cation, and the noise of gambling, all
say, Money, Money Money! You are
a tine young man, a noble young man.
happy young man; we are your faith
cr. and mother, and sister. and brother:
| this is your home. iiurrah for the
| young man and his money. More plea
| sure more drink. more lust, more gam
| bling. Hurrah for the world. The
great pleasure giving world. The world
pays, pays. pays. You hav" friends;
YOU shall never want; We will stand by
YOU Yuu are sucuding 50 freely we
| will stay by you to the last.
SOMETHING ATTRACTS rs.
Look yonder. Only q grove of caroh
| trees; look again. rough uprooted sods;
again, q herd of swine roofing among
| the sods for the husks of the caroh
| trees: again, only the swine herd. the
| carc-tcnder of the unclean beasts. Pass
| on. We have no interest in one SO low
| so degraded as to feed swine. But we
| cannot dismiss him so readily. Some
thing in the abject wretchedness, in the
woe brgunc appearance. attracts us,
and we are surprised to see that he Is
vet only young niau. tnobServed we
watch him. What secret is his! lie
wrines his hands as though in despair;
| he beats his breast as though in agony:
| he fails. with face to the ground, aS
| though to bury u sorrow; he rises and
| paces among the uprooted sodS as
| though 10 calm feVered desire, until
wearied ana exhausted, ialnt ana nun
cry he becomes as the swine around him
! and eats with them Of their food to sat
isrV is hunger. Then again SpringinS
| tn his feet he looks with unutterable
| disgust upon it all and cries foot! fool,
| fool, Is this home, aud father, aud
| hrothp,". Where are the friends OF
| urounisp. heiu .ir now. Ye who fed at
my table. feed me .tow. Ye who took
| of my money. help me now. We who
drank nv wine and toasted me the
prince of good fellows. help me now.
| And no man gave unto him.
What? IL this the young man OF for
| mer wealth? is this the young man to
whom home was restraint, and father
| old fogyish. and brother domineering
| Is this the young man out in tn" world
| TO find in the world the ideal home, and
father and brother? Is this the young
man of the feasting and drinking. the
young man of the world the one to