Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-04

Creator. 1t not only shows. as do the
inanimate creatures, the omnipotence OF
God. but mirrors however family, His
own being. 1t is a pure. immaterial, spir-
itual substance, like God. Like Him, 1t is
immortal. 1t Is endowed with under.
the things God knows, and to love the
things that He loves; but, above ALL to
know Him and to love Him. Hence, the
value of the soul is really immeasurable
and in comparison with it the things OF
the earth are utterly worthless. II
transcends time and space, def1es decay
old age or death. Eternity is it's abode and
the possession of God it's destiny.
The value Of our soul has been measured
once, and that measure found expression
in the agony and death of our Lord Jesus
Christ Although marred by sin, 1t still
retained such a superhuman beauty that
the Son of God readily suffered all the
torments and pains for the mere love OF
it. Oh, human soul, if thou knewest thy
worth.
The value of an object is measured by
the end for which it was created. Each
substance is shaped according to it's des-
tiny. Consequently God, the prime cause,
but also end of man, Is the true measure
of the value of the soul-not because the
human soul is equal In perfection to God,
but because God raised it to supernat-
ural destiny-the intimate union with the
Sovereign Being.
One thing, then, is necessary. Thou
art careful and art troubled about MANY
thines' but one thing is necessary" Luke,
x:4D. My friends, you may have differ
ent avocations in life. There may be no
human similarity in your worldly affairs.
Still, in the one supreme and essential
business you all converge in the salvation
of your immortal soul. Trade labor law
or medicine, these are not-at least. should
not-be your principal employment. Each
and every one of you have the same bust
ness-in fact. all who have lived since
the beginning of time have the one great
ana ali-lnportant work in common-the
work for which you came into the world
the salvation of your soul All other
things may be dispensed WITH but this
one never. This is mans true and essen
tfal duty. What shall it profit a man if
he gaineth the whole world and suffereth
the loss of his soul?" Mark viii:37) Must
man leave home and lands, and parents,
heroism of the gospel? No. This is not
the meaning of our blessed Lords words.
The end of life is. indeed, the salvation of
our immortal soul; but we must work this
out by the means Of our daily en-
pigments. We must prepare for the
blessedness of the future life by the labor
and toll and earnestness of the present
This is enough to insure eternal salvation
to most men; but this the law of God i'm
peratively requires of each one of US. This
is our duty to our souls This done, all is
done
1t is important that we bear in mind that
the salvation of our souls is properly our
own work. The grace Of God is, indeed,
necessary; but without our personal, indi-
vidual cooperation the grace of God will
not save U.S. Therefore ST. Paul writing
to the Philippians, exhorts them to work
out their salvation (Ph.,- ii:12). Our eter-
nal destiny depends on our own actions
No one will or can be saved merely be-
cause Christ died for us, or because He
founded the church and made us it's MEM
bers, or because He has instituted the life
giving sacraments, or because God is will
ing that all should be saved. No one will
be saved because of good instruction in the
faith, of good desires and good Intentions.
All these channels and means Of grace are
necessary, but they are all within your
reach, they are all in your power. God
easy for you. However great your diff
culties, however serious your temptations,
however strong your passions. however
deep seated your habits may be- you can.
by the help which God is willing and glad
to give you. save your immortal soul.
We know that our time in this present
life is not to be used in writing letters on
the sands Of the seashore or chasing but
terflies, or in quest Of the rainbow; nor
would we think him wise father who
would set out on a tour Of pleasure when
his presence might be necessary to avert
a great disaster that threatened his fam
lily. Now. applying these rules on which
we act in matters of daily life to the
question of our souls eternal security. I
say we are bound to give the work OF
our salvation the importance, it demands.
Take into your souls the whole fulness
of the proposition. There is work be-
fore YOU that is fraught with the full in
terests Of eternity.