The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-11-28
DR.. TALMAGE'S SERMON.
SEEKING SAFETY.
some Timely Advice to Young men-D'
on the Right Side.

. criticism. From the crown OF his head 10
the sole Of his foot there was not n single
blemish. The Bible says that he had such a
uxuriant shock Of hair that when once n
year II was shorn. what WAS cut on weighed
over three pounds. But notwithstanding ali
his brilliancy OF appearance he was n bad
boy. and broke his fathers heart. He was
plotting to get the throne Of Israel. He had
mafshaled an armyto overthrow his fathers
government The day OF battle had come.
The conflict was begun. David the father,
sat between the gates Of the palace waiting
for the tidings Of the conflict. oh, how
| mpidy his heart beat with emotion.
The two great questions were 10 be decid-
ed--ihe safety OF his boy and the continu-
suce Of the throne OF Israel. After while a
servant. standing on the top Of the house.
looks on and sees some one running He is
coming with great speed. and the man on
the top OF the house announces the coming
Of the messenger. and the father watches
sni waits. and rs soon as the messenger
nom the field OF battle comes within hailing
distance the father cries out. l. Il a ques-
uon in regard to the establishment OF his
throne? Does he say: "Have the armies OF
Israel been victorious2 Am to continue in
ny imperial authority? Have l overthrown
nv enemies2" oh. no! There Is one dues-
hon that springs from his heart 90 tho lin.
and springs from the lip into the ear OF the
hesveated and bedusted messenger flying
nom lut butNlfUtiu-tnN tiltNtlnn. is the
Young man Absalom safer" When IL was
old TO David, the king, that, though his ar
res had been victorious, HIS son had been
sain the father turned his back upon the
eongratulations OF the nation and went up
he stairs OF his palace. his heart breaking as
be went, wringing his hands sometimes and
then again pressing them against his temples
Ethough he. would press them In. crying
20 Absalom! my sonl my sonl Would 60
God had died for thee. o Absalom! my
ynl my sonV"
Nv friends, the question which David. the
hng. asked in regard 20 his son is the dues-
ion that resounds to-day in the hearts OF
hundreds OF parents. Yea, there are great
multitude OF young men who know that the
question Of the text is appropriate when
nked In regard TO them. They know the
Rmptations by which they ara surrounded
They see so many who started life with as
good resolutions as they have who have
allen In the path, and they are ready 60
bear me ask the question of my text "Is the
young man Absalom safe2' The fact is that
IBIS life Is full of peril. He who undertakes
without the grace OF God and proper un-
ter-tauding OF tho conflict into which he Is
goIng must certainly be defeated. Just look
tfup0n society to-day Look at the ship
vre'k Of men for whom fair things we're
Tonised and who started life with every ad-
vantage. Look at those who have dropped
iDm high social position and from great for
tune, disgraced for time disgraced for otcr-
riy. All who sacrifice their integrity come
% overthrow. Take n dishonest dollar and
hurry It in the center OF the earth. and keep
1.-The rocks OF the mountain on top of II:
her cover these rocks with all the diamonds
dGo.conda, and all the silver Of Nevada,
,nd all the gold OF California and Australia.
ini put on the top OF these all banking and
roheyed institutions. and they cannot keep
town that one dishonest dollar. That one !is-
0nest dollar in the center OF the earth will
,sgn 10 heave and rock and upturn itself un-
IL comes TO the resurrection Of damnation
As the partridge sitteth on eggs and
itcheth them not. so he that gctteth riches
pa not by right shall leave them In the
tist Of his days and at his end shall be a
t0l"
Now. what are the safeguards OF Young
-en! The first safeguard OF which / want
speak is a love OF home. There are those
'ho have no idea Of the pleasures that con-
rhtrate around that word "home." Per-
lps your early abode was shadowed with
pre- or poverty. Harsh words and petulance
hl sowing may have destroyed all the
|nfllty OF that spot. Love. kindness and
W aerilce, which have built their altars in
many abodes, were strangers in your
iher's house. God pity you. young man;
ou never had home. But multitude in
DIS audience can look back 20 n spot that
ey can never forget. 1t may have been u
wy fooi, but you cannot think OF IL now
lh1ut dash of emotion. You have seen
Ming on earth that so stirred your soul.
Stranger passing along that place might
enothlnS remarkable about II bur- oh! how
4,h II means TO you. Fresco on palace
au does not mean 50 much TO you rs those
lsn hewn rafters. Parks and bowers and
'' on fashionable watering place or coun-
''W 90 not mean so much 10 you as that
mat ran in front of the plain farm
.'' and singing under the weeping will
E'' The barred gateway swung omen by
Nsl IN iull dress does not mean as much
YOU as that swing gate, your sister on one
ol II and You on the other, she gone hf-
years ago into glory. that scene coming
~ ~, 70 you to-day, ms you swept backward
Forward on the gate, singing the songs
your childhood. But there are those here
nave their second dwelling place. 1t is
adopted home. That Is also sacred
ever There you established the first
ny! aItar. There your children were
y. IN mat room Mapped the wing Of the
yl Chsel' Under that roof. when your
"a ~ E done. You expect 10 lie down and
mere Is only one word in all the Ian
~ lAat can convey your idea of that
~ and that word is "home."
VOW LEI me say that never knew n man
was faithful TO his early aud adopted |
y VINO was given over at the same time |
~! gross form OF wlckedness. II you
more enjoyment In the club room. In |
"ssHry society, in the art salon, than
20 IN these unpretending home pleas |
YOU are on the road to ruin. Though |
may be cut of from your early asso-
and though you may be separated |
AZ your kindred, young man, is there |
room somewhere that you can call
VWnt Though il be the fourth story
'nri-cass boarding house, into that |
sa'her books, pictures ald harp. |
your mothers portrait over the |
NJ " BID unholy mirth stand back from
threshold. Consecrate some spot In
soon with the knee of prayer. BY the |
{ OF other days, a fathers counsel a |
lole S"''
r,ler safeguard for these young men is
nous habits. There are great
people trying TO make their way
1sa the world with their wits instead OF
~ A0sI ~ toll. There Is u young man who
rom the country to the city. He
M SSlye before he is as old as his father
'NJn "a no frst saw the spires OF the great
ne Is seated in his room at a rent OF
y, year, waiting for the banks TO de-
,ser dividends and the stocks 10 run