Newport weekly independent., 1902-09-26

prayers went up to the throne of God for the wayward boy or girl. As the weary years dragged out their lengths their prayers ceased not, and their faith failed not. At last their earthly pilgrimage is ended and they join the Heavenly hosts, and yet their prayers for the wayward child are seemingly unanswered. But one glad day in Heaven the cry of that way ward and now repentant child is heard, and how the joyful song of the sainted father and mother rises above that of all the rest. Oh! how they sing.
 And while Heaven is rejoicing over another soul saved, that Devil whom so many modern-day preachers and rationalistic Christians, the twenti- eth century Sadducees, are trying to reason and argue out of existence, is hanging around the outskirts of the celestial city and raging in impotent madness that another sinner has es capped his snare and his destruction, He tried to stifie that cry before it could penetrate the pearly gates and reach
 
 ions post haste to whisper words of doubt and Encouragement in the heart of the sin-sick soul. He did his utmost to quiet the rising fears, and bolster up the confidence in a false hope. Satan never lets a soul get out of his grasp if he can help it, and on the days when Heaven is the happiest, he is having his bluest of days. As the music of Heaven over the one repent ant soul which he has lost floats out to him it drives him back to earth to redouble his efforts to send souls to hell. Where the revival is being felt, and the cry of repentant sinners is heard, there you will find Satan doing his hardest work. Peter declares that ''your adversary, the Devil, as a roar ing lion, walketh about, seeking whom clined to think that Peter caught this glimpse of the Devil during the thick est part of one of his great revivals.
 The Value of a Soul.-And if Heaven rejoices so over one single soul which repents, and the Devil works so hard to compass it's destruction, there must be a value in that soul which is little re- alized. Heavens standard of values is not the same as that of earth, but it is the correct standard and will continue in use throughout eternities, long after the earth has melted with fervent heat and God has esta blished new heavens and new earth. The cheapest thing in the world to-day is, human life. Out side of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, life and the welfare of the soul con- sume, less thought and care than are given to the dumb brutes, which sus- tain positive intrinsic value to their owners. But it is not our purpose to discuss the question of mans inhuman- ity to man, as real and inhuman and selfish as it may be. We may not be able to estimate the value which Heaven puts upon human soul by contrasting the cheapness in which it is held by the world, but perhaps we may be able to understand something of it by contemplating the sacrifice which Heaven was willing to make in behalf of the lost soul.
 The parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, uttered by our Lord in | connection with the words of our | text, reveal to us two important facts in regard to the souls value. In | the case of the sheep, individuality of the soul is set forth; in that of the coin, it's intrinsic value is emphasized. and in the parable of the prodigal son, which follows, we have beautifully il- lustrated the intimate relationship which exists between God and the human soul: the empty place in the household; the vacant chair at the family table; the love of the father try; the full and free forgiveness which is given before the son has asked for it, and the joy of the return.
 There were an hundred sheep in the fold of our parable, but every sheep was different. No two were exactly alike. The place of the lost sheep, therefore, could not be exactly filled. The completeness of the sheepfold is marred by the absence of that one sheep. The shepherd misses it. Though the ninety and nine are safe within the fold, he needs must go out after the lost sheep. So is it with the human soul. No two are alike. And the individuality of the soul gives it an inestimable value in the sight of Heaven. No soul can fill the place in tended for another. A beautiful mosaic is being worked out in Heaven. If one stone is missing, it mars the complete ness of the whole. Is it any wonder, then, that all the Heavenly hosts burst 1 into song when a new stone is set and