The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-08-08

1l''sI.hoA s.
LIVINGSTON, M. r., Aug 4.-The
Rev. I. De Witt Talmage, D. D., of
Brooklyn, N. Y, preached here today,
taking for his subject: "Outwitted by
the World" He took for his text, st.
Luke xvi, 8, '"rhe children OF this
world arc in their generation wiser
than the children of light" and deliv-
cred the following discourse:
That is another way Of saying that
Christians are not so skillful in the
manipulation Of spiritual affairs
as worldlings are shllful in the
management of temporalities | see
all around mo people who are alert,
earnest, concentrated, and skillful in
monetary matters, who in the affairs
Of tho soul are laggards, inane, inert
COMMON SENSE IN RELIGION WANTED.
Tho great want of this world is more
common sense in matters of religion
If one half of the skill and forceful-
ness employed in financial affairs were
employed in disseminating the truths
OF Christ, and trying to make the
world better, within ten years the last
juggornaut 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 peo-
pie: "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 evening tide,
! saw a man kneel down TO pray.
Worldly people in the car looked
on, as much as to say, What
does this meanp l suppose the most
of the people in the car thought that
man was either insane or that he was
a fanatic; but he disturbed no one
when he knelt, and he disturbed no
one when he arose. In after conver-
sation with him l 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 Or
leans TO take command of vessel. /
thought then, as think now, that ten
such men-men with such courage for
God as that man had-Would bring tho
whole city TO Christ; a thousand such
men would bring this whole land to
God; ten thousand such men, in a
short time, would bring tho whole
earth into the kingdom of Jesus. That
no was successful in worldly affairs,
found out That he was skillful in
spiritual affairs, you are well persuad-
cd. II men had tho courage, the
pluck, tho alertness, the acumen, the
industry, the common sense in mat
ters Of the soul that they have in
earthly matters, this would be very
different kind of world to live in.
BUILDING AND CONDUCT OF CHURCHES.
In the first place we want more
common sense in the building and
conduct of churches. Tho idea of
ad8ptiveness is always paramount in
any other kind of structure. If bank
ers meet together and they resolve
upon putting up bank, the bank is
especially adapted to banking pur-
poses; ii "a manufacturing company
put up building, it is to be adapted
TO manufacturing purposes; but adapt
iveness is not always the question in the
ItttTlIK III CiluIIhtS- III vi Ohi
churches wo want moro light, more
room, more ventilation, more comfort
Vast sums of money are expended on
ecclesiastical structures, and men sit
down In them, and you ask man
how he likes the church; he says; Il
like il very well, but / can't hear.
AS though shawl factory were good
for everything but making shawls.
The voice of the preacher dashes
against tho pillars. Men sit down under
the shadows of the Gothic arches and
shivcr and feel they must be getting
religion, or something else, they feel
so uncomfortable.
o my friends, we want more COM
mon sense, in the rearing of churches.
There is no excuse for lack of light
when the heavens are full of it, no ex-
cuso for lack of fresh air when the
world swims in IT, 1t ought to be an
expression not only Of our spiritual
happiness but of our physical comfort,
when we say: ''How amiable are thy
tabcrnacles, o Lord God of hostsl A
day in thy courts is better than a
thousand"
WE MUST CONCENTRATE.
AkAlu W. VAIN AhOAO
common sense in the obtaining of reli-
gious hope All men understand that
In order TO succeed in worldly dircc-
tions they must concentrate. They
think on that one subject until their
mind takes fire with tho velocity of
their own thoughts. All their acumen,
all their strategy, all their wisdom, all
their common sense, they put in that
one direction and they succeed. But
how seldom 1t is true in the matter of
seeking after God. While no man
expects 10 accomplish anything for
this world without concentration and
enthusiasm, how many there are ex-
pecting after awhile to get into the
kingdom of God without the use Of
any such means A miller in Califor-
MIA, many years ago, held up a sparkle
Of gold until il bewitchcd nations.
Tens Of thousands of people left their
homes. They took their blankets ant
their piekaxes and their pistols ane
went to the wilds of California. Cite
sprang up suddenly ON the Pacih'
coast. Merchants put aside their ele
giant apparel and put on the miner.
0arb. Ali the land was full of the tail
about gold. Gold in the eyes, gold il
tho ears. gold IN the wake of ships
gold in the streets-gold, gold, gold
Word comes TO us that tho mountain
of Gods love is full of bright treas
ure; lhat men haze been dig
ging there, and have brought nl
gold, and amethyst, and carbuncle
and Jasper, aud ssrdonyx. and chryso
prasus, and all the precious stones on
of which the walls of heaven wer
builded. Word comes of man who
digging in that mine for one hour, ha
brought up treasures worth more thai
all the stars that keep vigil over on
sick and dying world. Is it bogu
company that is formedl Is ii undo
veloped territory9 Oh no, the story
true. There are thousands of peopl
In this audience who would be willin
TO rise and testify that they have dil
covered that gold, and have il IN tbei
possession. Notwithstanding all this
what is the circumstance One wouI
suppose that the announcement woul
kend neople In great excitaa=.-. :.