Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-01-16

The text was Goodness is profitable un-
to all things, having promise of the life that
now is and of that which is to GOMEZ.
Timothy iv.. 8. DR.. Talmage said:
A happy New Year to one and all
There is 8 gloomy and passive way Of
waiting for the events of the opening year
to come upon US, and there is a heroic way
of going out To meet them, strong in God
aud fearing nothing. When the body of
Catiline was fonnd on the battle field it was
found far in advance of all his troops, aud
among the enemy, and the best way is not
for us to lie down and let the events of life
trample over US, but to go forth in Chris
tian spirit determined to conquer.
The papers we're made out, and some Of
you have just entered into business partner
ships, and others of you take higher posi-
tions in the commercial establishment where
you were engaged, and others have entered
upon new enterprises, and there we're last
week in these cities ten thousand business
changes. You are expecting prosperity,
and am determined, 80 far as have any.
thing to do with it, that you shall not be
disappointed, and therefore / propose, as
God may help me this morning, to project
upon your attention new element of suo-
cess. You will have in the business firm
frugality, patience. industry, perseverance,
economy very strong business firm, but
there needs to be one member added,
mightier than them all, and not silent
partner either-the one introduced by my
text: "Godliness which is profitable unto
all things, having the promise of the life
that now is as well as of that which is to
come.''
| suppose you are all willing to admit that
Godliness is important in its eternal rela-
| tions; but perhaps some of you say: Gail !
want is an opportunity to say prayer be-
fore die, and all will be WELL" There are
great many people who suppose that if
they can finally get safely out of this world
into better world, they will have exhaust
cd the entire advantage of our holy religion.
They talk a. though religion were q mere
nod Of recognition which we are to give TO
the Lord Jesus on our way up to a heaven
| ly mansion; as though it were an admission
ticket, Of no use except to give in at the
door of Heaven. And there are thousands
of people who have great admiration for a
religion of the shroud, and religion of the
coffin, and religion of the bearse, and a
religion Of the cemetery, who have NO ap-
probation of a religion for the bank, for the
farm, for the factory, for the warehouse, for
the jewelers. shop, for the brokers' Office
| Now, while would not throw any slur on
q post-mortcm religion, want this morning,
and on the first Sabbath of the new year,
to sulogize an onte-mortem religion. A reli
| gion that is of no use to you while you live
will be of no use to you when you die.
Goodness is profitable unto all things hav-
| ing the promise of the life that now is as
we'll as Of that which is to come" And !
hsve always noticed that when the grace is
h haf FOL
deal in prayer meetings about deaths, and
about coffins, and about graves, and about
church yards. have noticed that the
healthy Christian, the man who is living
near to God, and is on the straight road to
Heaven, is full of jubilant satisfaction, and
talks about the duties of this life, under
standing we'll that if God helps him to live
right He will help him to die right.
Now, in the first place, / remark that
Godliness is good for mans physical
health. do not meau to say that it will
restore broken down constitution, or drive
rheumatism from the limbs, or neuralgia
from the temples, or pleurisy from the side;
but do mean to say that it gives one such
habits and puts one in such condition as is
most favorable for physical health. That
| believe, and that ] ayow. Everybody
knows that houyancy of spirit is good phys
| ieal advantage. Gloom, unrest, detection
are at war with every pulsation of the
heart, and with every respiration of the
lungs.
It lowers the vitality, it slackens the CIR
culation, while eXhilaration of spirit pours
the very balm of heaven through all the
currents Of life. Tho sense of insecurity
which sometimes hovers over an unregen-
crate man, or pounees upon him with the
blast Of ten thousand trumpets of terror, is
most depicting and most exhausting, while
the feeling that ell things are working to.