The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-09
He Takes His Text From the Book
of Job, H., z, 8 and 8.
Job Afflicted With Disease and Mis-.
fortune Would Not Curse God.
Blasphemy is All Abroad, and 70,
Hear 1t In Every Direction.
Every Improper Word. Every Oath Ut
tered, Has Record In the Book
of Gods Remembrance
We Must Repent.

BROOKLYN, April s.--0ne Of the hymns
sung at the Tabernacle this morning, be-
gins with the words:
80 let our lips and lives express
Thy holy gospel we profess"
After reading appropriate passages OF
Scripture, the Rev. I. Dewitt Talmagc,
ID. D., preached on the habit OF cursing
andswearing. His text was from the Book
of Job, H., Z, 8 and 0; so went Satan
forth from the presence Of The Lord, and
smote job with sore boils from the sole OF
his foot unto his crown. And he took him
a potsherd to scrape himself withal; and
he sat down among the ashes. Then said
his wife unto him, dost thou still retain
thine integrity? Curse God, and die"
A story oriental and marvellous. job
was the richest man in all the east. lIo
had camels and oxen and asses and sheep,
and, what would have made him rich
without anything else. seven sons and
three daughters. IL was the habit OF these
children 10 gather together for family re-
union. One day. job is thinking OF his
children rs gathered together at banquet
at the elder brothers house.
While the old man is seated at his tent
door he sees some one running, evidently
from his manner bringing bad news. What
is the matter now2 ooh" says the mes
scnger, "a foraging party Of sabeans have
fallen upon the oxen and the asses and
destroyed them and butchered all the serv,
ants except myself" Stand aside. An
other messenger running. What is the
matter now2 "oh," says the man, Tho
lightning has struck the sheep and the
shepherds, and all the shepherds are de-
stroyed except myself" Stand aside. An
other messenger running What is the
matter now2 ooh" he snys, "the Chal-
deans have captured the c1mels and slain
all the camel drivers except myself. |"
Stand aside. Another messenger running.
What is the matter now2 "Oh," he says,
"a hurricane struck the our corners OF
the tent where your chilarcn were rs
sembled ut tho banquet, a,a. they are al
dead?"
But the chapter Of calamity has moi
ended. Job was smiilen It'll elephant.
asis, OF black lcprosy. Tuniors from head
10 foot, forehead ridged With tubcrcles,
cyelashes fall out, nostrils eNcoriated. voice
DESTROYED, intolcrablc eNhalations from
the entire body, until, with none 10 dress
his sores, he sits down in the ashes with
nothing but pieces OF broken pottery 10
Use In the surgery Of his wounds. At this
moment, when he needed all encourage
ment, and all consolation, his wife comes
in, In fret and agc, and says: This
Ia intolcrablc. Our property gone, our
children slain, and now you covered with
this loaihsomc and disgusting disease.
Why don't you swcari Curse God, and
die ("
An, Job knew right well that swearing
would not cure one Of the tumofs oi his
agonzed body. would no, bring back one
OF his destroyed camcls, would not restore
ono OF his dead children. lie knew that
profanity would only make the pain moro
unbcarablc, and the poverty more distress
ing, and the bereavement more excrucia-
ting. But, judging from the profanity
abroad In our day, you might come 10 the
conclusion that there was some great adj
vantage 20 be rcapcd from profanity.
Blasphomy IL all abroad You hear u
in every direction. The dmyinan swear
ing Mt his cart, the sewing girl imprccaiing
the tangled skoin. the accountant cursing
the long limo Of troublesome figures.
Swearing NJ the store, swearing In the loft,
swearing In the cellar, swearing ON the
street, swearing In the factory. Children
swear. Men swear. Women swear
Swearing from the rough, calling on the
Almighty In the low restaurant, clear mp
90 the reckless 20 Lord" VI gliltering
dnwing.room; and the one j. rs much
blasphemy as the other.
There are times whom We must cry out
20 tho Lord by reason Of our physical ag-
ony or our mental distress and that ia
only throwing out our weak hand toward
| the strong arm OF father. II Was no pro-
family when James A. Garfield, shot IN the
Washington depot, cricl out MY God,
what does this mcan7" There IA no pro.
family in calling out upon God In tho day
Of trouble, In the day of darkness, In the
day Of physical anguish, In the day OF be-
rcayement; but / am speaking now OF tho
/ triyiality and Of the rcrklcencas with
which the name OF God h sometimes man.
aged. The whole land y cursed with H.
A gentleman coming fron the Tar west
sat In the car day after day behind two
persons who were indulging in profanity,
aud he made up his mini that he would
make a record Of their prdanilics, and nj
the end Of two days soyerd shccisoi paper
were covered with these inprCcaiions, aud
at the close Of the journey io handed the
manuscript 10 one Of tho persons in front
Of him. is II possible e,id the man,
that We have uttered ~ many proianiiics
the last few days2" III j." replied the
gentleman. ''fhen," said tho man who
had taken the manuscript, u will never
swear again"
But u "a q Comparatively unlmpofiant
thing II q man makes record oi our inn
properties OF speech. Tic more mcinora-
bic consideration IL that every improper
word, every oath uttered, has record Ia
the book Of Gods rcinembmncc, and that
tie day will come when MI our crimes Of
speech, " unrepented OF, will be our con-
domination. shall not tOdsy deal ia alb
siractions. hato ahslfaclions. am
going 10 have plain tail With YOU, nay
brother, about habit you ADMIN 70 DC
wrong. Iff
The habit grows In IN community IN
the Tact that young pcoplc think u manly
10 swear Little chlldrcn hsrily able 70
walk straight on the street. YET have
.Naflf<L .lIalI.sI..... =. "a lll Won