The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-13

says He is saved" By the power of
the iloly Spirit not only one soul but a
whole family Of immortal souls are
saved. All, there is no joy on earth like
the rapturous Joy of soul savingl Il Is
one of the most precious sheaves ever
garnered by the Christian worker. MY
brother, If you have not this passion for
saving souls you have not yet been bless
ed with the hottest joy of which the hui
man heart can conceive.
Another precious sheaf that is garnered
by the Christian reaper Is the gratitude
of those whose immortal souls he has
been able, by the power of the Holy
Spirit, to win to Christ. No true Chris
tan has a right to swerve one inch from
the path OF rectitude in order to win the
appreciation of his fellow-man He
should be willing TO do his full duty I'M
der all conditions. No matter what OBJ
stacles may confront him. he should be
willing to draw the plumb line of prin-
ciple and go straight ahead whether he
is praised or blamed, loved or hated,
honored or disposed.
But when a Christian worker can SOW
the good seed and not only gather for
Christ harvest of immortal souls, but
gather also the gratitude and love of
those whom he has been able, by the
power of the Holy Ghost to lesd to sal
walton, the reward of that love is very
SHStb. II Is dS sweet as the attention
which Mr.. d. L. Moody used to shower
upon little old woman popularity called
Mother Cook. whose prayers were the
means of giving to Mr. Moody a spirit
hiled life-a little old woman whom per-
haps you have never heard of vet a
woman whom the whole Christian world
ought 10 love on account of the work she
has done. 1t Is as sweet as the affection
which chid showers upon a mothers
life, an affection which is developed NOT
alone from the temporal care which she
devotes to the child, but also from the
spiritual care, where by she has been able
to put her child's hand into the hand of
loving Christ
The Heart Like a Gem.
Like the sensitive opal when it comes
into contact with the living hand, the
heart of the believer is made to glow
when 1t feels the warm love and gratitude
OF those whom it has led into the spiritual
newness of life. The story is told that
celebrated New York jeweler purchased
IN Europe a magnificent collection of
gems. When he returned home. he ar
ranged these stones in cabinet and in
Viled some Of his closest friends to in
spect them. When his friends entered
the room he pointed to the cabinet and
SAID; There, gentlemen. is the richest
collection of gems, l believe, in all this
lanu. There is nothing like 1t in value
anywhere. The friends were In rap
lures over the sight. In the cabinet were
pearls and amethysts and diamonds and
rare stones of all Sorts It seemed as
though the richest treasures of the noted
peacock throne of India which was
worth over $50, 000, 900. had been selected
Tor this collection. But in the midst of
all these beautiful Jewels was one which
looked like an unsightly pebble. why
DO you place such a dull. hideous looking
peopiehke stone as that among those
costly gems?' asked one of the visitors
me host answered not a word He un-
locked the cabinet. took out the pebble
ike stone and held 1t in the palm of his
closed hand. just as the guests were
about to leave the host said Let me
show you the richest and rarest stone of
all my treasures He opened his hand
ano there upon the palm was a stone
which glowed like a live coal 1t was
such brilliant stone that every guest
uttered an exclamation of surprise
Where did you get it" they cried. I'VE
have never seen the like of 1t before,
Ihat stone Is the rarest | have an
sWered the jeweler. THAT is the insight
~ pebble you saw a few moments ago in
the cabinet. That is a sensitive opal
which has been warmed into what looks
IKE live coal by the heat of my blood"
The true Christian sower ought to be
ready to sow the good seed under all
conditions, no matter whether he be
praised or blamed, honored or despised.
but when he does begin to gather his
harvest he will not only reap the sheaf
OF JOY Which comes from the realization
that he has won some soul, but he will
only reap the gratitude ard the love of
those who were brought to Christ
through his fundamentally. This love
a nj rr4a t444s H. x.ra11
his heart into a glowing gem, afame
with life, which shall glow like the rich
est jewel that ever flashed in the crown
of a king.
The Sheaf of contentment.
Another precious sheaf which is gar
ne, ed by the Christian reaper is the
sheaf of contentment, the willingness to
live happily In that field of life in which
he has been placed by God. II man
does not mingle with the poor and the
troubled. the sick and the suffering, he
never fully realizes how gcod and kind
and loving God has been to him. IL a
man does not visit the sick room and try
to carry there comfort and good cheer
to the wan invalid, he never fully appre-
ciates the blessings of health unless per
haps he himself has been carried into a
hos pital. Then, while recovering from a
serious sickness. he has seer intense suf-
ferings and agonies such as NAV be WIT
messed In almost every ward of large
hospital. If a man has never entered a
home where dirtheria has played havoc
with the nursery or where consumption
has made the young mother cough her
life away, he never fully appreciates the
blessings of having his children and wife
by his side. IL q man has not tried to
carry the gospel to the outcasts and tho
vile, he has never vet realized the hless-
ings OF being born in Christian cradle
and surrounded by Christian childhood.
All, the Christian sower who seatters the
good seed upon the troubled sea of rest
less hume nity while he may be CARRYING
blessing to others he is also planting In
his own heart the seeds of gratitude to
Goo and of contentment with his own
sphere of life.
My brother, you are happy. VIII you
let me end your dependency? Well, then.
go first end buy r few flowers at the
nearest florists. oh" you answer. II
cannot afford to buy any flowers Yes.
you can, my brother You can buy all
the flowers / want for the money YOU
would spend upon cigars during tho next
week. Then l want you to go with me
for a pastoral call into the young mans
room who broke down physically and
who is going to die. Do you know what
is the matter with him? He broke down
from overwork. His life's desire was to
enter the Christian ministry. He used to
work during the day and send NEST of
mis- money home to help support his IA
TIERS family. Then he used to study at
night. His clothing was very poor, mis-
food was poor, and yet If you will go
into that sick room and carry those
flowers you will find tears OF joy coming
into his grateful eyes; you will hear him