He
was ambitious, as many of you are. He was hoping for riches and power,
as many of you are.
"One day the devil tempted him. He could become rich if he chose to
sacrifice his conscience. The devil promised him riches and power and
all that his heart could desire. And he fell.
"My friends, the devil kept his literal promise. He always does. When he
comes to you in the watches of the night, and offers you all that you
desire on earth in return for your soul, you can know that he will keep
his promise.
"The young man is now rich and famous, and if I told you his name, you
would say that he is a man to be envied. You see his portraits in the
papers; you hear of his mansions and his motor-cars, his yachts and his
splendid entertainments; and you would never dream that he is the most
unhappy man in Canada.
"The devil has given him everything he lusted for. And yet, not ten days
ago, he came to me in secret and begged for help and counsel. His riches
and power have turned to wormwood in his mouth. His wife and children
hate him. His friends are only friends because he has money. He is the
most lonely, the most miserable of men."
The preacher leant forward over the pulpit and half whispered: "The
wicked flourish like the green bay tree, but who knows what secret
canker eats into their hearts? The devil stands beside them and whispers
mockingly: 'I have given you everything your heart lusted for; does it
taste sweet? Does it taste sweet?' So much for this world; and now, my
friends, what of the next world?"
The preacher straightened himself and with passionate sincerity flung
out a torrent of warning and exhortation to his congregation--a
lava-stream of burning words that bit into their very souls.
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