The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-11-28
SATURDAY NIGHT
Ma; 3 SERMONS
>Mssz By
q REySAlIUEL
WpURvISDl
THREE FAULTY FOLLoWERs.


Capernaum had furnished the audience
room for throngs who had come out Of
city and village eager to SEQ and hear
the famous Nazarene, whose wonder.
ful preaching and marvellous miracles
Were the common talk Of the region.
Never man spake like he. Sublime
oratory. He could give sight to the
blind, hearing to the deaf, food to the
hungry. even raise the dead to life.
he was q magnet for the crowd. Ey-
cry public leader knows the danger of
popularity and the vagaries and many
motives Of his followers. Even the
twelve had some unworthy thoughts
as. to the rewards they were going to
get. Christ had hundreds of admirers.
some willing to accept his fortunes at
once, few who secretly determined to
call him master. The tides Of excited
feeling must have swept many to his
beach. A man who could feed 5000.
quiet the sea with a word, who was
going, 80 folks said. to occupy the an
cient throne OF David and sweep the
Roman intruders into the great sea
yonder, was worth while. OF course
many would follow Chriyt,
The UncaIouIatins Follower.
Lord, Will follow thee whitherso-
ever thou goestP He was enthusiastic,
warm biooded, impetuous- kind
that leap before they look; they answer
you before you have finished your SEN
tence. He may have been Of some
prominence and thought he was honor
ing Christ. But he would also b
big gamer. Large visions of success
foated before him. He was quick
pulsed and felt the magnetic hypnotic
swing Of the crowd. 30 he makes his
Wholesale offer. "WhithefsOeveri' How
little did he comprehend what was
involved He saw distinguished So
ciety. homes Of wealth and culture,
gratitude Of the healed and needy, GER
tain victory over all obstacles. OF
course. "Whithersoever" wasn't q bit
too broad. How quickly Christ an
swers him, and truthfully. That's the
kind Of physician to 90 to. II have
nothing here Not 30 much - the
beasts and the birds. Better think q
moment Today I have q home, to-
morrow none. Today I'm popular, an
ether wind will blow To follow
Jesus then was not-nor Is 1t today-a
holiday excursion. Christ did not want
to drive him away, nor did he waat
him to start out with a wrong idea
think we need the message today. To
my city is coming the greatest evangel-
ist Of this or any other aga. He sees
the danger of this type Of followers.
emotional. quick raised hand, thrill of
rapid heart beat, the shelter and re-
spectabiiity Of Christ's name. but when
1t comes to sacrifice ana service It ID
different.
The Delaying Follower.
This second man was called. He
heard and needed and wanted to 90,
but-frst. And didn't he have the best
Of reasons? His father was dead.
Everything else gives way to funeral.
At the busiest season your boss will
let you off-"Death In the family"
Street cars are not allowed to block q
funeral One Of the horrors of war is
that you can't take time to bury the
dead. Was Christ harsh? Not at all.
At least not SO with Mary and Martha,
and the widow Of Main. and Jairus.
Even if the young man had used only
a popular saying that meant Not as
long as my father lives" If he was
dead the mourning period was thirty
days. Living folks are of more i'm
portance than dead forms. The living
must care for the living. Thirty days
from now, days spent absorbed In
lamenting the dead. the young fellow
would be a different man. Which
would you rather, said Christ. WELD
the grave digger's shovel or blow the
gospel resurrection trumpet? The FIRST
man was too quick; this one was too
slow-he's been IN my after meeting.
Now. preacher, before the weeks out,
this series of meetings, before the
years done or the winters over, I'll
follow Christ There's something have
to attend to first" A certain place
Is said to be paved with good inten-
tions. seek ye FIRST the kingdom Of
Godr'
The Half Hearted Follower.
II will follow thee, but let me 60
home and say farewell to them that are
at my house." oh, that word ''butr'
What fearful possibilities are wrapped
up In IL, 1t has the power Of the
keys to the kingdom of heaven. This
young fellows request seemed straight
enough. But Christ knew him. II
No. Us grief was danger this mans
pleasures were fateful. He was social,
popular. the delight Of his set. If be
went back among his old friends to
wells were something elaborate. NO
quick, sharp Anglo-Saxon "goodby:;" it
was numberless salaams and endless
palaver to every one In the village IA
tribe OF relatives and host of ac-
quaintanceS. then feasting and return
feasting-he never would have got
through. Then. too. the possible hostiI.
ity Of his relatives and friends to his
following Christ Our missionaries say
natives coax converts to go visit their
relatives before they are baptized
When they do they never return. mo
man." said Christ to him. having put
his hand to the plow and looking back
is At for the kingdom of God" Plow.
ing requires undivided attention. You
can't do 1t and look back And the
kingdom of Cod reouiras futt Surr,c-