River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1922-04-06

promote material well-being. 1t makes
the drunken sober, and sobriety is
secret of prosperity, while ''the drunk
ard and the gluttOn shall come to pow
erty." 1t makes the idle to be Giiigent.
| whereas "drowsiness shall clothe
man with rags"
Praying for Business Success.
Our text is an inspired Endorsement
of prayers for material prosperity. 1t
settles for us the question as to whern-
er the ideal life is lived by those who
come down to one coarse garment and
an earthenware bowl as the sum OF
their earthly possessions, or whether 1t
Is allowable to desire more than this.
1t is true instinct to wish to be freed
from grinding poverty, and In this mat
ter, as in all others, we are encouraged
to make our requests known to God.
Having said this much, however, 1t
is only fair to add that the Christian
man who prays for prosperity and who
knows the danger attendant upon 1t,
both to his own soul and to the souls
of his children, will pray with great
submission.
So much is said today about the
gospel of good health that we are
not surprised at the apostles attitude
on this point. However, this attitude
would not be taken for granted by all.
IAN ascetic would be surprised that
one Of the greatest Of the apostles
should be so earnest at such a point.
But the better mans health, the more
thoroughly he can do the work of God.
Sickness may be allowed to check the
erring or rebellious heart, but Chris
tian whose faith is firm and character
established, can i'll afford to despise
the inestimable blessing of sound
body"
Charles Sturgeon and D. L. Moody.
1t is said that when Charles Haddon
Sturgeon first met D. L. Moody ne
looked with admiration upon Mr..
Moody's great physical frame and said:
young man, take good care OF your
body. God will care for your soul, but
you must care for your body" This is
sound advice and in line with our text.
But we have not yet reached the
heart of our subject. John views ma
terial prosperity and physical health
in comparison with soul health. lie
says: II wish above all things (pray
that in all things-R. W that thou
mayest prosper and be in health, even
as thy soul prospereth."
What If this wish were suddenly
realized in us all-that our business
condition and our physical condition
were the exact counterparts our
spiritual condition! Would there not
be many declarations of insolvency?
Would there not be much coughing as
in the last stages of consumption, and
emaciation like that of famine suffer
ers?
1t may be that In the next world
there shall be some realization of the
principle suggested by the text. The
righteous shall certainly shine as the
brightness of the armament, body and
soul being TRANSPORTED together. Who
knows what hideous forms wicked
souls will wear?
If we value things Alright we shall.
after all, be more concerned about soul
prosperity than about either business
success or bodily well-being. For what
shall it profit man if he shall gain the
whole world and lose his own soul?"
Soul Versus Body.
A mans outward seeming often be-
| lies his inward worth. Who could sus-
| pect the "Pilgrim's Progress" and the
| "Holy War; in the soul of the tinker
who carried his charcoal stove and
soldering irons about the lanes of Bed
fordshire? There are many today who
do not prosper and are not in wealth,
| but to whom Christ says, Il know thy
poverty, but thou art rich"
1t is a cheering, yet solemn thought
that 1--WE must all be made manifest be-
fore the Judgment seat of Christ
| TT Cor 5-10 Il. W