The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-08-25

From Berlin, where he preached in
the American church to great con-
gregation, comprising many OF his
countrymcn who are travelling
through Europe, DIR. Talmage sends
this discourse, in which, by original
methods, he calculates spiritual values
and urges higher appreciation of
things religious. The text is Mark
$3.50: "What shall it profit a man IL
he shall gain the whole world and lose
his own soul?"
Men of all occupations are to be
found in the assemblies of the house
OF God, but in these days of extensiyeS
business operations large proper
ton are engaged from Monday morn
ing to Saturday night in bargain max
ing. In many of the families across
the breakfast table and the tea table
are discussed questions of loss and
gain. You are every day asking your
self: "What is the value of this?
What is the value of that?' You
would not think of giving something
of greater value for that which is of
lesser value. You would not think Of
selling that which cost you ten dollars
for five dollars. If you had a property
that was worth $4,000, you would
not sell il for $4,000. You are intelli
(gc1t in all matters of bargain max
ing. Are YOU as wise in the things
that pertain TO the matters of the
soul? Christ adapted His instructions
to the circumstances of those 10
whom He spoke. When He talked to
fishermen. He spoke of the Gospel net.
When He talked to the farmers, He
said: ~ sower went forth to SOM"
When He talked to the shepherds He
told the parable of the lost sheep.
And am | not right, when speaking
to an audience made up of bargain
makers. that ! address them in the
words of my text. asking: What
shall it profit man if he shall gain
the whole world and lose his own
soul?" a;...'.
propose, as far as possible. to csti-
mate and compare the value of the
two properties. ....
First have to say that the world
is a very grand property. It's flowers
are Gods thoughts in bloom; it's rocks
are Gods thoughts in stone; its dew
drops are Gods thoughts in pearl
This world is Gods chiId--a hayward
child. indeed. 1t has wandered off
through the heavens. But about
1900 years ago, one Christmas night
God sent out n sister world 10 call
that wanderer back. and it hung over
Bethlehem only long enough TO get
the promise of the wanderers return,
and now that lost world, with soft
feet of Light, comes treading back
through the heavens. The hills-how
beautiful they billow up the edge OF
the wave white with the foam of
crocuses! How beautiful the rainbow
the arched bridge on which heaven
and earth come and talk TO each other
in tears after the storm is overt How
nimble the feet of the lamplighters
that in Few minutes set all the dome
of the night ablaze with brackets of
fire! How bright the oar Of the SAT
from cloud that rows across the deep
sea of heaven! How beautiful the
spring. with bridal blossoms in her
hair! | wonder who il is that beats
time on June morning for the bird
orchestra? How gently the harebell
tolls its fragrance on the air! There
may be grander worlds, swarthier
worlds. larger worlds. than this. but
think that this is most exquisite
world. a mignonette on the bosom of
immensely. oh" you say. "takc my
Al. 4
ing TO take il in exchange. ] am
ready nov for the bargain. II is so
beautiful world. so sweet world.
50 grand world!"
But let us look more infinitely into
the value of this world. You will not
buy property unless you can get n
good title to it. After you have
looked at the property and found out
that il suits you. you send an attorney
to the public Office. and he examines
the book of deeds and the book of
mortgages and the book Of judgments
and the book Of liens, and he decides
whether the title is good before you
willhave anything 10 do with it. There
might be splendid property, and in
every way exactly suited to your want.
but II you cannot get good title
YOU will not take it, Now, am here
10 say that it is impossible to get
n good title to this world. If ] set
tie down upon 1t, in the very year |
so settle down upon il as perma-
nent possession, / may be driven away
from il. Aye, in five minutes after ]
give up my soul for the world may
have TO part with the world, and
what kind of title do you call that ?
There is only one way in which I can
hold an earthly possession, and that
is through the senses. All beautiful
sights through the eye. but the eye
may be blotted out; all captivating
sounds through the ear, but my ear
may be deafened; all lusciousness of
fruits and viands through my taste,
but my taste may be destroyed; all
appreciation of culture and of art
through my mind, but may lose my
mind. What frail hold, then, /
have upon any earthly possession
In courts of law, il you want to get
a man off property, you must serve
upon him writ of ejectment, giving