The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-17
Strength In Right and Wrong Direc-
tions of Consecutive Forces.
Superior Power of Chain of Influ-
ences Upon Ono Influence.
To Stop Inlquity, Take the Sugges-
ton and Make Il Chain.
The Importance of the Cradle Create
Than tho Grave-It Has New
Eternity In It just Born and
Never TO Cease.

BROOKLYN, n. Y, Sept l6.-Today was
sacramental day at the Tabernacle, and
the more than 1000 commitment mem.
bers were joined by thousands from all
parts OF this country and from other lands
in the sacred commemoration. The Rev.
T. Dewitt Talmagc, d., preached from
Ezekiel vii, %: "Mlke chain" lilo
said:
At school and in college, in announcing
the mechanical powers, We glorifod the
lever, the pulley, the inclined plane, the
screw, the axle and the wheel, but my
text calls US to study the philosophy of
the chain. These links of metal, one
with another, attracted the old Bible
authors, and We hear the chain rattle and
see its coil all the way through from
Genesis TO Revelation, flashing as an
adornmont or restraining AS in captivity,
or holding in conjunction MS in case OF
machinery. To do him honor, Pharaoh
hung u chain Of gold about the neck OF
Joseph. and Belshazzar ono about the
neck OF Daniel. The high priest had on
his brcast.plate two chains Of gold. On
the came!s' necks, as the lshmaclites drove
up TO Gideon, jingled chains of gold.
The Bible refers 10 the church IA having
such glittering adornmcnts, saying: "Thy
neck is comedy with chains of gold" On
the other hand, a chain means captivity.
David, the psalmist oxults that power
had been given over his enemies. "to bind
their kings with chains." The old mis-
sionary apostle cries out: 'For the hope
Of Israel, am bound with this chain. A"
In the prison where Peter is incarceratcd
you hear one day great crash at tho fall.
ing Off Of his chains. John saw an angel
come down from heaven 10 manaclo the
powers Of darkness. aud having "a great
chain In his hand, " and the fallen angels
are represented ~ reserved In everlasting
chains" while In my toxt for tho arrest
and limitation Of the iniquity OF his time
Ezekiel thundcrs out flake a chainl'
What wish 10 impress upon myscl
and upon you IA tho s,-rngth in right and
wrong directions OF Consecutive forces,
the superior power oi a cham oil influences
above one influence, tie great advantage
Of a congcrics Of links above one link, aud
In all family government, and In all If
fort 30 rescue other. and In all attempt
10 stop iniquity, take tie suggestion OF my
text and make u chain
That which contains the greatest impor-
lance. that which incloses the most ire.
mcndous opportunities, that which OF
earthly things is most watched by other
worlds, that which has been beating
against lis two sides all the ctcrnitics. is
the cradle. The grave is nothing In i'm.
portancc compared with IL, for that N only
n gully that we step across In n second,
but the cradle has within II new eternity
lust born aud never 10 cease. When three
wears ago tho Ohio river overlooked Ia
banks and the wild iioshcts swept down
with them harycsis aud cities, one day
waE found floating on the bosom OF the
waters u cradle with a child in II. all un-
hurt, wrapped up snug and warm and Ia
blue eyes looking into thc blue Of the open
heaven. II WIS mentioned M something
| extraordinary. hut every cradle is, will
its young passenger floating ON the swiit
currents oi the centuries, deep calling &c
deep, Ohios aud -. Iawrcnccs aud Miss,
| isgippis Of influence, bearing Il onward
| Now what shall DO done with this new
| life recently launchcd7 Teach him 40
evening prayer That Is important, bu
not enough. Hear him ns soon as lac car
rpcite some gospel hymn or caioChisml
| That il important, but not enough. Every
| Sabbath afternoon read him Bible story
That " important, but not enough. Once
| Ina while Lesson, once Ia n while
prayer, once In n while u restraining inilu
| cncc2 All these afe important, but mo-
enough. Each one Of these influences 4
only q link and II will not hold him la th,
tremendous emergencies Of life. Let II h
constant instruction. constant prayer, con
slant application Of good influences,
long line Of consecutive impressions
reaching from his lrst year 30 his iilth
and from his fifth year ~ his tenth, nu,
from his tenth year 10 his twentieth
make n chainl"
spasmOdic education, paroxysmal dis
cipiinc, occasional fidelity, amuuntt0 10th
ing. You can as easily hold an anchor b.
one link us hold child ~ thc right y.
isolated and intermittent nithiulncss. To
example must connect with the inbifuC
ton. The conversation must combine will
tho actions The week day consislCnc
must conjoin with the sunday worship
Have family prayers b. all means, but b
pctuant and inconsistent and unwasor
able in your household aud your lamil
prayers will be- a blmpIcmUus farce. :
great ia our times arr ice temptations
Young men 20 dissipation, and youn
women 10 social iollics. hat b. is most in
p0rlant that the hnt eighteen ycam
their life be charged with religious pON'
lhat will bold them when they get out
thc haibor Of home into thc stormy occa
Of active life. There is aiDhathing ~ ~
pressing children 10 powerfully WITH goo
lhgt sixty ycan viii have 300 more pow'
10 cGsci IL than sixty minutes. what
rough tima that young nan has ih dVli
! wrong. carefully nurtupl $685. h' VAS
! | father and mother have been Icai j
| years. ~ over IN Scotland, OF ENGLAND,
! | holland, but they have stool in the 200
I way Of c,cry dram.shop iH1t hc 'nicfn
. ! and under Tie chandCIImf of every hoh
} ri dissipation, Swing "tly s1n, lhls ~ .
. place ~ you. Have YOU IulgYlicn lhee o.
< iolkl Don't YOU rcpgni1 these Mllnhle
: AMI this stoop IN The shoulder, "h' va
: tWmulouE hand2 Go nome. my BOY
e huud' ljy the Col 20 whom Ne cqn'
Grated yVg, NY tie gulle "a WINCH