The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-07
"What Shall It Profit Man II he
Gain the Whole World
sand Lose His Own Soul" is the
Text of the Sermon.
The Value OF Property in the World
of the Soul World.
An Exquisite Comparison Between the
Properties Of This Life and Pos
sessions That May Be Had in
Eternity--An Explanation.

BROOKLYN, N. Y, May 6.--The Rev. L.
Dewitt Talmage, d. D., told the congre-
cation at the tabernacle today that mali
cious falsehood had gone through the
country saying that at a recent meeting Of
the officers OF the Thirteenth regiment ut
his house he had set before them four
kinds OF wine. He said: 81 will pay
81 900 TO any charitable institution ii it
can be proved that one drop Of wine or
any other intoxicating liquor was offered
in my house that evening. The twenty
five gentlemen present may be called upon
for testimony. Any three respectable
clergymen or lawyers or detectives may be
selected; they also to decide what charity
shall have the money. i ash the news
papers all over the land which have been
misled by the falsehood to correct it."
The opening hymn OF the service be-
gins:
"saivatsonl o. the joyful sound,
'Tis pleasure 10 our cars"
DIR. Talmage announced as the subject
Of the sermon "Loss and GAIN" and his
text was 'what shall it profit man il
he shall gain the whole world and lose his
| own soul?''-Mark viii, 80.
am accustomed Sabbath by Sabbath TO
stand before an audience Of bargain-mak-
ems. There may be men in all occupations
sitting before me, yet the vast majority
OF them, am very well aware, are en-
. gagged from Monday morning TO Saturday
night in the store. In many Of the fami-
lies OF my congregation, across the break
fast table and the tea table, are discussed
| questions OF loss and gain. You are every
day asking yourself: 'what is the
value Of this? What is the value Of
that?" You would not think OF giving
something Of greater value for that which
Is OF lesser value You would not think
OF selling that which costs you $40 for s..
II you had property that was worth Sl5,-
900 YOU would not sell IL for $1,000 You
are Intelligent In all matters OF bargain
making. Arc YOU rs wise in the things
that pertain TO the matters OF the soul?
Christ adapted his instructions 10 the cir
cumstanccs OF those TO whom he spoke.
When he talked 10 fishermen he spoke OF
the gospel net. When he talked 10 the
farmers he said: "a sower went forth 10
sow." When he talked TO the shepherds
he told the parable Of the lost sheep. And
am not right when speaking this morn
ing 10 an audience made up OF bargain
makers, that address them in the words
OF my text, asking: "What shall II profit
man II he shall gain the whole world
and lose his own soul3'
propose, as far rs possible, TO estimate
md compare the value OF two properties.
II Ia,sa Ia that tho uarlI ta N
very grand property. ltsflowenare Gods
thoughts in bloom. Its rocks are Gods
thoughts In stone. Its dew-drops are
Gods thoughts in pearl. This world Is
Gods child-a maynard child, indeed; IL
has wondered of through the heavens.
But about l.Sss years ago, one Christmas
night God sent out sister world 10 call
that wandcrer back, and II hung over
Bethlehem only long enough 10 get the
promise Of the wanderers return, and now
that lost world, with soft feet Of light,
comes treading back through the heavens.
The hills, how beautiful they billow up,
the edge OF the wave white with the
foam OF crocuscsl How beautiful the rain
bov, the arched bridge on which heaven
and earth come and talk 10 each other in
tears, after the storm is overl How MIN
bic the feet Of the lamp-ligbtcn that in n
few minutes set all the dome OF the night
ablaze with brackets Of flrel How bright
the oar OF the saffron cloud that rows
ncros the deep scaof hcayenl How beau
iiful the spring with bridal blossoms In
her hairl wonder who Il Is that beats
timo on June morning for tho bird or
chestra. How gently the harebell tolls It's
LS,ragrance on the air. There may bc
yrander worlds, swarthicr worlds, larger
worlds than this, but | think that this Is
,most exquisite world-a mignonette on
hc bosom OF immensely "Oh," you say,
"take my soull Give me that worldi
an willing 10 take II in exchange. ! am
cady now for the bargain. II Is 80 beau
lful n world, 10 sweet world, 20 grand q
Korldp'
But let ms look more minutely into the
Fal1e Of this world. You will not buy
property unless you can get good title 10
4. After you have looked ut the property
md found out that II suits you, you send
m attorney 20 the public Office, and he
Examines the book oi deeds, and the book
n mortgages, and the book Of judgments,
md the book of liens, and he decides
whether the title is good before you will
have anything 10 do with H. There might
be splendid property, and In every way
Exactly suited 10 your want; but II you
AN not get good title, you will not take
(. Now, am here this morning TO say
hat II Is impossible 20 get good title 10
| liis world. II ] settle down upon Il, In
| he very year 20 settle down upon Il as a
| permanent possession, / may be driven
/ iway from It. Aye, In Ave minutes after
/ give up my soul for the world may
pave TO part with the world; and what
tind Of title do you call that
There Is only one way In which
can hold nm earthly possession, and that
a through the senses. All beautiful sights
through the eye, but the eye may be
hlot,cd out; all captivating sounds through
The ear, but my ear may he dcafencd; all
lusciousne@ Of fruits and yiands through
my taste, but my taste may be destroyed
nll appreciation Of culture and OF ar'
through my mind, but ! may lose my
mind. What n frsil hold, then, have
upon any earthly possession
In courts Of law. II you want TO get Q
man of property, YOU must serve upon
him writ of cjcctmcnt, giving him Ger
lAin time 20 yacato the premises; but When
death cones 10 ms and serves a writ o
sicctinenl he does not give Us one second