Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-05-23

cordingly, and secondly, we have en-
gagged another home to which to go
when the old is left behind. The man
who did not give due heed to these two
matters we would judge guilty of the
greatest folly. Yet how exactly sim
liar is the position of the soul which
recognizes the certainty of moving
day. and nevertheless gives no thought
to moving day nor to the making sure
of another home. What folly. How
| suicidal, as we hear some one say: ''I'n
take my chances" To such the author
of the book from which our text is
taken says: "Rejoice, o young man, in
thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee
in the days of thy youth, and walk in
the ways of thine heart, and in the
| sight of thine eyes; but know, thou,
| that for all these things God will bring
| thee into Judgment" The rich fool has
his followers in the world to-day, and
they are carelessly and heedlessly
plunging forward to that fatal night
when their souls shall be required of
them, and all unprepared they will be
ushered into the presence of their
Maker. The words of our Lord plead
| with every soul: Seek first the King
dom of God and His righteousness'-
that is, first make your preparations
for the moving day of the soul, secure
your lease, signed with the precious
| blood of Jesus Christ, for mansion in
Heaven, and then you are ready to live
| in this world; land all these things will
| be added to you which are now tax
ing first place in your life and heart.
Never were truer words spoken than
that one is not prepared to live until
he is prepared to die.
| In what a minor strain of disappoint-
| ing failure and solemn, measured tread
| the preacher in Ecclesiastes ushers in
| the death scene in the twelfth chapter.
Life has been experienced in all its
varying phazes as the soul has en-
deavored to find enjoyment and salts
faction in the things under the sun,
and not in God. Everything is tried
and the cry each time, as the utter
emptiness Of this worlds seeking is
realized, is VANITY of vanities, all is
vanity" In the presence of death man
realizes his utter weakness and i'm
potency. AS the friends and loved ones
gather around the bier of the dear de-
parted one and realize that the soul
which had occupied that lifeless clay
! as home while in this world has gone
into eternity and is face to face with
| its realities, how the conversation
loves to linger over the preparedness
| of that soul to meet it's God and find
an entrance into Heaven. How we re-
call words and deeds to reassure our
hearts. We love to think of the loved
one as in Heaven.
The New Home. Our text calls it
"Man's long home" that is, his endur-
ing or perpetual home. Bunyan's
Christian, whom we have all followed
in his pilgrimage with such intense in
terest and blessed comfort, was ever
| journeying towards the home in the
Celestial Kingdom, and all other
places in life through which he passed
were but temporary Ravens of rest and
refreshment. The reality of the eter-
nal home could not be obscured by the
glitter of gold, the pleasures of the
world n or the sophistry and arguments
of his friends, ''for he endured as see
| ing Him who is INVISIBLE" Abraham
was but sojourner in this world, ''for
he looked for city which hath founda-
tions, whose builder and makeris God"
and "for such God hath prepared
city" Into that city finally returned
| the Lord Jesus Himself after the plan
! of salvation had been wrought out by
| His vicarious death, and amidst the
welcoming chorus of the cherubim and
seraphim, and the legions of angels,
and the hosts of the redeemed, He set
about fulfilling His promise, left as a
beacon light in the world, that in His
Fathers House where were many man
sions, He went to prepare a place for
those who accepted Him as their
Saviour.
The Furnishing of the New Home.
Did you ever catch the full signifi-
canoe of Christ's comforting words
just quoted? The mansions He re-
fers to as being already in Gods
Heaven. He says: 81 go to prepare
a place for YOU" AS I watched a
heavily-loaded moving van pass the
other day, noted that 1t was laden
with furniture old and new, but all
of it with marks of service in the
old home from which it had been
taken. The old furniture was to be
used in fitting out the new home
All, how differently has God planned
for you and me. Jesus Christ, who
is watching us day by day, is pre-
pairing our mansions with Just the
things we need most and like best.
As beautifully expressed in poem en-
titled my Home" by Rev. Frances E
| Townsley:
HE knows what things I love the best
| What tokens of His grace long to share;
He knows my weakness and my need of
| rest,
| And how to answer each unspoken prayer
| ic az n min lf T
| And waiting, smile; for One who needs
|