The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-16
TABERNACLE PULPIT.
DIR. TALMAGE TALKS ABOUT
HOME RELIGION
Love Is the Conversions of the
Family Structure-The Christian Home
Is LIkened co = Kingdom of Joy and
Gladness.

were many strangers. hoN- LII L d.
mage chose for the subject of his SER
mon, Home Religion taking his
text from Luke viii 80: Return to
thine own house. and show how great
things God hath done unto thee"
After a fierce and shipwrecl1ing
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 the billowsl While the dis
ciples are congratulating 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 appari-
ton? Is it a man? Is it wild beast?
1t is maniac who has broken away
from his keepers, perhaps a few rags
on his person, and fragments of stout
shacl1les 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 this flying
fury, with crashing teeth and uplifted
fists, dashes at Christ, Christ says,
''Hands off! Down at my feet, thou
poor sufferer and the demoniac drops
harmless, exhausted worshipful-
Away, We devils!'' commanded Christ,
and the 1000 fiends which had been
tormenting the poor man 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 she filth and the wounds in
the sea; smooth your disheveled locks;
put on DECENT apparel and go straight
to your de ISOLATED home, and tell your
wife and children that you will no
more alright them, and no more do
them hartI; that you are restored to
reason, aud that l, 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 may seem to have
religion when we have it not; but the
home tests whether our religion is
genuine or a sham What makes a
happy home?
Well, oae would say house with
great wide halls and antlered deer
heads, and parlors with sculpture and
bric-a-brsc, and dining hall with easy
chair and plenty of light and engrav-
ings of game on the wall, and sleep
ing apartments commodious 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
4a1Ioxu oan1Io Thora ware No oarnefS
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 Rut you can not think of it
this NOR ming without fearful and
grateful emotion You and / have
found s,ut that it Is not rich tapestry,
or gorgeous architecture. or rare art
that mikes happy home
The SIX wise men of Greece gave pre-
scriptions for a happy home. Scion
says happy home is a place where
mans estate was gotten without in
Justice, kept without disquietude, and
spent without repentance ChilO says
that happy home is the place where
man rules as monarch of a kingdom
Bias says that a happy home is place
where man does voluntarily what by
law he is compelled to do abroad. But
you and 1. under a grander light, give
a better prescription: a happy home is
a place where the kindness Of the
Gospel of the Son of God has full
swing.
While 1 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 your sleeping apartments,
and your drawing-room, and your en-
tire house blessing, that will make
you rich while you live, and be an in
heritance TO your children after you
have done the last days work for their
support. and made for them the last
PRAYER 1t is the i11ustrious 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. we
want religion in our domestic duties
Every housekeeper needs great grace
If Martha had had more religion she
would not have rushed with such bad
| temper to scold Mary in the presence
of Christ. 1t is no small thing TO keep
order and secure cleanliness, and
mend breakages, and achieve economy,
and control all the affair of the house.
hold advantageously- 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
x-e,-xz fav in comma riSOT1 with he