The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-04-25
RELIGION AT HOME.

AN ELOQUENT SERMON PREACHED
AT THE BROOKLYN TAsERNAcLE.
Rev. Dr. Ialmage Shows That Religious
Gratitude should First Be Demonstrated
IN the Family Circle-The Right Train
ing For Children.
BRooKLYN, April 15.-In the great
audience which assembled in the Brook
Iyn Tabernacle this forenoon were many
strangers Rev. DR.. Talmage chose for
the subject of his sermon Home Reli-
gion," taking his text from Luke viii,
SO, Return to thine own house and
shew how great things God hath done
unto thee"
.Aftera fierce and shipwreckng 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 so long on the
billowsl While the disciples are con-
graduating each other on their marine
escape out from a dark, deep cavern on
the Gadarene hills there is something
swiftly and terribly advancing. Is it an
apparition2 Is it q man? 1 it a Wild
beast? It is a maniac who has broken
away from his keepers, perhaps a 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 LAGER
alton be flies down the hill
Back to 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 christsays: 1Hands off! Down
atmyfeet, thou poor sufferer" And the
demoniac drops harmless, exhausted,
worshipful. away, ye devils.' COM
manded Christ, and the 1000 fends
which had been toE.nenting the poor
man are transferred to the 2, 600 swine,
which go to sea With their accused
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 a mission to execute.
Wash off the filth and the wounds III the
sea Smooth your disheve.ed locks Put
on decent apparel and go straight to your
desolated home and tell your wife and
children that you will no o alright
them and no more do them harm; that
you are restored to reason, and that l,
the omnipotent Son of God, am entitled
hereafter to the worship Of year entire
household. Return to thine " house
and shew how great things God hath
done unto thee"
AlTrue Home Luxury.
Yes, the house, the home is the first
place where our religious gratitude
ought to be demonstrated In the out
side worldwe may seem tohave religion
when we have it not, bat the home tests
whether our religion is genuine CT a
sham. What makes a happy home?
Well, one would say a house with
great wide halls, and antlered deer heads,
aad parlors with sculpture, ard bric-a-
brac, and dining hall with easy chair,
and plenty of light, and enggravings Of
game on the wall, and sleeping apart
ments commodious and adorned. No. IL
such q place as that gigantic vretched-
ness has sometimes dwelt, While some
Of you look back to your fathers house,
where they read their Bible by the light
Of 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
cannot think of it this morning without
fearful and grateful emotion You and
I have found out that it is not rich tap
estry, or gorgeous architecture, or rare
art that makes a happy home.
The six wise men of Greece gave pre-
scriptions for a happy home. Scion says
a happy home is a place where a mans
estate was gotten withoutinjustice, kept
without disquietude and spent without
repentance. Chic says that a happy
home is the place where a man rules
as monarch a kingdom Bias says that
a happy. home is a place where a man
does voluntarily what by law he is COM
PEELED to do abroad. But you and I TN
der a gander light give a better pre-
scription-a happy home is a place
where the kindness of the gospel Of the
Son of God has full swing.
Religion In Domestic Duties.
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 your nursery, and
housekeeping apartments, and yourdraw-
ing room, and your entire house a bless
ing that will make you rich while you
live and be an inheritance to your chill
dren after you have done the last days
work for their support and made for
them no last nraver. It is the illuStrl-