The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1895-12-04
REV. DIX. TALMAGE.
The NOTED DIvINE's SUNDAY
DISCOURSE.
Subject. "Davld ana Absalom."

Subject: "Davld and Absalom."
TEXT: els the young man Absalom safe?"
III Samuel XVIII. 30.
Tho heart OF David. tho father, was
wrapped up in his boy Ahsa!om. He was Il
splendid boy, Judged by tho rules OF worldly
criticism. el % From the crown Of his hoad to
tho so,e of MS his foot there was not o single
oiemlsh. rho Biblo says that he had such
lnxurlant shock Of hair that when once a
year It was shorD. what was out off weighed
oyer thrna pounds. But Notwithstanding MI
ms briiiihnoy of nprOnrnnGe no was n bad
boy. and broke his fathers heart. Ho wns
plotting to got the throne OF Israel. Ho had
marshaled M army to overthrow his fntbcr,s
government. Tho day Of batlo had como
The conflict was begun. David. tho father.
sRt between tho Ratos OF tho palace waiting
for tho tidings Of tho conflict Oh, how
rapidly his heart bent with emotion. M
Tho two great questions Tero to be deoid.
cd-the safety Of his boy ami the continu-
anco Of tho throne Of Israel. Aftor u whilea
servant. standing on tho ton of the house.
looks on and secs somo ono running. He Is
coming with great speed. and thu man OH
the top Of tho house announces tho coming
OF tho messenger, and tho fathor watches
aud waits. md ns soon rs tho messenger
from tho fold Of baltic comes within hnilng
distance thp father cries out. Is 1t II qnos-
tton in regard to tho establishments OF his
throne? Does he Say: "Iiavh tho armies Of
1srnc, beon vctorious2 Am to continue in
my imperial authority? Have ovorthrown
my onomies" Oh. no! There Is ono oues-
tion that springs from his heart 10 tho lip
md springs from tho liz into tho ear OF tho
besweated and bcdMstol messenger 0ying
from tho battlofeld--tho question, els tho
young man Absalom saIe2" When it was
told to David, the king, that though his mr.
mics had been victorious. his son had been
slain, tho father turned his back upon tho
congratulations Of tho nation md went up
the stairs OF hts pals.oe. Iii, heart brnaking as
ho went. wringing his hands sometimes and
then again pressing them against his temples
ns though no would press them In. crying:
20 Absalom! my son! my son! Would to
God had died for thcc. O Absnlom! my
son! my son!"
My friends tho question which David, the
king. asked in regard to his son Is tho Ques-
tton that resounds to-day In tho hearts OF
hundreds of parents. Yen, thoro arc n great
multitude OF young mon who know that tho
question of tho toSt is appropriate when
asked In regard to them. They know the
temptations by which thoy aro surrounded.
They 500 so many who started lifo with as
good resolutions rs they have who have
fallon in the path, and they aro ready to
hear mo ask tho question OF my text, els tho
young man Absnlom snfc2" Tho fact Is that
1t without the grace Of God and q proper un-
derstnnding Of tho conflict into which ho Ia
going must certainly bo doioated. Just look
OIL upon society to-day. Look ut tho ship
wreck Of men for whom fnir things wero
promised and who started lifo with every ad-
vantage. Look at those who have dropped
from high social position and from great for
tuno, disgraced for timc, dsgraoed for etcr-
nifty. All who sacrifice thoir integrity como
to overthrow. Take dishonest dollar and
bury 1t In the center Of tho earth, and keep
NIL tho rocks of tho mountain on top of 1t:
thor cover these rocks with all the diamonds
OF Golcondn, and MI tho silver Of Nevada,
and MI tho gold Of California and Australia.
and put on tho top of these all banking and
moneyed institutions. and they cnnnot keep
down that ono dishonest dollar. That ono ais
honest dollar In tho center of tho earth will
heRin to- heave and rock and upturn itself un-
I'll 1t comes to the resurrection OF ,iamnation.
"As tho partridge sittoth or eggs and
and not by right shnll leave them In the
midst OF his days, aud at his end shall be Il
fool"
Now, what aro tho safeguards OF young
mon2 The first safeguard OF which want
to speak Is q love OF homo. Thoro aro those
who have no idea tho pleasures that oon-
contrate around that word "home." Per-
haps your early abode was shadowod with
Vice or poverty. Harsh words and petulance
and soowling may have destroyed oil tho
SanctitY OF that spot. Love- kindness and
self sacrifice. which have built their altars in
80 many abodes, were strangers In your
fathor's house. God pity You, Young man;
you neyor had q home. But a multitude In
this audionce can look back to a spot that
they can mover forgot 1t may havo boon u
lowly roof but you cannot think OF It now
without dash OF emotion. You have seen
nothing on earth that 80 stirred your soul.
A stranger passing along that place might
SEQ nothing remarkable about 1t but, oh! how
wall does not mean so much to you as those
rough hewn raftors. Parks and bowers and
trees on fashionable watering place or coun-
try seat do not moan so much 10 you rs that
brook that run in front OF the plain farm
house and singing under tho woeplng WILL
lows. Tho barred gateway swung opon by
porter In full dress does not mean as much
to you as that swing cato, your sister on ono
side Of 1t and you on the other, she gone flf-
toen years ago into glory; that scene coming
back to you to-day, rs YOU swept backward
and forward on the gato. singing tho songs
OF your childhood. But there arc those here
who have thoir second dwelling place It Is
your adopted home. Thut is also sacred
forever. There you established tho first
family altar. 1hore your children we're
death angel. Under that roo', when your
work is done, you expect to le down and
die. Thoro Is only ono word In all tho Inn
gnago that can convey your idca OF that
place, and that word Is "home"
Now, lot mo say That never know man
who was faithful to his early and adopted
home who was glvon over ut tho samo time
to any gross form OF wlekedness. II you
find moro enjoyment In tho club room, in
tho liternry society, in tho art salon, than
you do in thUso unpretending home pleas
urcs, you are on tho road to ruin. Though
you may bo cut of from your early asso-
ctates, nnd though you may bo separated
from all your kindred. young man, Is thore
not u room somewhere that you can cnll
your own? Though 1t DO tho fourth story
Of third-olass boarding house, into that
room gather books, pictures and II harp.
ma manteI. Bid qnholy mtrth stand back from