Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1904-08-17
TRUE RICHES.
BY ReK. J. ]. DonIan.

TRUE RICHES.
BY Rev. }. J. DonTan.
Hath no, God chosen The poor in
this world, rich in faith?-, James,
ST., 5.
The worlds idea of riches is an ag
gregation of material wealth and its
idea of poverty is the absence of this.
The scripture notion, however, is en-
tirely different, and St James would
have us believe that a man may be a
Croesus and yet be poor, that he may
be . Lazarus and still be richer than
Dives
The fact that we belong to two
worlds-the one material, the other
spiritual accounts for the fact that
we are aile to acquire wealth In either
or both. If we view the natural gifts
of men we behold gifts of one kind
given in a large measure to an in
dividual from whom gifts of another
kind are denied One has great gifts
of mind with a weak body or scanty
purse. Another has physical strength
that fits the man for a life of toll
but is without intellectual force. Still
another may have an honored name
and large estates but laments the alb
sence of an heir, or if he have an heir
the latter may be spendthrift and
constant source of grief.
This was the lot of Solomon. His
wide-spreading kingdom, his immense
treasures fell into the hands of the
foolish Rehoboam to 20 scattered and
destroyed. Read in l. :lesiastes what
this rich and wise king said of all
earthly gifts-''Vanity of vanities,
and all is vanity" This should enable
us to decide what gifts we should
chiefly covet True wisdom will as
sert itself when we are ready to ac-
cept whatever gifts OF mind. body,
and estate Providence H.. give us,
and to accept them thankfully with
out boastlng over him who has receiy-
ed less, without envying him who has
acquired more, but with perfect VIII
to yield up all whenever the Giver
recalls him and with holy Job cheer
fully say, "The Lord gave and the
Lord hath taken away; as 1t hath
pleased the Lord, so is it done. Blessed
DC. the name or the LORD.
TIC grow rich, then. we should "covet
earnestly the best gifts"-those which
adorn the soul in the sight of its
Maker The meek and quiet spirit the
enduring faith, the Frightening hope,
the fervent charity-these are the best
gifts, and to covet them is a holy covet-
BUSINESS. To make these our own is
a n,
them can well afford to be poor in all
else. These gifts, however. are not
ours by Inheritance, nor can they be
obtained by trade or barte'. They are
planted in us by the Holy Spirit, TO
grow under our nourishing care,
Therefore. coyet these best gifts which
become more effulgent as our natural
gifts wane. that wax stronger as the
outward man decays that sweeten this
life and serve us in the world beyond.
Love, JOY, peace. patience. goodness.
meekness, temperance, forgiveness of
injuries. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. are the
gifts that truly enrich man. And as
no man can be called poor who
abounds in these. so no man is rich
If he does not possess such wealth.
Envy no man gifts material, but
strive aft r the real riches of imperish-
able life.
Understand also that gracious discip-
line of loss, pain, want. or sorrow. for
this is the means by which many poor
in this worlds goods can grow rich in
faith and ripe for the enjoyment of
that victory which triumphs in his
name.