Show THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD the church and the world walked tar far ap apart art on the changing shore of time the world was singing a giddy song and the church a hymn ta sublime blime conie come give me your hand cried the merry world and walk wait with me this waya but the good church bid her snowy haah and solemnly answered nay I 1 will not give you my hand at all and I 1 will not waw wak with you your way to is the endless death and your words are all untrue way nay walk with me but a little space 11 said the world with a kindly air 1 the rhe road I 1 valk is ie a pleasant road aud and the sun shines always there your tour path laih is thorny and rough and rude 4 while mitte mine Is flowry and smooth your tour lot is sad with reproach and toil but in circles of joy I 1 move my path you can cah see gee is a broad fair one and my gate is high and wide Th therein ereis room enough for you and for me to travel side by side halt half shyly the church approached the world and gave him her hand of snow and the old world grasped it and walked along saying in accents low your dress drees is too simple to suit my taste I 1 have gold and pearls to wear bich velvets velvety and bilks for your graceful form and diamonds to deck your hair the church looked dowin at her plain white robes and then at the daiz dazzling ling world and blushed as she saw his handsome lips with a smile contemptuous curled 1 I will change my MT dress for a costlier one said the church with a smile of grace then liar her pure pare white garments drifted arlly and the world gave in their place beautiful satins gatins and shining shilling silks and roses reses and gems and pearls and over her forehead her bright hair tell fell crisped in a thousand curls curie your home is too plain said the proud old world til ill build you one like mine with c carpets of brussels and curtains of lace and furniture ever so fine so he built her a costly and beautiful house splendid it was to behold her sons and her beautiful daughters met there gleaming in purple and gold and fairs and shows in the halls were held and the world and his children were there and laughter and and feasts were heard beard in the place that was meant for prayer she had cushioned pews for the rich and the great to sit in their pomp and pride while lethe the poor folks clad in their shabby suits sat meekly down outside the angel of mercy meroy flew fiew over the church anaw and whispered 1 I know thy sin bin then the church looked back with a sigh and longed to gather the children in but some were off at the midnight ball and some were off of at the play and some were drinking in gay sal saloons pons As ehe ebe quietly went her way then the sly world gallantly said to bera her tour children mean no harm barm merely indulging in innocent sports 11 so tibe she leaned on his proffered arm and smiled and chatted and gathered lowera As she walked along with the world while millions and millions of precious souls to the horrible gult gulf were hurled your tour preachers are all too old and plain abid id the gay world with a sneer ey frighten my children with dreadful tales which I 1 dolot do not like the them to hear bear they talk of judgment fire are and pain and the horrors of starless nights they talk of a prace aluce that should not be mentioned to ears politic polia I 1 will send you some of i better stamp brilliant and gay and fast who V ho will show how people may live as they list let and go to heaven at last the father is merciful great and good loving and tender and kind do you chink hink he would ta keone child to 0 heaven it aft and leave the rest bahi beninda e so she filled her house with gay divines gifted and great and learned and the plain old men chat that AW cross w were out of oilier her pulpits turned you give too much to the poor said the world I 1 par far more ought to do though the poor need needs bel heter ter and food and cot combes bes why need it trouble you go take your money land and buy i ich robes and birgs and carti carriages ages fine and pearls and jewels and dainty food and the rarest and costliest cost liest wine my children they doto dote on all such each things and it you heir love would win you must do as they do and walk in the ways that they are walking jn then the church held tightly the strings of her purse and gracefully lowered her head and simpered simp ered ive given too much away avay I 1 dillap will dp sir bir as you yo have said so the poor were ivere turned from her dookun boorn and she heard not the orphans cry and she drew her beautiful robes aside As a the widows went weeping weep ing by and d they of the church and they of the world walked closely clo icly hand and heart and only the master who ail ah could tell the two apart then the charah sat down at her ease and said 1 I am rich and in goods increased I 1 have need of nothing and naught to do but to laugh and dance and ast 11 and the sly aly world afeard her and laughed in his sleeve 9 and mockingly said aside the church has fallen the beautiful church and her shame is her boast and pride then the angel angal drew near the mercy seat and whispered in sighs her name and the saints their anthems of rapture hushed hu sned and covered theirl heads with shame and a voice came down through the hush of heaven I 1 from him who sat on the throne 1 I know thy work rork and what thou hast bast said and how thou bast not known that thou art poor and naked and blind with pride and ruin enthralled the expectant bride of a heavenly groom now the hurlot harlot of the world thou hast bast ceased to watch for that blessed hope and hast fallen from zeal and grace so now alas I 1 must cut cast thee out and blot thy name from its place ex AA |