Evening journal., 1901-11-18
DIR. PRETTYMAN
ON SOULS DESTINY
Pastor Of BraHdyWine Church
breaches Stirring Sermon
lie YiVidlV Pictures the IOrmentS Of
The Soul Which Has Been
Bartered

Following is the sermon preached
by the Rev c. w. Prettyman, d. d.,
in Brandywlne NJ. e. Church last night,
The text was taken from the Gospel
of st. Matthew. xvi, %. which reads:
For what is a man profited If he shall
gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul?'
During the past three weeks this |
church has been the centre OK a great |
sale. Each and every person who has
been in attendance thereon has had /
one particular, precious article for sale, |
one more valuable than all the vast
riches of the opulent Chaldeans. |
This article offered has been nothing
less than the human soul. There have |
been four bidders allied into two
friendly pairs. On the one hand were
the world and the devil, on the other
were Christ and the church. AS al
price for the purchase Of this inesti- !
mab.e commodity the world offered
pleasure. 1t offered the secret latch
which would unlock the doors TO all
those alluring joys so enticing TO un-
wary young. The devil offered more.
He offered liberty. liberty OF the most
perilous kind. He offered liberty to
lie. liberty to blaspheme. liberty 20
vilify liberty to steal, liberty to MUIR
der. aye. liberty TO engage in every
thing and all things Of the most de-
praved and criminal order. But what
offered the church? None of the ac-
cursed prices which the world and the
devil could furnish? Nay, nay, the
church offered sympathy. It offered the
balm of a sweet and joyful fraternity.
it offered the united prayers Of a con-
federate band OF consecrated men and
women. But Christ above all else.
offered peace in this world. and life
eternal in the world to come. To
whom dare humanity sell this treasure
Of its existence? Which one. Christ or
the devil?
Before such a sale Is made it Is we'll
for one to pause and calculate as to
what each considers his soul to be
worth This is learned in one Of two
ways. First approximately in case of
! loss. secondly as an unknown quantity
reasoning it out by comparison with
some unknown quantity What is the
nature of the soul 1t is an unknown
quantity. You cannot measure its
value because OF its intangibility it's
ethereal substance, its lack Of body but
actual spiritual existence. And yet by
comparison its value in human ex-
preston is easily Obtainable. Each man
appreciates readily how dear TO him il
his body. 1t is but necessary to note
how very carefully he clothes and feeds
IL Nnr "a fTTm
any exposure to danger, protects II
from suffering, and administers, so FAR
as his power enables him. to its best
and easiest comfort And yet thie
moral substance which man so ardently
wOrships has no appetite, no passion
no desire but what it can be satisfied,
but what it can enjoy the full craving
for safety. in the low materialistiC
Furnishings Of this created world. But
can the soul meets its satisfaction on
so low and miserable a plane2 The
world possesses nothing which TO The
soul Is a minister of comfort. One may
mount by rapid strides until he reaches
the highest pinnacle of fame, aye, unit
like on erected idol. he enjoys the lout
acclaims of all his admiring fellow.
creatures. and yet lack the one needfu
essential required to make him su
premely happy He might pursue al
of the many lines Of scientific research
he might delve into the bowls of th'
earth or soar among the problems o
the stars: but the power which calm
his soul is not there to be found. Th'
soul is not satisfied with the earthl!
because of its contrary nature TIT
soul looks heavenward, IL seeks 70
! God. and It finds more pleasure in on'
benign smile from His all gloriou
majesty than in all the applause from
hattering world
THE value Of the soul is furthermor
p discovered in a study of its power 4
enjoy and it's power to suffer. In al
) joys Of the earith's production, it
5 not long ere the body cries enough
relieve me from further tastes Of thes
{ yapid insipid pleasures. But tn
y soul Even when its cup OF joy is run
1 ming over it's capacity inexhaustibls
cries out for more. The closer the sou
approaches 10 God and the more con
sciOus It becomes of Gods presence
the more keenly is felt that vacancy
that void. which nothing but Divinit
v Himself can fill. When the soul stand
at the glorious portal of the pearl
! gates and drinks in the music OF 80
] raphic sing. it never tires of this raj
turous experience. but cries out, NJ
! God. my God, suffer it forever to cor
tinue.
Another measure of the souls valu
Z is its lasting quality. The body is r,
e duced to an existence Of but three scOI
years and ten. But how long lives III
soul? When this rolling world and i
accompanying creations shall Ion
n since have vanished into nothingnes
Q the soul will still be in the full fresl
# ness of its vigor, living on forever an
y. forever.
e And yet man seems TO be culpab
n ignorant Of the value Of this soul
If prides himself upon the belief tn
II none knows better than himself a
n true price OF this immortal somethin
But he deceives himself. There
One who knows better than the wise
man. 1t is God. He has alreaI
l. given the world in a manner unmi
e taxable. the value he attaches to a sou
A 4.,e