The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1889-08-15
SERMON PREACHED BY THE TABER-
NAci-E PASTOR, SUNDAY, AUG. a.
"0utwittcd by the World" His Subject.
'The Children OF This World Are In
dren of Light" His Text.

's'H41
LIVINGSTON, M. T., Aug. 4.-The
Rev. T. Dc 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, ''The children of. this
world arc in their generation wiser
than the children Of light" and deliv-
cred tho following discourse;
That is another way of saying that
Christians are not so slzillful in the
manipulation of spiritual affairs
rs worldlings arc skillful in the
management of temporalities. | see
all around mo people who are alert,
earnest, concentrated, and skillful III
monetary matters, who in the affairs
of the 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 tho 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
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 peo-
pies "GIory TO God in the highest, and
on cahh 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 lzneel down to pray.
Worldly people in the car looked
on, as much as to say, "What
does this mean2" I suppose the most
of the people in the car thought that
man was either insane or that he was
q fanatic; but he disturbed no one
when he knelt, and he disturbed no
one when he arose. In after CONVEX
sation with him found out that he
was q member of q 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 mcn-men with such courage for
God rs 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
short time, would bring the whole
earth into tho kingdom of Jesus. That
no was successful in worldly affairs, l
found out That no was skillful in
spiritual affairs, you are well persuad-
cd. If men had tho courage, the
pluck, tho alertness, tho 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. The idea of
adaptiveness is always paramount in
any other kind of structure If bank
crs meet together and they resolve
upon putting up bank, the bank is
especially adapted to banking pur-
poses; If manufacturing company
put up building, it is to be adapted
TO manufacturing purposes; but adapt
iveness is not always the question in the
rearing of churches. In many of our
churches we want moro light, more
room, more ventilation, moro comfort
Vast sums of money are expended on
ecclesiastical structures, and men sit
down in them, and you ask q man
how he likes the church; he says: Il
like 1t very well, but l can't hear. y
AS though a shawl factory were good
folsy everything but making shawls.
The voice of tho preacher dashes
against the pillars Men sit down under
the shadows of tho Gothic arches and
shiver, and feel they must be getting
religion, or something else, they feel
SO uncomfortable.
O my friends, wo want moro 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, . Lord God of hosts! A
day in thy courts is better than q
thousand"
WE MUST CONCENTRATE.
Again | remark: We want moro
common sense in the obtaining of reli-
gious hope All men understand that
in order to succeed in worldly direc-
lions they must concentrate. They
think on that ono subject until their
mind takes iire 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 it is true in tho matter oi
seeking after God While no man
expects TO accomplish anything fol
this world without concentration ano
enthusiasm, how many there are ex
pectina after awhile TO get into the
kingdom of God without the use o.
any such means. A miller in Califor
MIA, many years ago, held up sparkle
of gold until it bewitchcd nations
Tens OF thousands OF people left thei
homes. They took their blankets an
their pickaxcs and their pistols an
went 10 the vilds of California. Cite
sprang up suddenly on the faclii
coast. Merchants put aside their eli
cnnt apparel and put ON the miner
parb. All the land was full of the tai
about gold. Gold in the eyes, gold ]
tho ears, gold in the wake of ship
gold in the streets-gold, gold, goi,,
Word comes TO us that the mountai
of Gods love is full of bright trea
uro; that men have been dil
ging there, and have brought Y
gold, and amethyst and earbuncl
and Jasper, and sardonyx. and chrys
prasus, and all tho precious stones OF
OF which the walls Of heaven we
builded. Word comes of man VIII
digging In that mine for one hour, h
brought up treasures worth more tha
all tho stars that keep vigil over OF
:. sick and dying world, Is it a bog,
company that Is formed7 Is ii und
veloped territory1 Oh no, the story
true. There are thousands OF peop
in this audience who would be willii
to rise and testify that they have d
covered that gold, and have il in the
possession. Notwithstanding all thi
what sthe circumstance2 One wou
suppose that the announcement Won
send people in great excitea->-'