Connecticut western news., 1902-05-08

practice deceit. He lies awake two or three nights trying to decide whether or no he will be dishonest. At last, in the midnight hour. he yields. He prac- tically calls Satan into his bedroom. While lighting the gas he says: Nov, Satan, I am resolved to be dishonest. l intend to be Shylock and demand the full pound of flesh nearest to Antonio s heart Give me success, and am will ing to sell you my soul" When a man comes to such a decision as that, he naturally lets loose the lower part of his nature. AS 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 soldier s reward, he Is a Benedict Arnold. Then, finding that the worldly success which he has won at the expense of his soul 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 drunkard's cup. He will dazzle himself into blindness by the hell flame of licentious carousal. He will curse sin as drunkard after sui fering the terrors of delirium tremens will curse liquor, and then drink. He will curse sin as the poet cursed 1t and yet keep on shining.
 "Goodby," said to my conscience,
 "Goodby for aye and aye"
 And put her hands of harshly
 And turned my face away,
 And conscience. sorely smitten,
 Returned not from that day.
 But a time came when my spirit
 Grew weary of It's pace,
 And I cried: Come back, my con-
 science.
 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 he shall have nothing but pow erty and humiliation, the poorhouse and a potter's field. The Bible refutes that idea. Tn the thirty seventh Psalm we read, "I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the right COuo ASohGb AiOl ms oNN0 OS6eAlA bread" The same God who cares for the sparrow and who numbers the hairs of our head will not let his chil- dren 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 sleep. Every one who gives his soul to Christ will be able to sing Channing's symphony. He will have, at least, an opportunity to live content with small means, to seek elegance rather than luxury, refinement rather than fashion, to be worthy. not re- al,ectable 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 word, to let the spiritual, unbid- den, grow up through the common. Could happiness demand any greater opportunity to exist than these Oppor tunities which are given by God to all his children who obey him? I would that:we' all might go back more con- tented to our everyday duties of life no matter what these duties may be- Whether they are in the store, the of flee, the pulpit the parlor, the nursery or the kitchen 1t matters not. I wouid that we would all go the more cheer fully, 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 al ways ready to pour out the measure less wealth of his affections upon us, his suffering children.
 What Shall It Proatf
 A noted London preacher was deliv- ering his sermon in an open field. Up- on the outskirts of the audience there halted the carriage of famous fam lily. Lady Anne Erskine (for that was the name of the occupant became an absorbed listener. Suddenly the min ister turned and, facing this aristocrat- ic beauty, began to sell her soul, as though she was on the auction block and he was the auctioneer. My breth- ren," exclaimed the preacher, "I am now going to hold an auction sale, and l bespeak your attention for few mo- ments. I have here a lady and her equipage to expose to public sale, but the lady is the principal and the 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? 'T will give riches, honor, pleasure" That will not do. She Is when riches. honors and pleasures of the world have passed away. You can not have her. The next bidder Is the devil. We'll, and what will you give for her? "I 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. Well, what will you give for herr ''I will give grace here and glory hereafter, an inheri- tance incorruptible. undefiled and that fadeth not away" These three bid ders 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 decide alright, flor what shall 1t profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soulY'
 Copyright. 1902. Louis Klopsch, N. Y.l