The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1894-04-26
TALMAGE'S SERMON.
REV. Or. TALMAGE breaches ON
HOME AND RELIGION.

Tho tcloeuent DIvine Makes n Str.nR Plea
for tho uospel-A Sermon that Takes
Hold of tho Heart-The Grandost Git':
BROOKLYN, April l5.--In tho great
audience which assembled in the Brook.
Iyn Tabernacle this afternoon were many
strangers. Rev. DR.. Talmage chose for
tho subject ofbis sermon "Home Relig-
lon," taking his text from Luke viii, 80,
"Return to thine own house and shew
how great things God hath done unto
thee"
After fierce and shipwrecking night,
Christ and bis disciples are climbing up
the slaty shelving Of the beach. How
pleasant 1t is 10 stand on solid ground
after haYiug been tossed so long on the
billows! While the disciples are con.
graduating each other on their marine
escape, out from a dark, deep cavern on
the Gadarene bills there 10 something
swiftly and terribly advancing. Is it al
apparitiop9 Is it man? Is 1t n wild
beast? 1t is maniac who has broken
away from his keepers, perhaps few
rags on bis person and fragments of
off i'll terrific paroxysm. With wild yel)
ton he flies down the bill.
Back 10 the boats, ye fishermen, and
put out to sea and escape assassination!
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 of!
Down at my feet, thou poor sufferer"
aud the demoniac drops harmless, ex
tnI yuN hi >ftIl ,lalS
commanded Christ, and the 1000 iends
which had heen tormenting the poor man
are transferred to the 2,000 swine, which
60 TO sea with their accursed cargo.
The restored demoniac sits down at
Christs feet and wants TO stay there.
Christs says to him practically: "Do
not stop. You have mission to exc
cute. Wash OF the filth and tho wounds
in the sea, smooth your dlsheveled locks,
put on decent apparel and 60 straight TO
your desolated homo and tell your wits
and children that you will no more af-
fright them, andno moro do them harm
that you arc restored to reason, and that
l, onn'potent son Of God, am entitled
hereafter to the worship Of your entire
household. Return to thine own house
and sheW how great things God hath
done unto thee"
Yes, the house, the home, is The lirst
place where our religious gratitude ought
TO be demonstrated. In tho outside world
we may seem to have religion when we
have II not but the home tests whether
o'rreliglon is genuine or sham. What
makes happy homer
Well, one would say Il house with
great wido halls, aud antlered deer
heads, and parlors with sculpture and
brio brac, and dining hall with easy
chair and plenty OF light, and engraylngs
OF game On the wall, and sleeping apart !
ments commodious andsadorned, No. In
such a place as that gigantic wretched.
mesa has sometimes dwelt, while some
CT you look back TO your fathor's house,
where they read their Blbble by the light
o. tallow candle. Thore were 10 car
pets on the floor save those made form
the rags which your mother cut out night
by night, you helping wind them into q |
ball, and then sent to the weaver, who |
brought them TO shape under his slow
shuttle. Not a luxury III all the housed
But you cannot think Of it This morning !
without fearful aud greatful emotion. |
You and have found out that 1t is not
rich tapestry, or gorgeous architecture,
or rare art that makes happYlhome.
The ak wise men Of Greece gave pre-
scr'ptons for a happy homo. Solon says
a happy home is place where mau's
estate was gotten without injustice, kept
without disquetude and spent without
repentance. Chllo says that happy
homo is tho place where man rules as
a monarch kingdom. Bias says that a
happy home is place where man does
voluntarily what by law be is compelled
TO no abroad. But you and l, under
Rrander light, give n better prescription. I
A happy homo is q place whore the kind. I
ness OF the gospel Of the Son of God has |
full swing. i
While l speak this morning there is {
knocking at your front door, if he lie not s
already admitted, one whose locks are
wet with the dews of the night, who I
would take your children into his arms ,
and would throw upon your nursery, and
your sleeping apartments. and your
drawing room, and your entire house {
that will make you rich while
you live and be an inheritance to your {
ch,'dren after you have done the lass !
Jays work for their support and made for
them the last prayer. 1t ls the ilustri. ,
Gus one who said to the man of my text.
Return to thine own house and shew 6
how great things God hath done unto i
thee" Now, in the first place, we want
religion in our domestic duties.
Every kousekceper needs great grace.
If Martha had had moro religion, she
would not have rushed with such bad ,
temper 10 scoid Mary in the presence OF
CHRIST. 1t is no small thing to keep or.
der, and secure cleanliness, and mend
Dreakages, and achieve economy, and
cotrol all the Affairs of the household nd.
VantageouSlY. Expenses will run up,
store bills will come in twice as large as
you think they ought TO be, furniture Will
wear out, carpets will unravel, and the =
martyrs OF the fire are very few in com.
parlson with the martyrs OF housekeep.-
ing. Yet there are hundreds of people
IN this church this morning who in their ,
homes are managing all these affairs
with composure, an adroitness, an in.
genuity and fRithfulness which thew
never could have reached but for the
grace Of our practical Christianity, The
exasperations which wear out others
nave peen TO you spiritual deyelopment