The Russellville Democrat., 1888-02-02
TALMAGE'S SERMON.
Third Discourse of the Series to
 the Women of America.
The 'TsroiSen Promises of Marrlage"- Tte Two Sides of the ConJugai Re- Iation Considered Divorce Last
 Resort for Marital Woes.

T. DeWit Ialmage took the "Broken From ises of Marriage" his text being:
 have opened my mouth unto the Lord. and l not go back.-Judges xii, s.
 He said; "General Jephthab, the com mander in chief of the Israelitish forces, is buckling on tho sword for the extermi- nation of the pestferous Ammonites, and looking up to the sky he promises that If God will give him the victory he will put to death and sacrifice as a burned offering the first thing that comes out from the door of his homestead when he goes back. The hurrahing of triumph soon runs along the line of tae companies, regiments and divisions of Jephths's army. worse beaten enemy than those Ammonites never strewed any plain with their car eases. General Jephthah, fresh from his victory, is now on his way home. As he came over the hills and through the val leyG the whole march homeward for his men is cheer. but for him great anx- ietY, for he remembers his VOW to slay and burn the first thing that comes forth from his house to greet him after his vic tory.
 Perhaps it may be the old watchdog that shall first come out, and who could get heart to beat out the life of a faithful creature like that as he comes fawning and barking and frsking and putting up his paw against his master in merry well come after long absenceg No; it was not that which came forth to meet Jephthah.. Perhaps it may be a young dove let out from its cage in the Generals home, which, gaining Its liberty, may seem to rejoice in tho public gladness aud fiutter ou the shoulder of the familiar head of the household. But who could have the heart to sIay such winged inuocenty No; it was not that which came forth to meet Jephthab. Or it may be some good neighbor that will rush ont to meet him, after having first been in to tell the fami- ly of the near approach of the General. But who could slay neighbor who had come on the scene to rejoice over the re- united household? No; it was not that which came forth to meet Jephthah.
 As he advances upon his home the door opens and out of it comes one whose ap- pearance under other circumstances would have been an indescrihable joy, but under the pledge of a sacrifice be- comes 6 horror which blauchss his cheek and paralyzss his form and almost hurls hum fiat to the earth. His child, his only child, his daughter comes skipping out to greet him, her step keeping time to timbrel which she shakes and snlites. Did ever conqueror's cheer end in sucs a DlIleT EESaUE ND WuBuef OUFts III hNo LII bis masterpieces, presents the scene. And Handel made it the last and climacteric work of his life to put the pathetic and overpowering circums tance in an oratorlo, seven months toilIng amid it's majestic harmonies until his eyesight gave out and, as though the sad scene of Jeph- thah's daughters sacrifice were too much for mortal vision, the grand old musician was led blind into the orchestra for the first rendering of Jephthah. All the glo- ries of victori ous war are plotted out from Jephthah's memory, and his banner $ folded in grief, and his sword goos back into the scab- bard with dolorous cang, and the muffled drum takes the place of the cym- bals, and the "trem olo" the place of the trumpet, and be cries out: Alas, my daughter, thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me; for I have opened my mouth to the Lord, and I can not go back" During two months amid tle mountains, without shelter, the maidens who would have been at the wedding ranged with Jephthah's daughter up and down, bewailfng her coming sacrifice.
 Commentators aRd theologians are In dispute as to whether that girl was slain or not, and as to whether, if she were slain, it was right or wrong in Jephthah to be the executioner, a discussion into which I shall not be diverted from the overmastering consideration that we had better look out what we promise, better be cautious what engagement we make, better that in regard to all matters of be- trothal and plighted vow we feel the re- spossibility least we have either 10 sacri- fee the truth or sacrifice an immortal A.,s aud Ia lad x.yt4 \, ha paroxysm of Jephthah: T have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and can not go back"
 There is one ward in almost all the in- sane asylums and a large region in al most every cemetery that you need to visit They are occupied by the men and women who are the victims of broken promises of marriage. The women in those wards and in those mortuary receptacles are in the maj ority, because woman lives more in her affec- tions than does man, and laceration of them in her case is more apt to be a dementia and a fatality. In some regions of this land the promise of marriage is considered to have no solemnity or bind. ing force. IL was only made in fun. They may change their mind. The en- gagement may stand until some enc ihOfc htiuNAANo III ptisoh VT OIhchl III estate appears on the scene; then the rings are returned and the amatory let. ters and all relationship ceases. And there are ten thousand Jeph- thah's daughters sacrificed as burnt offerings. The whole subject needs to be taken out of the realm of comedy into tragedy, and men and women need to understand that while there are exceptions to the rule, onos having solemnly pledged to each othsr, heart and hand, the for feture and abandonment of that pledge makes the transgressor. in the sight of God, n perjurer, and SO the day of judgment will reveal it. The one has lied to the other; and all liars shall have their place in that lake that burneth with fire and birthstone
 If man or woman make a promise in the business world, is there any obliga- ton to fulfill it! If a man sign a not e for five hundred dollars, ought he to pay itg If contract be signed involving the building of a house or the furnishing of bill of goods, ought they stand by that c0ntractf "Oh, yes" always answered. Then ask the further question: Is the heart, the happiness, the welfare, the temporal and eternal destiny of q man or woman worth as much as the house, worth five hundred dollars. worth any thing? The realm of profigacy is filled with mon and women as a result of the wrong answer to that question. The most aggravating, stupendous and God-defy. ing lie is lie in the shape of broken espousal.
 But suppose man changes his mind, ought he not back outf Not once in ten thousand times. What if I chan ged my mind about promissory note and de- ciined to pay It. and suddenly put my property in such shape that y ou could not collect your note2 How would you Hike thatf That, you say, would be a fraud So is the other fraud, and punish it God will, certainly as you live and just as cer- talnly if you do not live l have known