The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-09-26
REV. DIR. TALMAGE.
THE BROOKLYN DIvINE'S SUN.
DAY SERMON.
Subject: "Communion Of Saints" "

TEXT. 'sThen said they unto him, Say
pow shibboleth, and he said, sibboietn, S. ,ot
he could not frame to pronounce 1t right
Then they took him and slew him at the pas
eages of Jordan."-Judges Kill, 6.
Do you notice the difference Of pronuncia-
hon between shibboleth and sibboleth! a
fery small and unimportant difference, you
bay. And yet that difference was the diner
bnce between life and death for great many
beople. The Lords people, Gllead ana
Epiraim. got into a great fight, and Eph.
taim was worsted, and on the retreat came
10 the fords ofthe river Jordan to cross. Or
her was given that all Ephralmites coming
there be slain. But how could 1t be found
but who were Ephraimites? They were de-
3ected by their pronunciation. Shlopoietn
Vas word that stood for river.
The Ephraimites had a brogue OF their
Rwn, and when they tried to say "shib-
boleth" always left out the sound OF the
a." When it was asked that they say shib-
boleth, they said sibboleth and were slain.
tThen said they unto him, say now shb-
oleth, and he said sibboletb, tor he could
lot frame to pronounce 1t right. Then they
ook him and slew him at the passages OF
ordan." A very small difference, you say,
etween Gilead and Eparaim, and yet now
huch intolerance about that small! d1ner-
zee! The Lords tribes In our time-by
khich I mean the different denominations
Christians-sometimes magnify very
mall difference, and the only difference be-
ween scores OF denominations to-day IS the
Inference between shlbboleth and sibboleth.
The church OF God is divided into great
lumber Of denominations. Time would 1all
be to tell OF the Calvinists, and the Armini-
ns. and the Sabbatarians, and the Baxteri-
ns, and the Dunkers, and the Shakers, and
be Quakers, and the Methodists, and the
(aptists, and the Episcopaliars, and the
3ntherans, and the Congregationalists, and
he Presbyterians, and the Spir1tualists, and
score Of other denominations OF religion
It's, some Of them founded by very good
len, some OF them founded by very ego
lSttemen, some of them founded BY very bad
Zen. But as demand for myself liberty OF
bnscience must give that same liberty to
Fery other man, remembering that he no
lore differs from me than differ from him.
Advocate the largest liberty In all religious
enef and form of worship. In art, in poll
cs, In morals and In religion let there be
b gag law, no moving OF the previous ques-
pn. no persecution, no intolerance.
You know that the air and the water keep
1re by constant circulation, and think
ere Is q tendency in religious discussion
publication and moral health. Between
e fourth ard the sixteenth centuries the
kurch proposed to make people think
light BY prohibiting discussion, and by
tong censorship of the press and rack and
bbet and hot lead down the throat tried to
axe people orthodox, but II was discovered
at you cannot change mans belief by
listing OF his head nor make man see
ferently by putting an iawl through his
les. There Is something In a mans con-
lence which will hurl of the mountain
&c you threw upon 1t, and, unsinged Of the
r. out OF the flame will make red wings
(which the martyr will mount to glory.
n that time Of which speak, between the
rth and sixteenth. centuries, people went
m the house of God into the most ap-
Ding iniquity, and right along by con-
rated affairs there were tides of drunken
B snd licentiou5ness such as the world
yer heard OF, and the very sewers OF per-
ion broke loose and flooded the chuEch.
Ter awhile the printing press was freed,
II broke the shackles of the human
nd. Then the:e came large number Of
books, and where there was one man
tile to the Christian religion there were
bnty men ready to advocate It, so I
Re not any nervousness in regard to this
fle going on between truth and error.
truth will conquer just as certainly as
God Is stronger than the devil. Let
run hyou only let truth run along with
3Urged on by skeptic's shout and tran
fentalist's spur, let 1t run. Gods angels
rath are in hot pursuit, and quicSerthan
Hes beak clutches out hawks heart.
's vengeance will tear 1t to pieces.
propose to speak to you of sectarianism
origin, its evils and its cures. There
fh0g6 sxyhn Unn1f mako 11c fhfpl- fhaf
~ monster, with horns and hoofs, is re-
On. shall chase it to its hiding place
drag It out of the caverns Of darkness
rip OF its hide. But I want to make a
inction between bigotry and the lawful
dness for peculiar religious beliefs and
ns OF worship. have no admiration for
bthingarian.
= ha world Of such tremendous vicissitude
ftemptation, and with soul thar mus.
b. awhile stand before O throne Of in
erable brightness, In q day when the
kinS OF the mountains and the flaming of
heavens and the upheaval OF the seas
u be among the least Of the excltements.
give account for every thought, word,
lon, preference and dislike, thar man Is
who has no religious preference. But
early education, our physical tempera-
ht, our mental constitution, will very
ch decide our form of worship.
style of psalmody that may please me
dfsplease you. Some would like to have
mister In gown and bands and surplice,
others prefer to. have minister in plain
zen's apparel. Some are most impressed
IN little child Is presented at the altar
sprinkled of the waters of holy bene-
ion sHn the name Of the Father, and of
Son, and Of the Holy Ghost" and others
moro impressed when the penitent comes
but Of the river, his garments dripping
the waters Of baptism which signifies
washing away Of sin. Let either have
own way. One man likes no noise in
yer, not q word, not whisper. Another
Just as good, prefers by gesticulation
exclamation to express his devotional
(rattons. One Is just as good as the other.
Fery man fully persuaded In his own
Gorge whitefeld was going over q
ker rather roughly for some or MS re-
pus sentiments, and the Quaker said /:
orge, I am as thou art. I am for bring
ali men to the hope Of ths gospel. There
II thou will not quarrel with me about
bread brim, Twill not Quarrel with thee
1tthy black gown. George, give me thy
tracing out the religion of sectarianism
tgotry I find that q great deal OF It comes
wrong education In :he home circle.
Sc are parents who do not think It wrong
Rricature and jeer the peculiar forms OF
ion IN the world and denounce other
and other denominations. 1t is very
the case that that kind of education
iust opposite to what was expected, and
eniidren grow up, and after awhile 60
see for themselves, and looking in those
ches and finding that the people are
there, and they love God and keep His
mandments, by natural reaction they 60
join those very churches. 1 could men,
the names OF prominent ministers OF the
el who spent their whole life lombard
other denominations, and who lived to
heh children preach the gospel In those
denominations. But It is often the case
hgotry starts in household, and that
subject Of It never RECEIVERS. There are
OF thousands of bigots ten years old.
think aactarianian and hipotrY also