The Progress., 1897-07-31

ture world. tell you ]" has u direct IN
Thence upon the financial welfare of this
world The religion of .rist is DO foe TO
successful business. II its best friend.
And If there should come u great awaken
ing in this country, and l the banks and
insurance companies and torres and offices
and shops should close ny for two weeks
and do nothing but attc1l to the public
worship of Almighty GCl, after such
snirirual vacation the land would wake up
to such financial prosperity as we have
never dreamed Of Godlincss is profita biz
for the life that now is well as for that
which is to come; but, my friends do not
nut SO much emphasis on worldly success
as to let your eternal affairs go at loose
ends l have nothing to say against
money. The more money you get the bet
ter if it comes honestly and goes usefu1ly.
For the lack of 1t sickness dies without
medicine, and hunger finds its coffin in an
empty bread tray, and nakedness shivers
for clothes and fire. All this canting ii
rade against money as though 1t had no
practical use, when l hear a man indulge
ia 1t, it makes me think the best heaven
for him would be an everlasting poor
house. No, there Is Practical use In
money, but while we admit that, we must
also admit that it cannot satisfy the soul;
that it cannot pay for our ferriage across
the Jordan of death; that it cannot un-
lock the gate Of heaven for our immortal
soul
A Word Of Warning.
Yet there are men who act as though
packs of boni s and mort ga ges could be
traded off for n mansion IL heaven and as
though gold were a legal tender in that
land where it is so common that they
make pavements out Of II Salvation by
Christ is the only salvation. Treasures in
heaven are the only incorruptible treas
ures. Have you ever ciphcred out that
sum in loss and gain, What shall it
profit man if he gain the whole world
and lose his soul?' You may Wear fine
apparel now, but the winds of death will
futter it like rags. Hol,espun and a
threadbare coat have sometimes been the
shadow of robes white in the blood of the
Lamb. All the mines of Australia and
Brazil, strung in one carcanet, are not
worth to you as much as the pearl Of great
price. You remember, l suppose, some
years ago, the shipvreck of the Central
America: A storm came on that vessel.
The surges trnnped tho deck and sweep
down through the matches, and there went
up a hundred voiced death shrek. The
foam on the jaw of the wave. The pitch
ing of the steamer, as though it would
leap nountain. The glare OF the signal
rockets The long cough OF the steam
pipes. The hiss Of exiting uished furnaces
The walking of God on the wave. Oh, it
was stupendous spectacle. But that
ship did not go down without struggle
The passengers stood in long lines trying
to bail it out and men unused to toll tug
ged until their hands were blistered and
their muscles were strained. After awhile
sail came in sight. A few passengers
got off, but the most went down. The
ship gave one lurch and was lost.
So there are men who go In Efe-a fpe
voyage they are making out OF it. All is
well, till some euroclydon Of business dis
aster cones upon them, and they go down.
The bottom of this commercial sea Is
strewn with the shattered hulks, but be-
cause your property goes shall your soul
go? oh, mol There is coming more
stupendous shipwreck after awhile. This
world, God launched it 6, 900 years ago, and
1t is sailing on. but one day it will staggel
at the cry of "a Fire!'' and the timbers OF
the rocks will burn, and the mountain:
fame like masts, and the clouds like sail:
in the Judgment hurricane. God will take
good many off the deck, and Others out
<f -cl1 ~