The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1895-07-26
GOSPEL. OF CONTENT.
REV. Or. TALMAGE ON THE RELIGION
FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE.

Blessing OF content.
NEW YORK, July 21,-Rey DIR. Tai
mage, who is still absent ON his annual
midsummer tour, preaching and lectur-
ing, has prepared for today sermon ON
"Plain People" n topic which will APP
peal to very large majority of readers
anywhere The text selected was Ro-
mans xvi, IA, 10, "Salute Asyncritus,
Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes,
Philologus and Julia,
Matthew Henry, Albert Barnes, Adam
Clark, Thomas Scott and all the COM
mentators pass by these verses without
any especial remark The other 90 peo-
Pile mentioned in. the chapter were dis
tinguished for something and We're
therefore discussed by the illustrious ex-
positors, but nothing is said about Asyn-
critus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas,
Hermes, Philologus and Julia Where
were they born2 No one knows, Where
did they diep There is no record of
their decease. For what We're they dis
tinguished? Absolutely for nothing, or
the trait of character would have been
brought out by the apostle. If they had
been very intrepid or opulent or hir
suite or musical of cadence or Grass of
style or in anywise anomalous, that
feature would have been caught by the
apostolic camera. But they were good
people, because Paul sent to them his
high Christian regards They were or
binary people, moving in ordinary
sphere, attending to ordinary duty and
meeting ordinary responsibilities
What the world wants is religion
for ordinary people, If there be in the
United States 100000 people, there
are certainly not more than 1000, 900
extraordinary, and tlsn there are Ca
100000 ordinary, and we do well to
turn our backs for little while upon
the distinguished and conspicuous peo>
| pie Of the Bible and consider in our text
the seven ordinary. We spend too much
of our time in twisting garlands for re-
markables and building thrones for mag
mates and sculpturing warriors and
apotheosizing philanthropists. The rank
and file of the Lords soldiery need es-
pecial help.
The vast majority of people to whom
this sermon comes will never lead an
army, will never write a state constitu-
ton, will never electrify a senate, will
never make an important invention,
will never introduce a new philosophy,
will never decide the fate of nation.
You do not expect to; you do not want
to. You will not be q Moses to lead d
nation out of bondage. You will not be
Joshua to prolong the daylight until
you can shut five kings in cavern. You
will not be a st. John to unroll an
apocalypse You will not be Paul to
preside over an apostolic college. You
will not be Mary to mother Christ:
You will more probably be Asyncritus
or Phlegon or Hermas or Patrobas Or
Hermes or Philologus or Julia.
| Heads of Households.
Many of you are women at the head
of households This morning you launch
ed the family for Sabbath observance.
Your brain decided the apparel, and
your Judgment was final on all quas-
lions of personal attire. Every morning
| NOu Dldu lOI tllS Liz tullnttly
partment of your household is in your
dominion. You decide all questions Of
| diet. All the sanitary regulations of
your house are under your supervision.
To regulate the FOOD and the apparel,
and the habits and decide the Thousand
questions of home life is tax upon
your brain and nerve and general health
absolutely appalling if there be no diA
vine alienation.
1t does not help you much to be told
that Elizabeth Fry did wonderful things
mid the criminals Of Newgate. 1t does
not help you much to be told that Mrs.
Judson was very brave among the Bor-
nesian cannibals. 1t does not help you
much to be told that Florence Nightin-
gale was very kind to the wounded in
the Crimea. 1t would be better for me
to tell you that the divine friend Of
Mary and Martha is your friend, and
that he sees all the annoyances and dis
appointments and abrasions and exas-
perations of an ordinary housekeeper
from morn till night, and from the first
day of the year to the last day Of the
year and at your call he is ready with
help and reinforcement.
They who provide the food of the
world decide the health Of the world.
One of the greatest battles of this cen
tury was lost because the commander
that morning had fit of indigestion.
You have only to go on some errand
amid the tayerns and the hotels of the
United States and Great Britain to ap-
preciate the fact that vast multitude
Of the human race are slaughtered by
incompetent cookery Though young
woman may have taken lessons in music
and may have taken lessons in paint
ing and lessons III astronomy she is not
well educated unless she has taken les
sous in dough They who decide the ap
parel of the world and the food of the
world decide the endurance of the
world
An unthinking man may consider it
matter Of little Importance the cares
of the household and the economies of
domestic Gfe--but l tell you the earth
is strewn with the martyrs of kitchen
and nursery. The health shattered wom-
anhood Of America cries out for God
who can help ordinary women in the
ordinary duties Of housekeeping The
wearing, grinding, unappreciated work
goes on, but the same Christ who stood
on the bank Of Galilee in the carly
morning and kindled the fire and had
the fish already cleaned ard broiling
when the sportsmen stepped ashore,
chilled and hungry, will help every
woman to prepare breakfast, whether
by her own hand or the hand of her
hired help.
The God who made indestructiblo
II Hannah, who made coat
for Samuel. her son, and carried it Il
the temple every year, will help every
woman in preparing the family ward
robe. Tho God who opens the Bible witt
the story of Abraham's entertainment
Of the three angels on the plains Of
! Mamre viii help every woman to pro
vide hospitality. however rare and EN-
hiTY,ssi1, q IT /. l,iph ti1Y,n that Soma NJ