The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1891-02-12
ONE THING: LACKING
A Splendid Nature That Lacked
One. Thing Of Being q
Christian.
Dr.: Talmage Tells a Great Null
ttude Of their Religious
Duties.

took for his text, Mark X: 81, zone
thing thou lackest."
The young man of the text was a
splendid nature. We fall in love'with
him at the first glance. He was ami
able, and frank, and earnest, and edu-
Gated, and refined, and respectable,
and moral, and yet he was not a
Christian. And so Christ addresses
him in the words that have read to
you: "One thing thou lackest." I
suppose that that text was no more
appropriate to the young man Of
whom I have spoken than it is appro-
pirate to a great multitude of people
in this audience. There are many
things in which you are not lacking
For instance, you are not lacking in
g. good home.
Neither are youlacking in worldly sue
cess. You have not made as much
money as you would like to Make. but
youhave an income. While others are
false when they say they have no in
come or makiugno money, you have
never told that falsehood. Yon have
had livelihood or you have fallen
upon old resources, which is just the
same thing, for God is just as good to
us when he takes care of us by sur
plus OF the past as by present success.
While there are thousands OF men
with hunger tearing at the throat
with the strength OF q tigers paw, not
one OF you are hungry. Neither are
you lacking in pleasant friendship.
You have real good friends. If the
scarlet fever should come tonight to
your house, you know very we'll
who would come in and sit
up with the sick one; or, if
death should come, you know who
would come in and take your hand
tight in theirs with that peculiar grip
which means, "I'll stand by you,0
and after the life has fled from the
loved one, take you by the arm and
lead you into the next room, and
while you are gone to Greenwood they
would stay in the house and put aside
the garments and the playthings that
might bring to your mind too severely
your great loss. Friends? You all
have friends.
Neither are you lacking in your adj
miration of the Christian religion.
rNh ORC ic MT bi,,r +l,.s+ -, n 10, -,o,. ~.
angry as to have aman nalign Christ.
You get red in the face, and you say:
"Sir, want you to understand that
although l am not myself Christian,
| don't like such things said as that
in, my store" and the man goes off,
givingyou a parting salutation, but you
hardly answer him. You are provok-
ed beyond all bounds. Many of you
have been supporters of religion and
have 6 ven more to the cause Of Christ
than some who profess his faith.
There is nothing that would please
you moro than to see your son or
daughter standing at the altar of
Christ, taking the VOWS OF
the Christian. 1t might be
a little hard on you and might
max you nervous and agitated for a
little while; but you would be man
enough to say: 'My child, that is
right: Go on. am glad you haven't
been kept back by my example. Ihope
some day to join you" You believe
all the doctrines Of religion. A man
out yonder says: II am a sinner.'
You respond: $50 am l." Some one
says: II believe that Christ came to
save the world" You say: $50 do
l." Looking at your character, at
your surroundings, find O. thousand
things about which to congratulate
you; and yet I must tell you in the
love and fear Of God, and with refer
ence to my last account:
ZONE THING THOU LACKEsT."
You need, my friends, in the first
place, the element OF happiness. Some
day you feel wretched. You do not
know what is the matter with you.
You say: II did not sleep last night.
l think that must be the reason OF
my restlessness;;" or, II have eaten
something that did not agree with me,
and think that must be the reason y
And you are unhappy. o my friends,
happiness does not depend upon physi-
cal condition. Some of the happiest
people | have ever known have been
wrapped in consumption, or stung
with neuralgia, or burning with the
slow fire OF fever. Inever shall forget
one man in my first parish, who, in
excruclatlon of body, cried ont: "Mr
Talmage, [ forget all my pain in the
love and Joy of Jesus Christ. I can't
think OF my sufferings when think OF
Christ" Why his face was illumined.
There are young men in this house
who would give testimony to show
that there is no happiness outside OF
Christ, while there is great Joy in his
service. There are young men who
nave not been Christians more than
SIX mouths, who would stand up to-
night, if [ ask them, and say in those
SIX months they have had more Joy
and satisfaction than in all the years OF
their frivolity and dissipation. Go to
the door OF that gin-shop tonight,
and when the gang Of young men come
out, ask them whether they are happy
They laugh along the street, and they
Jeer, and they shout; butsnobody has
any idea that thew GRO hannv