The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-09-11
GOSPEL OF GIVING.

A Message by the " Highway and
Byway" Preacher.
Heavens Riches Placed at the Dis.
posal of the Disciples of
Jesus who Minister in
His Name.
copyright. 1902. by A. N. Kellogg News
paper Col
Chicago, 1902.
Text: Freely ye have received, freely
give.-Matt. 1913.
The Song Of Nature.-The rising
song of the birds, the brightest and
sweetest of all the day, poured into my
window the other morning, and the
first consciousness l had was that Ma
ture was again astir, and was giving
to me her best to tune my heart to sing
through all the duties of the day.
Never did music sound more sweet
than the song of the birds that morn
ing as it came a freewill offering from
the happy songsters. The song OF the
prima donna is reserved for the select
audiences which can afford to pay the
price of admission, but the songs of the
birds are as free as the air, and the
birds which woke me when my heart
was tender towards God and open to
the summertime teaching seemed to
carol over and over again the words:
"Freely ye have received, freely give"
The reyeille Of the feathered song
sters announced the crimson tinting OF
the east as the first rays of golden light
came creeping up the heavens, and as
each succeeding note rose and fell and
swelled into full song, the hum and
buzz of Nature caught the refrain un-
til the fresh morning air reverberated
with the beautiful harmony. And
while all Nature broke into her song
Of welcome, the glowing sun majesti-
cally rolled above the horizon, flooding
my room with brilliant light. AS its
golden rays filled all the place with its
beauty, each dancing sunbeam seemed
to sing: Freely ye have received,
freely give"
Out into the garden I went. The
sparkling dew drops rested upon grass
and flowers, and flashed the early
morning sun like so many diamonds.
Each blade of green and each bright
petaled flower, robed in new beauty
after the soft hand of the night had
brushed away the dust and heat OF the
previous day, seemed to raise its face
towards Heaven with grateful praise
and silently sing: Freely have we
received, freely will we give"
And as the stirring breezes waited
to me their dainty perfume in generous
fullfillment of the whispered promise,
my soul bounded within me at the les
son which the morning had brought me,
and my heart took up the refrain and I
sang: Freely, indeed, have I re-
ceived, freely, too, will I give"
With glad heart and bounding step
I moved under the trees and took the
path which led down to the brooks
verdant side. Throwing myself upon
the messy bank and taking my Testa-
ment from my pocket, turned to the
ninth chapter of II. Corinthians, the
eighth verse of which, with it's wealth
of "all grace" "all sufficiency," "all
things" and "always" lavished upon
us by loving Heavenly Father, so that
we might abound 'to every good
work." gave back to me the message
which Nature all about me had been
singing; and the stream ripping joy
ously by at my feet carried me back to
my boyhood, as it seemed in musical
rhythm to sing the simple little song OF
the soulful Fanny ]. Crosby:
"Give." said the little stream, give. oh.
give; give, oh, give!'
"Give,' said the little stream, as II
hurried down the hill.
"I am small, know, but wherever go,
give. oh. give: give, oh, give!
IT am small, / know, but wherever
go, the fields grow greener still"
"Give," said the little rain. "give. oh
give; give. oh, give!.
"Give." said the little rain, as 1t fell
upon the flowers.
II will raise the dropping heads again.
SiNC, OA, 6AtCp 6AsOs oA, oANS'
IT will raise the dropping heads again,
and freshen the summer bowers"
."Give," said the violet sweet, give. oh
give; give, oh, give!
"Give," said the violet sweet in 1t.
gentle spring-like voice;
"From cot and hall they will hear my
call, give. oh. give; give. oh. give!
From cot and hall they will hear my
call. they will find me and rejoice. y
'Give.' said they all, ''oh, give! give, Oh
give; give, oh, give?'
''Give," said they all, 'oh, give for ouI
blessings come from Heaven"
"And we fain would give, yes. woul6
only live, give. oh, give; give, give"
'And we fain would give, yes would
only live. to give as God has giv'n. >
Give, then, for Jesus. give! give, oh
give; give, oh. give:
Give, then, for Jesus, give! there /.
something all can give.
Oh, do as the streams and blossoms do
give, oh, give; give, oh, give!
oh, do as the streams and blossoms do
and for God and others live.
The Song of the World.-The mes
sage of Gods Word is in harmony
with the spirit of all Nature, but