The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-06-24
SATURDAY NIGHT
X SEnN0NS
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THE CALL OF THE DIVINE.


crossroads sat Matthew, signing Gus
tom receipts for silks precious stones,
spices, fish and breadstuffs True, he
must extOrt to get rich. but he will set |
his face like "a flint for few years, |
then buy a villa somewhere down In
Judea where no one will know him.
But how about that sermon he heard
from the Nazarene only yesterday?
Man proposes. God disposes. A voice
is calling in the window of his booth,
Matthew. follow me-" John Newton,
John Bunyan, Jerry MacAuley. heard
that voice. Matthew wasn't ashamed
was that son of Abraham was col
Letting tribute for gentle people
How show his gratitude? The wise
men brought their gifts. Mary her oint-
ment. Joseph lends his tomb Matthew
is not an artist, he cannot paint a
picture; nor poet, he cannot write
verses; nor yet a musician or he would
compose an oratorio for his Master.
but he is u man of affairs-he will give
dinner And that dinner! The
Pharisees look In the window. Hor-
rors! There is Jesus at Matthew's
side eating with publicans and sinners.
social and religious outcasts. How
can he? Like proud southerner eat
ing with a negro But Jesus doesn't
care, and surely Matthew doesn't.
The Open Door.
It's a great day i'll any mans life
when Jesus comes into his street and
speaks to him If the man turns, his
world turns with him. Lies o little
different after that Here you are a
busy man in world of fierce competi
ton. Lots of things you would rather
not do, but business Is business.
You're a little ashamed of a number of
things; your better self often rebels.
One day the call comes. The great
world of God opens up to you. Back
Of the natural you see the supernat-
ural. Through a sermon, book,
spell of sickness or death you hear
| Christ call you for better things It's
a clear cut call for Matthew, no doubt
ing that, sharp and to the point.
Christ didn't argue. didn't call him bad
names, didn't cast up to him his dis
reputable business. he made no prom
ises. He just said. Follow me-" And
Matthew'S response was just as clear
cut. He asked no questions, he Of
fered no objections, asked no delay, in
sisted on no conditions. brought up no
doubts or puzzling questions. Luke
says, "And he forsook all and rose and
followed him" 1t cost him a good
bit-gain, luxury. future ease. The
post was God forsaken one; he for
sock that. His associations were dis
reputable, drag to his soul. He gain
ed good conscience, self respect, eter-
nifty.
What Does Christ See?
The ability to see the real man is
rare. To be able to look over a squad
of men or crowd of boys and detect
latent possibilities is great art. II
doesn't grow on every bush To the
mass of people Matthew was simply a
low down thieving publican, with just
enough ability TO coin money out of
the sweat of honest people. To him q
public office was a public snap. Christ
saw back of all that unlikely material
the great disciple the writer of Mat
thew's gospel God looks at a vile,
drunken, impure sailor and sees John
Newton; he looks at that blasphemous,
staggering barkeeper in Gloucester
and sees George Whitetield; he looks at
that needless boy packing boots and
shoes In Chicago and sees Dwight L.
Moody; he looks into a gypsy tent
where there are five little motherless,
he sees a Gypsy Smith. 1t takes love
to see. He's looking at you and your
great possibilities, my brother If you
think you haven't a friend In the
world you have If you think no one
cares, they do. If you think no one
wants you, there is, Just give him q
chance. Only God knows your posi-
bilities.
"once to Every Man and Nation"
This story means that for every maj
tneIc . ChduCe-lOI Tue uuOSt unIlhe
ly, the most degraded the most de
spised; for the people born with the
devil in their blood-the blood of the
gambler, the blood of the drunkard. the
blood of the harlot The wonder is
that some people are as good as they
are. They've had no chance Here's
new way of treating sinners. We've
known courts and prisons. handouts
and bars, for the wrongdoer. Chris
would get the perverted good out oil
such crude material He sees each
soul as cavern full Of gems. He has
the vision OF the sculptor that sees the
inner beauty and symmetry concealed
in the outer shapelessness. see Mat
thew at his feast, proud of his guest
sitting at the post of honor. | like t.
watch the folks who are good to theil
minister Some people find fault an6
gossip and make his life miserable