The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-02-07
'DR. TALMAGES SERMON
WHEN TO Do GOOD.
discourse on the Rirht Use OF op.
portunities.

A Danver years ago an audience had as
,nhled for divine worship. Tho pastor o,
: church for whom was 20 preach that
~. Interested In the seating of the peo-
! stood in the pulpit looking from side "a
IA and when no more peonle could be
swied within the walls he turned 10 me
"A said with startling emphasis. "what an
,nort,frityl' Immediately tha tword began
enlarge. and while hymn was being sung
eyery stanza the word opportunity
,,i,lv and nightly unfolded. and while the
,sning prayer was being made the word
lei up into Alps aud Himalayas Of mean-
z and spread ont into other latitudes and
,qtudcs OF significance until IL became
and u still grew I'm altitude and
conference until Il enclrclei other words
Il .yvopt out and on and around until IL
i az big as eternity. Nevor since have
IA or heard that word without being
,,lei with its magnitude and momentum.
,orunity, Although In the text 20 some
NAV seem n mild and quiet note, I'm the
bal. gospel harmony u IL staccato pas-
~ I, IL one ~ the loveliest and awfulast
ne in our Language % more than 100. 900
,is Of English vocabulary. "As we have
|n9uunity. let us do good"
Eyhat is an opportunity? The lexicocrapher
|uid coolly tell you IL is a conjunction Of
,rahle circumstances for accomplishing a
|rrasr. but words cannot tell what II IL.
r. 1000 years to manufacture q definition.
Il YOU could not successfully describe Il
II rtunity' The measuring rod with which
angel ot the Apocalypse measured heaven
"A not measure this pivotal word Of my
stand on the edge 81 the precipice Of
tine and let down the fathoming line
! 4 under hand and tower down and lower
m and for n quintillion of years le. IL
and the lead will not strike bottom. Op-
| .lnty' But while ] do not attempt to
3Isure or define the word will. God help
me-. take the responsibility Of telling you
cthing about opportunity.
rst. IL is very swift in IT, motions. Some
within one minute IL starts from tho
me of God. sweeps around the earth and
! 'ends the throne from which II started,
hin less than sixty seconds IL fulfilled its
zion.
the second place. opportunity never
"a back. Perhaps an opportunity very
n ike II may arrive, but that one never,
iralists tell us of insects which are born.
their mission and expire In an hour.
many opportunities die 80 soon after
are born that their hrpvity Of life IL In
uabo What most amaZe3 me IL that op-
nnities do such overshadowing, far
|ning aud tremendous work In such short
bly, allowance. You are business man
large experience. The past eighteen
ihs have been hard on business men. A
g merchant Mt his wits end came into
Office or your house. and YOU said:
nes are hard now. but better DAYS will
have seen things Ms bad or worse,
Hye got out. and we will get out Of this.
brightest dnvs that this country ever saw
et to come" The young man 70 whom
Ssid that was ready for suicide or some
w0rse-nameiy. fraudulent turn TO
Out Of HIS despairful position. Your
iulnesS inspired him for all time. and
years after you are dead he will be
ng the advantage Of your optimism.
opportunity TO do that one thing for
Young man was not half as long as the
have taken 10 rehearse IL.
yonder third gallery you sit, a man Of
world. but you wish everybody well.
the clerks are standing round in Your
or the men In your factory are taking
noon spell. some one says; "Have you
that one OF our men has been con-
st the revival meeting In the
odist church," While 1t is being talked
YOU say: "Well, do not believe In re-
Those things 60 not last. People
xcited and Join the church and are no
than they were before. wish our
kou1d keep away from those meetings"
10 know, o man. what you did In that
be Of depreciation? There were two
men in that group who that night
have gone to those meetings and
saved for this world and the next, but
decided them not to go. They are
natures. They already drink more
good for them and are disposed to be
From tho time they heard you say
hey accelerated their steps on the down
mad. In ten wears they will he through
their designations and pass into the
beyond. That little talk Of yours de-
their destiny for this world and the
You had an opportunity that you mis-
|yed, and how will you feel when YOU
ut those two lmmortals In the last
ent and they tell you OF that unfortu-
falk OF yours that 1uuR them over the
iett 9 man Of the world. why did you
y in that noon spell OF conversation:
am glad that man has got re-
wish had II myself. Let us all 20
ht. Come on. l will meet you at the
door at s o'elock?" You see, YOU
have taken them all TO heaven, and
ould have got there yourself. 0ppor-
lost!
day left our country home to look
ryself We rodo across the country, and
her was driving. or course / said
X that implied how felt. But there !
pndncds OF men here who from their |
fperience know how felt. At such a |
young man must be hopeful and even |
tnt to get into the battle of life for |
but to leave the homestead where |
hing has been done for you, your father |
brothers taking your part when you |
npose'l on by larger boys, and your |
always around when you got the cold |
ustard applications for the chest or |
10 make you sweat OFF the fever and |
ilxtsres in the cup by the bed 10 stop |
IN, taking sometimes too much OF Il |
II was pleasant to take. and then to |
with no one TO stand between YOU |
world, gives one a choking sensation |
hroat and n home sickness before YOU |
n three miles away from the old folks,
vas on the day l spoke OF silence for |
while, and then my father began 10 |
good tho Lord had been to him in |
and in health. and when times Of |
came how Providence had always |
the means Of livelihood for the |
usehold, and he wound up by say
VIII, have always found IL safe to |
Lord My father has been dead |
van, but in all the crises Of my life
r. have been many OF them-I have
mighty boost Of that lesson In the
Won, "De Witt | have always found |
70 trust the Lord The fact was my
Il.
one reason why am an enthusias-
~ ot all Young Mems Christian As
ms They get hold of so many young
arriving IN the city and while they
lmpIassionable, and II is the best OPP