The Newtown bee., 1902-03-28


 sons, graduates of this old home, were prominent and successful men in Aus tralia. They heard by accident,- which after all was Gods design-of the affairs at home, as the old people had carefully hidden their trouble, ever thoughtful of the boys. They de- cided to surprise their parents and re- turned unannounced to their native land, and bought back the old place alas! not the old place, for the new owner had no love for house or lands; the former was allowed to go to ruin, while the grand old farm was worked and starved to death. Christmas night the boys took the old couple by surprise, even heaven would be trou- bled to give them a sweeter welcomes: and when the firSt-born, ''mOther's boy," placed the deed of the old place in mothers wrinkled hands, the joy was unspeakable and full of glory. Hand in hand they went back to Eden.
 God owned man by creation. "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them." Genesis l: 26, 27.) And He loved the word of His hands with a fatherly love. But God lost man, amazing thought! man voluntarily allied hlm- self with evil; but that wonderful boundlessness of divine compassion is nere displayed in it's seven-times-sev- enty-fold glory. He redeemed him. bought him back at tremendous price,-bought him back terribly de- preciated in value,-bought him back though the best of his life was worked out in the service of one who loved him not,-bought him back because "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3: 16). bought him back at an amazing cost, His estimate of his worth, "Foras- much as ye know that ye were not re- deemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold from your vain conver- sation, received by tradition from your fathers: But with the precious blood of Christ, as of lamb without blemish and without spot" q Peter l.: Is, 19).-bought him back that He might exalt him forever and ever. "And they sung new song, saying, Thou ait worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof; for Thou vast slain and hast redeemed us to God, by Thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests" (Revelation 5: 9, lO). How the text sparkles and scintillates and glows, like some im> mense diamond playing with rays of light centuries old. "We've been re- deemed.'' What chorus! 'The Lords portion is His People:' and we go back to Eden.
 1 "Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide.
 | In the strife 'twixt truth and falsehood, on the good or evil side;
 Some great cause, Gods new Messiah offers each the bloom or blight,-
 Parts the goats upon the left hand and the sheep upon the right;
 | And the chance goes by forever between that darkness and that light"
 II. PROPERTY POSSESSES RELATIVE VALUES.
 In some parts of the country there are immense waste lands that are comparatively valueless simply be- cause non-productive. l know of thousands of acres few years ago worthless, a menace to health,and life, -to-day the very garden of the region of which they were formerly the dread. Superb fields of golden grain and wav- ing corn, and rich vineyards where once was desolation. Science has re- claimed the waste land; and it is val. ued by it's prod uctiveness Over in Vermont there are sterile hills of as tonishing value, as they are but the great natural vaults in which the Creator hid the splendid granite of that region.
 What is the measure of the value of the text "The Lords portion is His people?" The old science of the gos- pei, and the application of the blood of Christ by the Everlasting Spirit to the soul, reclaims the sinner; and l hold it to be incontrovertibly true that man is worth no more to God than he produces for Him.
 We have seen the cost of retaining man; but there is an equipment, an en- dowment, an expenditure, so to speak, that we have to consider. There is the physical organism or the delicate and beautiful mechanism of the hu' man body concerning which the Psalm ist says: "I will praise Thee: for am fearfully and wonderfully made" Ps 139:1H This is the ''hOuse beautiful which we are expected to keep in or der for the souls occupancy. God has given us simple directions in what is known as natural laws. Then the soul-the color of every masterpiece or canvas;-the inspiration of every poem:-the musician of all music:-tht
 passion of all oratory; unfolder o1 every new thing for the worlds ad
 vancement;- ;-the very offspring of God
 Do you press the question why one who loves his fellows, weeps over the man in the gutter, over the outcast o1 society, over the estranged from God, over the bright genius wasting its strength? It is because God would be honored by their service.
 T If say we are only worth to God up to this moment what He has been en II hled tQ trat Qut of uS in Saryica II am