Evening journal., 1916-02-12
The LcprOsy of Sin
Sermon preached in Tabernacle last night by Lyon

across the street, with little boy
The child saw the young man on the
other side, looking toward the ground.
He toddled across the street and said,
Mister, has you lost somefn?' The
young man hearing the voice, looked
up and said, "Yes, by boy, ! have lost
| have lost by reputation
and my position. | have lost my man
hood and my hope. Yes, | have lost
something" The little fellow ran
back across the street to his mother,
and said Mamma. here is a young
man over there that lost somefin'.
perhaps you can help him to find IT,"
Taking his mother by the hand he led
her across. She spoke kindly to the
youth and took him over to her home,
gave him some food, talked to him
about Christ and salvation. The young
man that day was saved, and is now
a mighty preacher Of the gospel.
There is no one young or old. rich
or poor, that God cannot use in his
service.
can see the servants moving
noiselessly about in the great palace
Of Naaman. The hearts of the entire
household are heavy. The doctors
have declared their masters case is
hopeless, and gloom has settled down
upon the entire home. AS this little
maid perhaps is dressing the hair Of
her mistress she notices tear steal
down her cheek. She knows the heart
OF her lady is sad and sore. She ex-
claims would God my Lord were
with the prophet that is in Samaria.
for he would recover him of his
leprosyl" Had all been we'll the mis-
tress would have doubtless rebuked
the servant for her unasked advice,
but these words seemed like a show
er drops falling on the parched earth.
The wife speedily carries the news to
her husband the great general, who
Immediately passes it on to the king
of Samaria. Now all the wealth and
influence OF royalty are called into
service They at once infer that il
there is any power in Samaria that
can cure the leper it certainly must
be possessed by the king, and imme-
diately they get together a great
amount OF wealth, equal in value to
perhaps five million dollars in the
money Of our day. as a present to
the king OF Samaria, to obtain his as
sistance in the healing of the great
general.
In the face OF any supreme human
need. how absolutely impotent ant
powerless all worldly rank and roy
atty. position and prestige appear
Samaria's king could kill, but he
could not make alive. He could
wound. but he could not heal Here
is the marked contrast between hui
man power and divine power. A slave
can cut down the finest tree, but only
God can make one grow There is
something unspeakably pitiable ant
pathetic in the helplessness OF th'
king when he is asked to cure the
leper In marked contrast with hi
weakness. behold the might Of thu
humble, lowly prophet of God. Elisha
who is the type Of the Great Physi
. clan. Jesus Christ. With calm, con
, fdence he bids the leper come to hin
, In the hour OF health and prosperit
you may seek the gilded halls q
pleasure and vice, but when you ar
facing a great sorrow. a great crisis
or approaching death, pleasure, in
diligence and wealth lose all thei
charm. In the hour Of need, there
no one to go to but to God.
Now this mighty general. with hi
retinue. stands outside the door O
Elisha's home. A servant announce
his coming. He thinks of course tn
prophet will deem himself highl
hOnOred that he obtains the patron
age of this famous parsonage. Doubt
less at that time Elisha was in com
munion with God. He could not vast
time to talk at length with earthl
/ pCtentates. He merely sends a mes
senger to Naaman TO tell him to e
, and wash in the river Jordan seve
times. That must have been a shoe
and surprise to this man Of gre;
wealth and rank and influence T.
q had supposed. OF course. this poo
4 prophet would hasten out and dee
, il great privilege to go through il
carnations and forms and ceremonie
making all sorts of passes and gen
! 1ections with some mystic rites al
. ceremonies, in order to cure h
leprosy. or course it might be po
sible for an ordinary man to be hea
I ed in some simple way as the proph
!. suggests, but he must remember tn
he is no ordinary man. He is Il
S most wealthy and most influential al
). most exalted parsonage OF his da
z Immediately he is angry. He deer
s himself insulted. He thinks he C;
e detect an implication in the prophet
S words that he is not cleanly, that
e needs a bath. How beneath his di
d nifty and rank to be taking advi
Il from this poor, humble evangeli
Il Elisha. when ! want to bathe."
e retorts. Il can do that in my hon
d country. This muddy Jordan river
It not to be compared with the pu
n clean waters Of our Damasc
e streams"
's The first step essential in the hei
is ing of Naaman was the humbling
s. his pride. Do you think, my frien'
le that you are extraordinary becau