The Grenada sentinel., 1903-11-14
Copyright. 1903. BY ]. N. Edson.)

to man to-day: This is the way,
walk ye in it." But man says, want
to walk in my own way: l want TO
be my own master; l want to go when
I please and come when l please. The
prodigal son liked to have his own
way. and so he bundled up his pos
sessions and left his fathers house for
the far country where there would be
no check upon his conduct, and during
all those mad days of pleasure he did
not cease from his own doings nor
from his stubborn way. The rich
fool who said within his heart: Soul,
thou hast much goods laid up for
many years; take thine ease. eat,
drink and be merry" lived on the low
plane Of the physical desires and
pleasures. 1t was enough for him
that he had a sumptuous home, that
he was clothed and warmed, and could
take his ease and I'LL his belly with
good things, and have a jolly good
time. He lived to enjoy lfe," as
so many people put it. Think of man
being ruled by the sole motive of self
desire and appetite. And yet how
many, many are under such thralldom!
The prodigal son wanted the gilded at
fractions and pleasures of the far
country, and he gave up home and
friends and everything that his de-
sires might be gratified. The rich
fool wanted his ease, he wanted rare
wines and rich food, and merry COM
pany to help him enjoy his sumptuous
home, and he forgot Lazarus at his
gate and the outside world and the
God Who ruled over all. And people
to-day are being dominated by the
| same self-desire which lured the
| prodigal son away from home and
blinded the rich man to the higher and
better part of life. The consciousness
of God and eternity is becoming less
and less in the world, and this life Is
filing all the thought and plans and
desires.
DUT not only are mere tleshly ap-
l. petites and desires holding sway
over people, but the attainments and
! ambitions of this life are shutting
God out of the heart and life. When
it is declared of Israel that they
|
l do not imagine we are to understand
that all were ruled by the lower ami
NAL nature of the appetites and lusts
Doubtless there were many against
whom the Indictment of God held true
| because they were ambitious fO1
worldly wealth, or. power, or learn
ing or culture. Here were some who
ceased not from their struggle after
| riches, sacrificing everything else
that they might pile up the yellow
! gold. Others ceased not to covet pow
er, world power. To be leader, tc
dominate in the affairs of the com"
munity or the state, was the ambition
of the life, and by fair means OF fOu
it was to be gratihed. Others ceased
not to drink at the fountain of the
worlds sO-called wisdom and culture
Their brains were SO busy with The
| thoughts Of man, with mans wisdom
and learning, that the wisdom of Goo
appeared as foclishness unto them
And it is true to-day that the plans
ambitions, purposes of this life ap
pear all important. Man and htG do
ings seem so necessary, that which thil
life has to offer appears so tangible
and attalnable, and God and eternity
seem so vague and uncertain. tha
man forgets God, and the words of Hill
Son: What shall it profit man il
he gain the whole world and lose hi:
! own soul?" And so man ceases no
from his own doings. His ways seen
to him easiest, most pleasant, mos
profitable. There is a way which
seemeth right unto a man." and HI
walks heedlessly and blindly in tha
way, and will not see the sign post:
which God has placed all along thu
route, which warn the soul that @'tht
end thereof are the ways of death.
Blind leaders of the blind" "Evel
learning" as Paul says, land never
able TO come to the knowledge of thu
truth" Cardinal Wolsey said of Hen
ry Will when on his deathbed
Rather than he will miss or want an,
part of his will, or appetite, he viii
put the loss of one-half his realm il
DANGER" And man is stalking his pre-
cious soul against the pleasures ant
ambitions and purposes. of the pres
ent life. This life first, let: the sou
take it's own chances! is what man ex
claims. - - -, ~
VV7HAT an example OF Gods patfenc,
| " and mercy is Israel. The miracu
ious hand Of God leads them from tn,
bondage of Egypt; it cuts the black wa
tiers of the Red sea and makes broad
smooth roadway for their feet; it guides
/ them through the wilderness: 1t feed
them when hungry. and brings fortl
wells Of springing water for their re-
Ifreshing; it smites the heenemiesth woul,
harm them: IL throws down the Jericho,