The Progress. (Shreveport, La.) 1892-1900, 1894-04-21
TABERNACLE PULPIT.
DR.. TALMAGh TALKS ABOUT
HOME RELIGION.
Love Is the Cornerstone OF the
Family Structure-Ihe Christian Ho:nu
GIadneSS.

audience which assembled in the
brooklyn tabernacle this forenoon,
were many strangers. Rev. DR.. Tai
mage chose for the subject Of his SER
mon, Home Religion" taking his
text from Luke viii 39 Return to
thine own house, and show how great
things God hath done unto thee"
After a fierce and sAipwrecbing
night, Christ and his disciples are
climbing up the slaty shelving of the
beach. How pleasant it is to stand on
solid ground after having been tossed
50 long on the pillows! While the dis
ciples are congratulating each other
on their marine escape, out from q
dark, deep cavern on the Gadarene
hills there is something swiftly and
terribly advancing. Is it an appari-
ton? Is it man? Is it wild beast?
1t is a maniac who has broken away
from his keepers, perhaps few rags
on his person, and fragments Of stout
shackles which he has wrenched off in
terrific paroXysm. With wild yell and
bleeding wounds of his own lacera-
ton, he flies down the hill.
Back to the boats, We fishermen. and
put out to sea, and escape assassina-
ton. But Christ stands his ground; so
do the disciples; and as this flying
fury, with gnashing teeth and uplifted
fists, dashes at Christ, Christ says,
Glands off! Down at my feet, thou
poor sufferer" and the demoniac drops
harmless, exhausted, worshipful.
Away, We DEVILS" commanded Christ,
and the >, 600 fends which had been
tormenting the poor man are trans
ferred to the 1000 swine which go to
sea with their accursed cargo,
The restored demoniac sits down at
Christ's feet and wants to stay there.
Christ says to him practically, 'Do not
stop; you have mission to execute;
wash off the filth and the wounds in
the sea; smooth your disheveled locks;
put on decent apparel and go straight
to your desolated home, and tell your
wife and children that you will no
more alright them, and no more do
them harm; that you are restored to
reason, and that |, the Omnipotent
Son of God, am entitled hereafter to
the worship of your entire household
Return to thine own house, and show
how great things God hath done unto
thee"
Yes, the house, the home is the first
place where our religious gratitude
ought to be demonstrated. In the
outside world we may seem to have
religion when we have it not; but the
home tests whether our religion is
genuine or sham What makes a
happy home?
Well, one would say a house with
great wide halls, and antlered deer
heads, and parlors with sculpture and
bric-a- brac, and dining hall with easy
chair and plenty of light and engrav-
ings of game on the wall, and sleep
ing apartments cOmmodlouS and
adorned. No. In such a place as
that, gigantic wretchedness has some,
times dwelt, while some of you look
back to your fathers house, where
they read their Bible by the light of a
tallow candle There were no carpets
on the floor save those made from the
rags which your mother cut night by
night, you helping wind them into a
ball, and then sent to the weaver who
brought them to shape under his slow
shuttle. Not a luxury in all the
house. But you can not think of it
this morning without fearful and
grateful emotion. You and | have
found out that it IS not rich tapestry,
or gorgeous architecture, or rare art
that makes happy home.
The six wise men of Greece gave pre-.
scriptions for a happy home. Solor
says happy home is a place where a
mans estate was gotten without in
Justice kept without disquietude, and
spent without repentance. Chilo says
that happy home is the place where
a man rules as monarch of kingdom.
Bias says that happy home is a place
where man does voluntarily what by
law he is compelled to do abroad. But
you and l, under grander light, give
better prescription: happy home is
a place where the kindness CT the
Gospel of the Son of God has full
swing.
While I speak this morning there is
knocking at your front door, if he be
not already admitted, one whose locks
are wet with the dews of the night
who would take your children into his
arms, and would throw upon YOU
nursery, and your sleeping apartments
and your drawing-room, and your en-
tire house a blessing, that will make
you rich while you live, and be an in
heritance to your children after 20,
have done the last days work for Their
support, and made for them the las
prayer. 1t is the illustrious one who
said to the man of my text, Return
to thine own house, and show how
great things God hath done unto
thee" Now, in the first place. WI
want religion in our domestic duties.
Every housekeeper needs great grace
If Martha had had more religion sh'
would not have rushed with such ba(
temper to scold Mary in the presence