The Canton times., 1902-09-26

| l u.
AS the weary years dragged out then
lengths their prayers ceased not, ant
their foith failed not. At last then
earthly pilgrimage is ended and they
| Join the Heavenly hosts, and yet then
prayers for the wayward child are
seemingly unanswered. But one giac
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 stife that cry before it could
penetrate the pearly gates and reach
the crystal throne. He sent his min
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 false
hope. Satan never let's 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 roar
ing lion, walketh about, seeking whom
he NAV devour" And | am rather in
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 its destruction, there must
be a value in that soul whichis little re-
allied. 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 feryent heat
and God has established a new heavens
and a 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-
sumo 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 a 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 parallels 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. its 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
households; the vacant chair at the
family table; the love of the father
going out after the son in the far coun-
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 filed.
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
into song when a new stone is set and