The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-08-31

OF the brOkeL. string, the Scraptn
of the bow across the viol.- There IS
getting ready for the music And all
the enjoyment of the soul in this
world, the enjoyment we think is real
enjoyment, is only preparative; it is
only anticipative; il is only the en-
trance. the beginning OF that which
shall be the orchestral harmonies and
%splendors of the redeemed.
POWER OF THE SOUL.
You cannot test the full OF the
soul for happiness in this world How
much power the soul has here TO find
enjoyment in friendships; but, oh. the
grander friendships for the soul in the
skies, How sweet the flowers here.
blu how much sweeter they Will be
there, I do not think that when flow.
ers die on earth they die forever. In
the sunny valleys of heaven shall not
the marigold- creep? On the hills Of
heaven will not the amaranth bloom?
On the amethystine walls of heaven
will not the jasmine climb? My be-
loved is come down into his garden to
gather %liIlies." No flowers in heaven?
Where, then, do they get their gar
land for the brows of the righteous.
Christ is glorious to u souls now,
but how much grander u apprecia-
ton after a while! A conouerer comes
Dack AFTER the DdIlie. ne mas Deeu
fighting for US. He comes upon the
platform. He has n arm in a sling,
and the other arm holds a crutch. AZ
he mounts the platform. oh, the enthu-
siasm of the audience! They say.
That man fought for us n imperil-
ed his life for U.S." and how wild the
huzza that follows huzza! When the
Lord Jesus Christ shall at last stand
out before the multitudes Of the re-
deemed of heaven and we meet him
face to face and feel that he was
wounded in the head and wounded in
the hands and wounded in the feet
and wounded in the side for us, me-
thinks we will be overwhelmed. We
will sit some time gazing in silence I'M
til some leader amid the white robed
choir sha lift the baton Of light and
give the signal that it IS time to wake
the song of jubilee. and all heave
then will break forth into "Hosanna,
hosanna! Worthy is the Lamb that
was Slain.'
I calculate further the value of the
soul by the price that has been paid
for it. In ST. Petersburg there is a
diamond that the government paid
5000, 900 for. WELL" you say, lit must
have been very valuable Of the govern
ment would not have paid 5000 900 for
it," I want to see what my soul is
worth and what your soul is worth by
seeing what has been paid for it. For
that immortal soul the richest blood
tina was eve shed, the deepest groan
that was ever uttered. all the griefs
Of earth compressed into one tear, all
the suffer1ngs of earth gathered into
one rapier of pain n struck through
his holy heart. Does it not imply ire
mendous value?
THE HOME OF THE SOUL.
1 argue also the value of the soul
from the home that has been fitted up
for it in the future. One would have
thought that a street of adamant would
have done. No; it is a street Of gold.
One would have thought that a wall
of granite would have done. No; 1T IS
the flame of sardonyX mingling with
the green of emerald. One would have
thought that an occasional doxology
would have done. No; it is a perpetual
song. If the ages of heaven marched
in a straight line, some day the last
regiment, perhaps, might pass out of
sight; but, no, the ages of heaven do
not march in a straight line, but in a
circle around the throne of God. For
ever, forever, tramp, tramp! A soul so
bought, so equipped, SO provided for.
must be a priceless soul, a majestic
Oul, a tremendous soul.
Now, you have seen the two proper
ties-the world, the soul-one perish
able, the other immortal: one unsatis-
flying, the other capable Of yer increas-
ing felicity. Will you trade? Will you
trade even? Remember, it is the in
vestment you make. If a man sell a
cheated out of it, he may get 5000
somewhere else, out a man who in
vests his soul invests all. Losing that,
he loses all. Saving that, he saves all.
In the light Of my text it seems to me
as if you were offering your soul to the
hinhncS hi1Snp or1 II hnor n COW.
What is bid for it?" Satan says: 81
will bid the world" You say: Be
gonei That is no equivalent. Sell my
soul for the world? No! Begone!"
But there is some one else in the au-
dience not s wise as that. He says:
What is bid for my immortal soul?"
Satan says: II will bid the world"
THE world? Going at that, going at
that, going! Gone!" Gone forever.
What is the thing Of greatest price
The whole creation round?
That which was lost in paradise,
That which in Christ is found.
Then let us gather round the cross
That knowledge to obtain,
Not by the SOULS eternal loss,
But everlasting gain.
Well, there are a great many peo-
pie who say: II will not sell my soul
for the world. I find the world is an
unsatisfying portion" What, then, will
you 10 with FOUR soul? Some one whis-
pers here: Il will give my soul to
Christ" Will you? That is the wisest
resolution you ever made Will you
give it to Christ? When? Tomorrow?
No; now. 1 congratulate you if you
have come to such a decision. Oh, If
the eternal spirit of God would now
come down upon you and show you
the vanity of this world and the i'm
mense Importance of Christ's religion
and the infinite value of your own i'm
mortal souls, what an hour this would
be-! What a m this would be-
Do you know that Christ has bought
your soul? Do you know that he has
paid an infinite price for it? Do you
know that he is worthy of it? Will
you give it to him now?
CHRISTS VICARIOUS SACRIFICE.
I was reading lately of a sailor who
had just got ashore and was telling
about his last experience at sea. He
said: The last time / crossed the
ocean We had a terrific time. After
We had been out three or four days
49,