The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-09-27
SPIRITUAL. VALUES.
DR.. Talmage Urges a Higher Ap-
probation of Things Religious.

Earthly and Heavenly Riches Conn
pared-The Inestimable Value Of
. Human soul-Christ's vi.
carious Sacrince.
Copyright. 1900. by Louis Klopsch.1
Washington.
From Berlin, where he preached in
the American church to a great con-
gregation, comprising many of his
countrymen who are travelling
through Europe, DR.. 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 if
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 extensive
business operations a 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 il Of
lesser value. You would not think Of
selling that which cost you ten dollars
for five dollars. If you had property
that was worth $4,000, you would
not sell it for $4,000. You are intelli-
gent 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 to
whom He spoke. When He talked to
fishermen, He spoke Of the Gospel net.
When He talked to the farmers, He
said: "A sower went forth to SOW"
When He talked to the shepherds, He
told the parable of the lost sheep.
And am I not right, when speaking
to an audience made up of bargain
makers, that I address them in the
words of my text, asking: "What
shall it profit a man if he shall gain
the whole world and lose his own
soul?"
I propose, as far as possible, to esti-
mate and compare the value Of the
two properties.
- First, have to say that the world
y very grand property. It's flowers
are Gods thoughts in bloom; its rocks
are Gods thoughts in stone; it's dew
drops are Gods thoughts in pearl.
This world is Gods child-a wayward
child, indeed. It has wandered of
through the heavens. But about
1900 years ago, one Christmas night,
God sent out sister world to 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 over! How
nimble the feet of the lamplighters
that in a few minutes set all the dome
Of the night ablaze with brackets of
Are! 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 it 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 a most exquisite
world, mignonette on the bosom OF
immensity. "Oh," you say, stake my
soul! Give me that world! I am will.
ing to take it in exchange. am
ready now for the bargain. It is 80
beautiful a world. SO sweet q world.
SO grand world!"
But let us look more minutely into
the value of this world. You will not
buy property unless you can get q
good title to it. After you have
looked at the property and found out
that it suits you, you send an attorney
to the public Office, and he examine,
the book of deeds and the book o1
mortgages ard the book of judgment,
and the book of liens, and he decide,
whether the title is good before yor
with anything to do with it. Their,
might be a splendid property, and il
every way exactly suited to your want
but If you cannot get good titll
you will not take it. Now, am her,
to say that it is impossible to gel
q good title to this world. II set
tie down upon it, in the very year
so settle down upon it as a perma
nent possession, may be driven ava,
from it. Aye, in five minutes after
give up my soul for the world, / may
have to part with the world, ani
what kind of title do you call that
There is only one way in which 1 cal
hold an earthly possession, and tina
Sc L.