Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1895-07-27
GOSPEL OF CONTENT.
REV. DR.. TaLMAGE ON THE RELIGION
FOR ORDINARY PEOPLE.

TO Aalks; Attention to the Rank and Fill.
Rather Than to the Few-The Disad
vantages of Bcing Conspicuous - Tho
Blessing of Content.
I New York, July 21.-Rev. DR.. Tai
mage, who is still absent on his annual
midsummer tour, preaching and lectur-
ing, haslpreparod for today q sermon on
"Plain People,, topic which will ap-
peal to d very large majority Of readers
anywhefe. The text selected was Ro-
mans xvi, Il, 10, Salute Asyncritus,
Phlegon, Hermos, 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 20 peo-
pie mentioncd in the chapter were dis
tinguished for something and were
therefore discussed by the illustrious ex-
positors, but nothing is said about Asyn-
critus, 3Phlogon, Hermas, Patrobas,
Hermess Philologus and Julia. Where
were they born? No one knows. Where
did they die? There is no record of
their decease. For what were they dis
tinguished? Absolutely for nothing, or
the trait of character would have been
broughtfout by the apostle. If they had
been very intrepid or opulent or hir
suite or hnusical Of cadence Or Grass of
style or in anywise anomalous, that
feature would have been caught by the
apostolis camera. But they were good
people,. because Panl 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 a religion
for ordinary people. If there be in the
United States $1,000, 900 people, there
are certainly not more than 1000, 600
extraordinary, and then there are 64,
900, 600 ordinary. and we do well to
turn our, backs for little while upon
the distinguished and conspicuous peo-
plo of the Bible and consider In our text
tho seven ordinary. We spend too much
of our time in twisting garlands for re-
marlablesand building thrones for mag
mates and sculpturing warriors and
apothecsizing philanthropists The rank
and file of the Lord soldiery need es-
pecial help.
The vast majority of people to whom
this sermon comes will never lead an
army, Will never write state constitu-
ton, will never electrify 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 Moses to lead
nation out of bondage You will not be
a 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 n Christ
You will moro probably be Asyncritus
or Phles2n or Hermas or Patrobas or
Herm aPhilologus or Julia
->,..,o..o.us.
Of hoq ol1sds This morning you IauuUn-
ed the tamily for Sabbath observance.
Your brain decided the apparel, and
YOUR Judgment was final Oh all ques-
tions of personal attire. Every morning
you plan for the day. Tho culinary de-
partlnent 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 tho 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 d.
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-
uesian cannibals. 1t does not help you
much to be told that Florence Nightln-
gale was very kind to the wounded III
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 al ordinary housekeeper
from morn till night, and from the first
day of the year to the last day of the
wear 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 GRAND
amid the taverns 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 in astronomy, she Is not
we'll educated unless she has taken les
sons 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 1t
matter of little importance-the cares
of the household and the economies OF
domestic life--but I tell you the earth
is strewn with the martyrs of kitchen
and nursery. The health shattered wom-
.,,bood of America cries out for God
who can help ordinary women III the
ordinary duties of housekeeping. Inc
wearing, grinding, unappreciated work
goes on, but the sane Christ who stood
on tho bank of Gu: &c in the early
morning and kindled tie fire and had
the fish already cleaned and broil1n9
when the sportsmen stepped ashore
chilled and hungry, will help every
woman to prepare breakfast, whether