St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-05-23

Man is very faithful and thoughtful
is it not, that he is so careless of his
souls needs? The soul which is shell
tered temporarily in house OF clay
will need a permanent abiding place
some day. Why not exercise the same
wisdom in providing for the souls
needs as is displayed in looking after
the needs of the body? Why not be as
dilgent in house hunting for the soul
as in hunting for the earthly dwelling
in which to shelter and rest the body :?
Abraham looked for the Heavenly city.
but I do not read anywhere that he
ever suffered for lack of physical
things. In fact, he had very COM
Portable time of it, even though he did
not roll in the fat and ease and pleas
ure of the Jordan valley. He liked to
get on the mountain tops and look off
toward the city with foundations
which God had built. And, while he
sought first the things above, all the
other things were added to him. Lot,
on the other hand, pretty nearly for
got all about his Heavenly home and
looked down with worldly eyes on Jor-
dams fair valley. He found a dwelling
place there, but he had such miser-
able time of it, notwithstanding all
the luxury and pleasures, that Gods
Word declares he was ''vexed with the
filthy conversation of the wicked, for
that righteous man dwelling among
them. in seeing and hearing, vexed
his righteous soul from day to day
with their unlawful deeds"
MO Jordan valley could provide for
L the needs of Lots soul or satisfy it.
No accommodations which this world
can offer are sufficient to properly
shelter the soul. In its house hunting
the soul must look beyond this world,
if it would find an abiding home. 1t
must stand with Abraham on the
toward the souls eternal city. But
suppose the soul has been so busy
gaining the whole world and enjoying
its ambitions and pleasures that it has
failed to secure a mansion in the skies
into which to move. While the earthly
house of the body has remained well
and strong and throbbed with life and.
energy, the need of other dwelling
place for the soul has been forgotten.
But failing health, weakened vitality
and tagging energies sound the warn
ing to the sleeping soul that it must
soon depart to new home. The sick
bed comes and the door At eternity
opens. The soul steps in > the dark
ness. The earthly body refuses to
shelter it longer. It must pass into
the great beyond. All, If it has no
home awaiting it! A homeless soul!
The bright light streaming from the
celestial city draws it on and the soul
knocks at the pearly gate. Lord,
Lord, open the door for mel" is the
cry, and from within comes the ques-
ton: "Who art thou?" The books of
Heaven are searched for the name.
but it is not found written there. There
are only mansions in Heaven for those
whose names are written in the
Lambs book of life, and SO the wait
ing soul hears the depart, for never
knew you" The soul put off its house
hunting until too late. While it is oc-
cupying it's house of clay it must Sc
cure its new home in Heaven. The
thief with his dying breath asked for
a place with Jesus, and the Lord told
him: 'This day shalt thou be with
Ne in Paradise" The soul may by the
mercy and grace of God be permitted
at SO late season to make prepare
tions for it's eternal home, but oh, the
folly of taking the chances!
THE saddest scene before Heaven
l and earth is the deathbed which
sees no light of hope beyond the
grave. But the soul whose mansion
is awaiting it in the city which God
has built can say with Paul: For to
me to live is Christ, and to die is
gain" "For we know that. if our
earthly house of this tabernacle were
dissolved, we have a building of God.
an house not made with hands, eter-
nal in the heavens" That beautiful
deathbed scene in little town in
New Jersey, which was chronicled a
few days ago by the newspapers,
could never have come to glorify the
sadness of that bereft home if the
one whose soul was leaving, the earth
ly house of flesh had not secured
through faith in Jesus Christ new
home in Heaven. The dear mother
had lain for five days in a death stu
por. The husband and children
watched by the bedside, hoping for
some last word or look. At last the
eyelids twitched and thea opened, a
glad smile lit up the face, and her
voice, clear but faint, said: TOO
long has my spirit been held in this
temple of clay. Friends, loved ones, in
the great beyond there are peace and
happiness; am of it and 1 see you all,
know you all and tell you hat we
shall meet over there. Father and
mother are with me now. Goodby!"
All, tell me, in the light of Gods
Word and such scene as this. does
it not pay to secure home in Heaven
by accepting Jesus Christ as Saviour?
Do you suppose there is enough
wealth and honor and power in this
world TO tempt those Borrowing
loved OF es to part with the memory
of the dear mothers last words
which told of Heavenly mansions and
peace ard happiness eternal? They
knew then if they never realized it
before that home in Heaven was
worth m ore than all the world could
offer, ''fer what shall it profit a man,
if he gain the whole world and lose
his own soul?"