Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-08-20

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 19.-From Berlin,
kYhere he preached in the American
Ehurch to q congregation comprising
many of his countrymen who are
travelling through Europe, DE-. Talmage
sends this discourse, in which, by
original methods, he calculates spiritu-
hi values and urges higher apprecia-
ton of things religious. The text is
Mark viii, SO, What shall it profit a
man if he shall gain the Whole world
and lose his own soul?
Men of ell occupations are to be
found in the assemblies OF the house
of God, but in these days of extensive
business operations q large proportion
hre engaged from Monday morning to
Saturday night in bargain making III
many of the families across the break
fast table and the tea table are dis
eussed questions of loss and gain. You
are every day asking yourself: what
is the value of this? What is the value
of that?" You would not think Of Civ
Ing something Of greater value for that
which is of lesser value. You would
not think OF selling that which cost you
$40 for So. If you had a property that
was worth $4,000, you would not sell it
for $4,000. You are intelligent in all
matters of bargain making. Are you
as wise in the things that pertain to
the matters of the soul? Christ adapt
ed 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, ga sower went forth
to SOW" When he talked to the shep-
herds, he told the parable of the
lost sheep. And am l not right, when
speaking to on audience made UP of
bargain makers, that l address them
in the words of my text, asking, What
shall it profit a man if be shall gain
the whole world and lose his own
soul?''
propose, as far as possible, to esti-
mate and compare the value Of the
two properties.
: Grand Property.
First, 1 have to say that the world
is q 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 hayward
child, indeed; it has wandered eff
through the heavens. But about 1900
years ago. one Christmas night God
sent out 4 sister world to call that
wanderer back. and it hung over Beth
lehem only long enough to get the
promise Of the wanderers return. and
L0w 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 cTOcUses! 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 lampIighters that in
few minutes set all the dome Of the
night ablaZe with brackets of fire!
How bright the oar Of the saffron
cloud that rows across the deep sea
of heaven. How beautiful the spring,
with bridal blossoms in her hair! I
wonder who it is that beats time Oh
June morning for the bird orchestra.
How gently the harebell tolls its fra
GRANGE on the air! There may be grand
er worlds. swarthier worlds. larger
rs n most exquisite world mfgnon-
cite on the bosom of immensityi
"Oh," you say, take my soul: give me
that world. l an willing to take it in
exchange. I am ready now for the
bargain. 1t is so beautiful a world. so
sweet a world. so grand Il world"'
But let us look more infinitely into
the value of this world. You will not
buy property unless you can get Z good
title to it. After you have looked at
the property and found out that it suits
you you send all 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 will have anything
to do with it. There might be a spIen-
did property and in every way exactly
suited to your want, but if you cannot
get a good title you will not take it.
Now, am here to say that it is impos-
sible to get q good title to this world.
If l settle down upon it, in the very
year l so settle down upon it as per-
manent possession, | may be driven
away from it. Aye, in five minutes aft
er 1 give up my soul for the world l
may have to part with the world and
what kind of 4 title do you call that?
There is only one way in which | 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
VII
but my taste may be destroyed; all APP
probation of culture and of art through
my mind, but | may lose my mind.