Milford chronicle., 1908-02-07
OF Infinite Importance.

Oh, the infinite importance of the i'm
mortal soul! Oh, the never ending ex-
istence which is stretching out before
all Of US after our bodies are dead!
Can you not catch a faint glimpse Of
that apocalypse? In one of our great
educational institutions some years
ago there was a student noted for his
mathematical genius He loved to
challenge his fellow students to
friendly trial Of skill in figures. But
one day a Christian student entered
his room and said, ''Tem, here is a
problem l wish you would try to solve
for me-" The mathematician took it
and looked at 1t and then read the
words. What shall it profit a man if
he shall gain the whole world and lose
his own soulT' In anger he tore the
paper up and threw it upon the floor.
But after his Christian friend had left
he proceeded to study the problem. He
began to compute the value of money
and fame and position and worldly
success. Then he commenced to weigh
the value of his soul. "What shall it
profit a man if he shall gain the whole
world and lose his own soul?' At
last a revelation Of the souls value
above the combined value of all other
things came to him. Then he dropped
upon the floor and cried out, "God be
merciful to me and save my soulr' So
/ put the question TO you, Do you de-
sire to make the most out of your life?
What n man &c 70 bo v-o,,r fifose ,,-or1- .
How shall you get the maximum of
return for your labOrs? Do you not
see how this text rises and spreads I'M
til at last it girdIes the earth and Cir
dies the heavens and girdles the eterni-
ties? HE that winneth souls is wise"
But these words of my text are sig
nifcant for another reason. Soul win
ming is not only the greatest of all
work, but it is also the most rational.
Our Lord God is not unreasonable nor
does he require of US more than we
can do, but he says: GO forth in this
mighty work of soul saving. and will
be with thee. l will give thee divine
power, and | will work through thee
as l worked through thee great soul
winners of Olden times" Paul express
es my meaning in words more power
full than any living man could frame.
He maps out a great evangelistie cam
paign for Christ. He maps out a great
religious campaign that from human
appears that of crank or
a fool From the human standpoint Paul
seems to be the widest of fanatics
but for one reason. He says: 'In my
own power l can do nothing. but in the |
divine power l can do everything. |
can do all things through Christ which
me-" In other words. he |
believed that God would reinforce |
him, as he will us, with divine power |
In the great work of saving a soul.
In the Spirit of Paul.
All, this is a blessed, a mighty en-
l do not feel we have a
right to speak the words of my text
unless at the same time we do it in
he spirit and confidence of Paul. Con-
slider what it is that we have to do.
We have to wrestle with Satan for his
prey. l do not care whether you call
he evil spirit sin or Satan or the
ievil; it is all one and the same. No
sooner is a child born than the evil
ipirit goes to that cradle and says: 81
will hover over this child. l will fol-
ow him step by step. l will study his
Incestors to find out their moral weak
lesses. l will offer him the form of
which is best suited to his
aste. Then l will say: Drink, friend.
Drink. Drink until your temporal life
S imbittered and your soul is poi
oned.'"
Have you ever had an enemy on
our trail? Have you ever had a man
r a woman with bitter malice follow
'ou step by step, undermining your
lfe's work? Have you had a foe mis-
you and thwarting your
forts while you kept silence for the
axe Of the work which you were try
ng to do? Or, what is infinitely worse,
ave you ever had a friend whom you
oved as a brokerage. loved as your
wn child-whom you have lived with
nd helped and encouraged and aided
: his work, suddenly draw a knife