The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-11-16
REV. DIR. TALMAGE.
The Brooklyn Divines Sunday
Sermon.
Nuolect; "Autumn Thoughts"

TEXT: "The stork in the heaven knoweth
her appointed time and the turtle, and the
crane, and the swallow observe the time of
their coming, but my people know not the
judgment Of the Lord. Jeremiah viii, 7.
When God would set fast beautiful
thought, He plants il in tree. When He
would put 1t afioat, He fashions it into a ilsh.
When He would have It glide the air. He
molds it into a bird. My text speaks Of four
birds OF beautiful instinct-the stork, of such
strong affection that It is allowed Familiarity
TO come In Holland and Germany and build
It's nest over the doorway; the sweet
dispositioned turtledove, mingling III color
white and black and brown and ashen and
chestnut the crane, with voice like the
clang OF trumpe the swallow, swift as q
dart shot out OF tho bow OF heaven, falling,
mounting. skimming, sailing-four birds
started by the prophet twenty-five centuries
ago, yet flying on through the ages. with
rousing truth under glossy wing and in the
clutch OF stout claw. suppose II may have
been In this very season OF the year-autumn
and the prophet out Of doors, thinking OF
the impenitence Of the people Of his day,
hears great cry overhead.
Now, you know il is no easy thing for one
with ordinary delicacy OF eye-sight to look
into the deep blue of MONDAY heaven, but
the prophet looks up, and there are nocks
OF storks and turtledoves and cranes and
swallows drawn out in long limos for flight
southwark. As is their habit, the cranes
had arranged themselves in two lines, max
ing an angle, q wedge splitting the air with
wild velocity, the old crane, with command
ing call, bidding them onward while
the towns, and the cities, and the
continents slid under them. The
prophet, almost blinded from looking into
the dazzling heavens, stoops down and be-
gins to think how much superior the birds
are in sagacity about their safety than men
are about theirs, and he puts his hand upon
the pen and begins to write. 1.-THE stork In
the heaven knoweth his appointed times, and
the turtle, and the crane, and the swallow
observe the time of their coming, but my
people know not the Judgment OF the Lord.
II you were in the field to-day In the
clump OF trees at the corner Of the field, you
would see convention of birds, noisy as
the American Congress the last night before
adjournment or as the English Parliament
when some unfortunate member proposes
more economy in the Queens household,
a convention OF birds all talking at once,
moving and passing resolutions on the sub
ject of migration some proposing to 60 to-
morrow. some moving that they 60 to-day,
but all unanimous in the fact that they must
90 soon, for they have marching orders
from the Lord written on the first white
sheet OF the frost and in the pictorial OF the
changing leaves.
There is not belted kingfsher, or a
chafflnch or a fire crested wren, or plover,
or red legged partridge but expects to
spendthe winter at the South, for the apart
ments have already been ordered for them
in South America or in Africa, and after
fhA,1uopAa If villas IF Htpht In
the very tree where they spent last January
Farewell, bright phumage Until spring
weather, away Fly on, great band Of
heavenly musicians Strew the CONT
nents with music, and, whether from
Ceylon isle. or Caroinian swamps, or
Brazilian groves men see your wings or
hear your voice, may they ct bethink them
selves of the solemn words of the text ''The
stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed
times and the turtle, and the crane, and the
swallow observe the time of their coming,
but my people know not the judgment oil
| the Lord"
propose so far as God may help me in
| this sermon carrying out the idea of the text
TO show that the birds Of tie air have more
sagacity than men. And | begin by par
ticulari2ing and saying that they minglC
music with their work. The most serious
undertaking Of a birds life Is this an
nual flight southwark. Naturalists tell us
that they arrive thin and weary and plumage
| ruthed, and yet they go singing all the way
the ground the lower line of the music, the
| sky the upper line Of the music, themselves
the notes scattered up and down between.
suppose their song gives elasticity to their
wing and helps on with the journey, dwind
ling 1000 miles into 400. Would God thai
We were as wise as they in mingling Chris
tian song with our everyday work 1 be.
lieve there is such thing az taking the
pitch of Christian devotion in the morning
and keeping it all the day. 1 think VIZ
might take some OF the dullest, heaviest
most disagreeahle work OF our life and set il
to the tune of "Antoch" or mount Pts
gah."
1t is good sign when you hear n work.
man whistle. 1t is a better .ign when yor
hear him hum a roundelay. 1t is a still bet
ter sign when you hear him sing the words
of Isaac Watts or Charles Wesley. A yloliI
cborded and strung, If something accident
ally strikes it, makes music, and | suppos
there Is such thing as having our hearts s.
attuned by divine grace that even the rough
collisions of lie will nuke heay
emily vibration. ] do not believ
that the power of Christian song has We
been fully tried. believe that If you coult
IOll NuS Olu IluuuIou uOAOlOXN tlrOuQ
the street 1t would put an end to any panic
l believe that the discords, and the sorrows
and the sins of the world are to be swept on
by heaven-born halleluiahs. Some one aske
Haydn, the celebrated musician, why he a
ways composed such cheerful must,
why" he said. II can't do otherwis,
When think OF God, my soul is so full {
Joy that the notes leap and dane
from my pen" 1 wish we migt
all exult melodiously before the Lore
With God for our Father and Christ for OF
Saviour and heaven for our home an
angels for future companions, and eternIt
for lifetime, we should strike all the note
OF Joy. Going through the wilderness
this world let us remember that we are
the way to a summary cline Of heaven. an
from the migratory populations fyin
through this autumnRl air learn always
keep singing:
Children Of the Heavenly King,
AS ye journey, sweetly sing
Sing your Saviour's worthy praise,
Glorious in His works and ways.
Va ara Travelling home IN God