Milford chronicle., 1905-12-15

] MS T1ltn may De lncfeaSeus DuI, taken
as a rule. we may rely upon it that the
gOdly business man enjoys the blessing
of God on his enterprises.
How He Was Paid.
Religion, curing men of dissipation
and improvidence, promotes their pros
perity. Many years ago I heard this
fact illustrated in powerful way The
head of the famous Waldensian church
of Italy was speaking in the Philadel-
| phia church of which / was then as
sistant pastor. The Waldensian church
of Italy is really the Protestant church
of VictOr's Kingdom. 1t mostly repre-
sents the peasant classes. One day
humble Italian heard that if he would
attend a Waldensian church he would
be paid for doing so. He went, ex-
pecting to get money, but he found
something better than silver and gold.
He found Jesus Christ. He accepted
him rs his Saviour. Though he had
never been a good Catholic, he nom
inally had given his allegiance to the
church of Rome. No sooner did the
priest of his town hear what the man
was doing than he went to the mans
wife. He told the woman her husband
must leave the Waldensian church or
he would be spiritually destroyed The
wife said, "Father, l have something
1 would like to tell thee" The priest
answered, "Say on" "Father, you say
my husband will go to hell if he con-
tinues to go to the Waldensian church.
want to tell you what our home was
before he went there and found Christ.
My husband was a drunkard. He used
to work long enough to make a little
money. Then it would all go for drink.
We had no home, except a hovel. Then
he would come to that hOvel when he
was drunk and beat me and knock
me down. Often, both by night and
by day, have heard my children cry
ing with hunger, and 1 had no bread.
But since my husband found Christ in
the Waldensian church we do not live
in a hovel, but in a house. We have |
a carpet upon the floor. We have |
enough food to eat. Instead of my chill (
dren running around half naked they |
now have clothes and can go to school. |
Every morning he kisses me gOodby |
before he goes to work. When the twi-
light sets in he always comes home to |
greet me with a smile and to pet the
children. When Saturday night comes
he brings me home his wages and
throws the money into my lap as he
says, There, wife, are enough funds for
rent and clothing and meat for the
coming week." Then the wife, with
tears streaming down her cheeks, said,
''NOw, father, if finding Christ in the
church means all that to
our home do you not believe had bet
ter let my dear husband go and find
Christ there little lOnger?"
Emancipation From Sin.
"Ah, yes" I said to myself when
heard that story, "true gospel consecra-
ton means more than spiritual saliva
ton beyond the grave. True gospel
means emancipation from
sin, and emancipation from sin means
lresses for our babies and food for our
lining rooms and books for our library
shelves and carpets for our floors and
beds in which to sleep. When Joseph
gave himself in loyal service to God he
got all these. And, my friends, If you
,onsecrate your life to Jesus Christ you
will get all these also. Do not talk to
ne about Christianity being a financial
failure. The most expensive altar at
which a man ever worshiped is the altar
II sin. May God help us. in Christ's
lame, to be his true and faithful serv-
lnts, sincerely desirOus Of doing his
will in all circumstances, and then we
hall be blessed, whether we are in ad-
7ersity or financially prosperous, as
vas Joseph.
A step further in the analysis Of "a
prosperous life" we find Joseph not
,nly rich enough to meet his financial
obligations, but we also find him enOr-
nousIy rich In the affections Of bis 7
riends. He never seems to come near
o any one but at once he binds him
o him with links Of steel. His employ
r loves him. His fellow servants love
Inn. His old father dOtes on him.
1ven his Jealous brothers, who at first
lid everything to destroy him. are led
o reverence him. And. though you to-
lay may praise Joseph, the interpreter =
4 dreams; Joseph. the farsighted
tatesman; Joseph. the wonderful man \
ger of Potiphar's household. ] praise
oseph, the lovable friend. for without
be love Of the associates with whom -
ve are surrounded every worldly sue
ess is 'as sounding brass or a tinkline
ymbal."
Love is the center. the circumference,
be nadir and the zenith Of all true 8