The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1911-06-30
SATURDAY NIGHT
@SSIAslSM SEPMONS
,Wsss BY
- RNSAMUEL
WpURvISDl
PAYING YOUR FARE.

Jonah l,
The book Of Jonah In unique. It's
the most admirable short story in the
world. Literary correspondence schools
should note II. II Is begun and finish
ed in forty eight verses. Wealth OF
incident, progression Of movement, va
riety Of detail, dialogue and narrative,
are wonderfully balanced. Its con
densation is n model. Only ten verses
In the second chapter Of this fascinat-
ing book, yet they form n paragon OF
worship, prayer and praise. Neverthe-
less no Bible book has received half
the cannonading that Jonah has. The
world has had much to say by way OF
pleasantly concerning Jonah and the
whale It's been the lnughingstock OF
infidel and the victim Of higher critic.
with caricature and ridicule, with ig-
norance and learning, they've attacked
It. They've gloated wildly over the
size Of the whales throat. Shrieks OF
merriment have accompanied their
measurement OF the whales intestines.
The Bible says the Lord prepared
great fish. II he prepared the fish
would suppose he made the dimensions
70 suit the case. However, the world
wags on. No less IA scholar than the
former president OF the greatest uni
yersity Of the west questions the story,
and no less q person than Christ him
self thought It worthy TO quote as be-
| ing correct. l prefer to range myself
with the latter. But the story OF that
! farofr day doesn't have to be true. It's
happening in your town today.
The Runaway Sailor.
Indeed, Jonah 10 a type Of many peo-
| pie I'm many ages. There may be some
In your town, in your house, possibly
one in your shoes. I've had some on
the passenger list Of my church. IL
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
sell You see, the man who's running
away from God-that's 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 Galilee 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 n
hard task-he has eluded God, poor 10
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 a smart thing.
He has overreached God! Ever feel
that way, neighbour 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 beams end" The SUI
perstitous 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 eI-
pensive trip for Jonah. He lost money.
time. approval Cf 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 tempestuous
sea.
"Ths Devils pios Ars Loaded"
Satan robs you, doesn't deliver the
goods and doesn't refund. He takes
your money and puts you OF at a poor
, landing place. He promises to take
, you from Joppa TO Tarshish and throws
: you over before you are halfway. Only
, one thing is certain-he never fails 10
collect the fare Dealing with the
devil is like playing with a gambler al
his own game-when you are surest
he has you. My scofilng friend bought
stack OF infidel books. How he used
TO sneer! He paid $40 for his ticket tc
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 letters2 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
4. out woman's finer and nobler In
, stincts. That man who lodged the
trolley fare thought he got free ride
but he didn't. He paid the coin OF