The age-herald., 1902-05-11

AntonioS s heart. Give me success ana 1 am willing to sell you my soul. When a man comes to such decision as that. he naturally lets loose the lower part of his nature. As a merchant. he becomes a mere money making machine. As a lawyer who seeks political preferment he becomes an Aaron Burr.
 Unworthy Rewards.
 When he reaches thus for soldiers reward he is a Benedict Arnold. Then finding that the worldly success which does not bring the much sought after happiness he will let his evil passions run a madder riot. He will drown his sorrows in the drunkards cup. He will dazzle himself into blindness by the hell flame of licentious carousal. He Will curse sin as a drunkard after suffering the terrors of delirium tremens will curse liquor and thea drink it. He will curse sin as the poet cursed 1t and yet keep on shining.
 'Goodby," I said to my conscience, "Goodby for aye and aye" And I put her hands off harshly And turned my face away.
 And conscience, sorely smtten, Returned not from that day. But a time came when my spirit orew weary of it's pace,
 And I cried: "Come back, my con- science,
 I long to see thy face"
 | But conscience cried: 'I cannot; Remorse sits in my place."
 Now, while there is nothing in this world that can be compared in value to an immortal soul, my text does not imply that if a man gives his soul to Christ hn l1aI ho,, but ,,,1 humiliation. the poorhouse and potters field. The Bible refutes that idea. In the thirty-seventh Psalm we read, T have been young and now am old, yet have not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread" The same God who cares for the sparrow and who numbers the hairs of our head will not let his chll drcn want The Divine Father will always see. If we do our duty that we have enough to eat and to drink, enough to wear and a place where we can s.eep. Every one who gives his soul to Christ will be able to sing Channing's sym phony. He will have, at least, an oppor tunity to live content with small means, to seek elegance rather than luxury, re- finement rather than fashion, to be worthy. not respectable and wealthy, not rich; to study hard. think quietly. talk gently, act frankly; to listen to stars and birds, to babes and sages with open hearts; to bear all cheerfully, do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never-in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden, grow up through the common. Could hap piness demand any greater opportunity to exist than these opportunities which are given by God to all his children who obey him? 1 would that we might all go back more contented to our everyday du- co I,f, may be. Whether they be in the store, the office, the pulpit the parlor, the nur- sery or the kitchen 1t matters not. would that we would all go the more cheerfully, because the harder our lot in life the nearer these troubles can bring us to God. When We are friendless and poor and helpless, then God is always ready to pour out the measureless wealth of his affections upon us, his suffering children.
 Who Shall 1t Profit?
 A noted London preacher was delivering his sermon in an open field. Upon the outskirts of the audience Here halted the carriage of famous family. Lady Anne Erskine Qor that was the name O. the oc- cupanD became an absorbed listener. Suddenly the minister turned and, facing this aristocratic beauty, began to sell her 
 block and he was the auctioneer. My brethren,' exclaimed the preacher, q am now going to hold an auction sale, and I bespeak your attention for a few mo- ments. l have here lady and her equip age to expose to public sale, but the lady Is the principal and only object that I wish to dispose of at the present time There are three earnest bidders in the field. The first Is the world. Well, and what will you give for her? ''I will give riches, honor, pleasure" That will not do. She is worth more than that. for she will live when riches, honors and pleas ures of the world have passed away. You cannot have her. The next bidder is the devil. We'll and what will you give for her? q will give all the kingdoms of the earth and the glory of them.' That will not do for she will continue to exist when the kingdoms of the earth and the glory of them have vanished like the shadows of the night before the rising sun. You cannot have her. But list and hear the voice of another bidder, and who is that? Why, the Lord. Jesus Christ. We'll what will you give for her? T will give the grace here and glory hereafter. an in- heritance incorruptible, undecided and that fadeth not away" These three bidders still contend for the possession of souls your soul, my soul and the soul of every one that cometh into the world. One bid or the other we must accept. The choice must be made. The decision rests with you. May God help every one of us to de- eide alright, for what shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"