The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1911-11-24
SATURDAY NIGHT
N.SE5NSERMONS
W-ss6EA BY
e. REWSAMUEL
" WpURVISDD
PAYING YOUR FARE.

The book Of Jonah Is unique. It's
the most admirable short story in the
world. Literary correspondence schools
should note 1t. II is begun and finish
ed In forty-cight verses. Wealth of
incident, progression OF movement, va
ricty OF detail dialogue and narrative,
are wonderfully balanced. Its con
dcnsation u model. only ten verses
in the second chapter Of this fascinat.
ing book, yet they form II paragon of
worship, prayer and praise. Nevcrthc-
less no Bible book has received half
the cannonading that Jonah has. The
world has had much to say by way or
pleasantly concerning Jonah and the
whale. It's been the laughingstock OF
inhdcl and the victim Of higher critic.
With cariCaturc ana ridicule, with ig
norancc and learning, they've attacked
II. They've glOatcd wildly over the
size of the whales throat. Shricks ot
merrimcnt have accompanied their
measurement of the whales intcstincs.
The Bible says the Lord prepared
great fish. If he prepared the fish |
would suppose he made the dimensions
TO suit the case. However, the world
ways on. No less scholar than the
former president of the greatest uni
versity of the west questions the story,
and no less person than Christ him
self thought 1t worthy TO quote as be
Ing correct | prefer to range myself
with the latter. But the story OF that
faroff day doesn't have to be true. It's
happening in your town today.
The Runaway Sailor.
Indeed, Jonah is type of many peo-
pie in many ages. There may be some
in your town, III your mouse, possibly
one in your shoes. I've had some on
the passenger list of my church. II
they'd only jump overheard! But, no;
they think the captain and the crew
and all the other passengers ought to
be thrown overheard They want to
stay and steer the ship. Oh, they've
good stuff in them, I'm sure. but they
raise storms and nearly sink the YES.
sci. You see, the man who's running
away from God-thats what Jonah
was foolishly trying to do-always is
an unhappy fellow. Did you ever try
to hide yourself from God by excuses
or company or lies or loud laughter?
God said to Jonah. go to Nineveh"-
that was eastward by land Jonah
started to Tarshish, westward, by wa
ter. With his bundle on his back he
slips away from his little home town
in Galilce. Two days later he's skulk
ing through the narrow streets and
busy wharfs of the seaport town OF
Joppa. TO those heather sailors he's
queer looking fish in strange waters.
But he has found an easy way out Of
hard task-he has eluded God, poor Jo-
nah! He has not yet learned the les
son that there's no place in all the uni
verse, in the world that now is or that
which is to come, for man running
away from God. Duty's never done
by lodging it.
Jonah steps aboard the rough craft,
pays his fare, gangplank is hauled in,
anchor is weighed. sails are hoisted.
Soon the rigging is rafting in the
strong breeze of the Mediterranean.
Jonah smiles craftily; has the air Of a
man who's secretly done smart thing.
He has overreached God, Ever feel
that way. neighbor? Soon he's in the
hold asleep. Hank Was that laugh
ter? No; twas the mutter Of thunder
and fash of lightning. Snap goes rig
ging, crash goes the mast. The YES
sells pitching a-beam's end" The SUI
perstitious sailors are hunting the
cause. They cast lots. Jonah's the
man. He confesses. They bring him
to the side of the ship. lift him over
the guard rail and drop him into the
angry waters below. He paid his fare
to Tarshish. but he never got there.
Neither does any one who runs away
from God and duty. 1t was an ex-
pensive trip for Jonah. He lost money,
time, approval of conscience and smile
of God-would have lost life and soul
but for Gods mercy. Sin in the soul
is like Jonah in the ship-the smooth
est water is turned into q tempestuous
sea.
THE DEVILS Dice Are Loaded"
Satan robs you, doesn't deliver the
goods and doesn't refund. He takes
your money and puts you off at poor
landing place. He promises to take
you from Joppa to Tarshish and throws
sou over before you are halfway. Only
one thing is certain-he never fails to
collect the fare. Dealing with the
devil is like playing with a gambler at
his own game-when you are surest
he has you. My scoffing friend bought
a stack Of infidel books. How he used
to sheer! He paid $40 for his ticket to
Tarshish when he bought the books
He landed in perdition. You pay your
price. The beautiful Chicago heiress
married the young lord with handsome
face and rotten character. Have you
| read her heartbroken letters? She's
paying the price That woman who
got the extra pair Of silk hosiery
| through the clerks mistake Dragged OF
being in pair of stockings. but she's
out woman's finer and nOblcr IN.
stincts. That man who lodged tn
trolley fare thought he got a free ride
but he didn't. lie paid the coin of
meannPSS and dishonesty Ha y,os