Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-23

d;ytna care for the great and the
small. The sun blezes IT, the moon
beams II, the stars shine 1t. the
rainbow CLEANS 1t, the rain showers IT,
the thunders roll It. the lightnings flash
Il. the winds breathe 1t, the ocean surges
~ and I'm this word of Jesus the noisy spar
rows are chirping II. Everywhere there are
traces Of divine observation, forethought
and interposition. God cares for the unre-
garded. the obscure and the helpless Ana
Christ is here seeking. in beautiful fashion.
10 show that God cares for the most unim-
portant human soul-unimportant In the
sight OF men. but vastly valuable In the
sight of heaven. Money was scarce ana
the price of meat high, and II had become
a custom. in order to earn pittance' 10
catch sparrows In nets, kill them, and sell
them from door to door for food If you
bought two sparrows you paid far'hihs
for them: IL you bought four sparrows you
paid two farthings (about one cent? for the
LOT. hut the sparrow-merchant would throw
IN a fifth sparrow. somewhat after our
fashion of a bakers dozen, 10 secuie
your good will and future trade.
The obvious lesson of this comparison is
the worth of the Individual human life In
the sight Of God and good men. Are not
five sparrows sold for two farthings' ana
not one of them is forgotten before COO
But even the very hairs of your head are
all numbered Fear not therefore: we are
of more value than many sparrows.' mat
thew adds zone of them shall not fall to
the ground without your Father.D Else
where. in speaking of the value of human
life. Christ says. What shall 1t proht
man if he gain the whole world and lose MS
Nfeq" No man can gain the whole world,
but on the authority of Christ's teaching
every man among 1.-The common people
may say of himself. II may not count TOT
very much in the world, but God counts the
sparrows, and though 1 am only hfth
sparrow, vet God cares for even me-"
Who are the fifth sparrows that Jesus
had IN mind? l answer, in the largest
sense all who are insignificant In the
worlds work and word; who are too young
or too old. too obscure or unknown, too
weak or too HELPLESS to count for much, and
who are more or less dependent upon others
and therefore dependent upon God; those
who get very little recognition or encour-
agement, affection or care; who have I'M
mortal souls but little of mortal Joy; these
have all passed under that divine census
which is so minute that 1t numbers even
the hairs of our heads. But since we are
all dependent upon the providence OF Goa
for all that makes life worth living and
eternity worth possessing, we may count
worth more than many sparrows' more
than many worlds, it is because we nave
been created IN the image of God, VINO mas
fashioned in our mortal clay spirits of d.
vino origin that shall outshine the sun.
Who among men. for whom Christ died. Is
without incalculable value? 1t is written
He gave Himself ransom for all"
Christ has changed every aspect Of human
life by the valuation He puts upon 1t. And
II is a fair summary OF the whole evangei
10 say that Christ's supreme business In the
universe on the cross and on the throne,
Is 10 show the infinite value OF an immor'ai
soul. clothed with mortality, and so often
diseuised by the carnality of its earthly es-
tate. Through evangel. through providence
through history, through intercession at the
right hand of God, Christ is eternally gath
ering up into His bosom the ordinary HE
of ordinary people. In ordinary situations
making an ordinary living and dying an
ordinary death. And through the trend of
His teaching I see that man is worth the
love of God, worth the death of Gods only
begotten Son. worth the eternities, worth
heaven! And not one man shall lose his
place In the skies without its being grief
10 that God who counts not only the spar
rows feathers, but the very hairs of every
mans head.
There are great blessings incident to the
life OF the Afth sparrow. The rich may not
drive up TO your door and with great -four
ish announce their presence. but the chariot
OF the King may stop there every day OF
the week. Rulers never pass along your
street and greet you with respect and es-
TEEN. but the angels OF God are appointed
to guard you IN all your ways and look
carefully TO your estate. Society may shun
your obscurity. but the Lord God Almighty
seeks the honor of your acquaintance. and
invites you TO become His friend. The
lofty places OF earth may not know US, but