Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-08-14

T LIVINGSTON, NJ. T., August 4.-The Rev.
IL T. De Witt Talmage, DID, of Brook
lyn, N. Y, preached here 10 day, TAX
ing for his subject: "Outwitted by the
World" He took for his text, st. Luke
xvi, s, The children of this world are in
their generation wiser that the children of
light" and delivered the following dis
course:
That is another way of saying that Chris
tians are not so skilful in the manipulation
of spiritual affairs as worldlings are skilful
in thu management of temporalities. I see
all around me people who are alert, earnest,
concentrated, and skiful Id monetary mat
tiers, who in the affairs of the soul are lag
CARDS, insane, inert.
The great want of this world is more COM
mon sense in matters of religion. If one
half of the skill and forcefulness employed
in financial affairs were employed in dis
seminatiug the truths of Christ, and trying
to make the world better, within ten years
the last juggernaut would fall, the last
throne of oppression upset, the last iniquity
tumble, and the anthem that was chanted
over Bethlehem on Christmas night would
be echoed and re-echoed from all nations
and kindred and people: Glory to God in
the highest, and on earth peace, good will
to men,"
Some years ago, on train going toward
the southwest, as the porter of the sleeping
car was making up the berths at the even
ing tide, | saw a man kneel down to pray.
Worldly people in the car looked on. as
much as to say, "What does this mean ?' l
suppose the most OF the people in the car
thought that man was insane or that he was
a fanatic; but he disturbed no cne when he
arose. In after conversation with him
found out that he was member of church
in my own city, that he was a seafaring
man, and that he was on his way to New
Orleans to take command of II vessel. |
thought then, as | think now, that ten such
men-men with such courage for God as
that man had-would bring the whole city
to Christ; thousand such men would bring
this whole land to God; ten thousand such
men, in a short time, would bring the whole
earth into the kingdom of Jesus. That he
was successful in worldly affairs, found
out. That he vas skilful in spiritual affairs,
you are well persuaded. If men had the
courage, the pluck, the aleTtness, the
acumen, the industry, the common sense in
matters of the soul that they have in earth
ly matters, this would be very different
kind of world to live in.
| In the first place we want more common
sense in the building and conduct of church
es. The idea of adaptiveness is always
paramount in any other kind of structure.
| If bankers meet together and they resolve
upon putting up a bank, the bank is espe-
cially adapted to banking purposes; if a
manufacturing company put up building,
| it is to be adapted to manufacturing pur-
poses; but adaptiveness is not always the
question in the rearing of churches. In
many of our churches we want more light,
more room, more ventilation, ,lmore comfort.
Vast sums Of money are expended on &C.
clesiastical structures, and men sit down iu
them, and you ask man how he likes the
church; he says: 81 like it very well, but
| can't hear" AS though a shawl factory
were good for everything but making
shawls. The voice of the preacher dashes
against the pillars. Men sit down under
the shadows of the Gothic arches and shiver,
and feel they must be getting religion, or
something else, they feel so uncomfortable.
o, my friends, we want more common
sense in the rearing of churches. There is
DO excuse for lack of light when the heav.
eus are full of it, no excuse for lack of fresh
air when the world swims in it. It ought
to be an expression not only of our spiritua
happiness, but of our physical comfort
when we say: Elbow amiable are Thy tab
ernacles, o Lord God of hosts! A day ir
Thy courts is better than thousand"
Again I remark: We want more common
sense in the obtaining of religious hope. AL
men understand that in order to succeed il
worldly directions they must concentrate
They think on that one subject until thei