The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-11-28
DR.. TALMAGES SERMON.
SEEKING SAFETY.
some Timely Advics to Young men-Bs
on the Rizht Side.

/
| criticism. From the crown OF his head 10
tha sole OF his foot there was not n single
blemish The Bible says that he had such a
uvuriant shock Of hair that when once n
year II was shorn. what was cut OF weighed
over three pounds. But Notwithstanding all
his brilliancy OF appearance he was a bad
boy. and broke his fathers heart He was
plotting to get the throne Of Israel. He had
+ narshaled an armyto overthrow his fathers
government. The day Of battle had come.
The conflict was begun. David. the father.
sat between the gates ot the palace waiting
for the tidings of the conflict. Oh, how
nrdly his heart beat with emotion.
The two great questions were 20 be decid-
ti-the safety OF his boy and the oontinu-
,nce OF the throne OF Israel. After a while a
rrvant. standing on the top Of the house,
looks of and sees some one running. He is
coming with great speed. and the man on
he top OF the house announces the coming
q the messenger, and the fHther watches
,ni waits. and rs soon as the messenger
Rom the field OF battle comes within hailing
Asiauce the father cries out. Is Il n ques-
bon In regard to the establishment of his
throne? Does he say: "IIave the armies OF
israel been victoriousl Am to continue in
Nv imperial authority? Have ovcrthrown
nv enemies2" Oh. no. There Is one ques-
don that springs from his heart 20 the lin.
Nd springs from the Lip into the ear Of the
sssveated and hedusted messenger flying
tpm the battlefeld-the question, as the
vcung man Absalom safe2" When Il was
oli 20 David. the king, that. though his ar.
rles had been victorious, his son had been
lain. the father turned his back upon the
Ongratulations of the nation and went up
be stairs OF his palace. his heart breaking as
went, wringing his hands sometimes and
ben again pressing them against his temples
sihough he would press them in, crying.
o Absalom. my son! my sonl Would 10
God had died for thee. o Absaloml my
pnl my son"
Nv friends. the question which David. the
lng, asked in regard 20 his son is the dues-
On that resounds to-day in the hearts o.
undreds OF parents. Yea, there are a great
tultitude OF young men who know that the
gestion OF the text is appropriate when
ssei in regard TO them. They know the
tnp,ations by which they ara surrounded.
|hey see so many who started life with rs
ood resolutions as they have who have
i.en in the path, and they are ready 10
sar me ask the question of my text, "Is the
Oung man Absalom safe?' Tho fact l. TINT
bis life Is full of peril. He who undertakes
without the grace Of God and proper un-
srtiuding Of tho conflict into which he is
'ng must certainly be defeated. just look
fup0n society to-day. Look at the shin
|reok of men for whom fair things were
pnised and who started life with every adj
|anage Look at those who have dropped
bon high social position and from great for
ne disgraced for time. disgraced for eter-
ty. All who sacrifice their integrity come
overthrow. Take a dishonest dollar aud
ly It in the center OF the earth. aud keep
the rocks Of the mountain on top of II:
ler cover these rocks with all the diamonds
IG0lconda, and all the silver OF Nevada,
nl all the gold OF California and Australia.
ni put on the top OF these all banking and
I0neyed institutions. and they cannot keen
En that one dishonest dollar That one ais
I, onest dollar in the center Of the earth will
Rgn 10 heave and rock and upturn itself un-
comes to the resurrection Of damnation.
k the partridge sitteth on eggs and
!. l,Cheth them not. so he that gctteth riches
d not by right shall leave them In the
"a Iist Of his days, and at his end shall be u
b."
a Now, what are the safeguards OF Young
il The first safeguard of which want
speak is a love OF home. There are those
b have no idea Of the pleasures that con-
n, tirate around that word "home." Per-
n y your early abode was shadowed with
Or poverty Harsh words aud petulance
scOwling may have destroyed all the
n, tciiy OF that spot Love. kindness and
~ isa'rllce which have built their altars in
many abodes, were strangers in your
lef house. God pity you. young man;
IA, never had home. But a multitude in
h audience can look back 20 Il spot that
can never forget. 1t may have been u
Ny roof, but you cannot think OF IL now
~ hlut dash of emotion. You have seen
hinc on earth that go stirred your soul
vi Ranger passing along that place might
nothing remarkable about IL bur, oh, how
"a % II means TO you. Fresco on palace
"a, docs not mean SO much to you rs those
,s, "a hewn rafters. Parks and bowers and
!, : on iashionable watering place or coun-
.at go not mean so much to you as that
.a ihat ran in front of the plain farm
Ia ~ all singing under the weeping will
W. The barred gateway swung open by
y, -r IN iull dress does not mean as much
,m, ol as that swing gate, your sister on one
~, 1'l aud you on the other, she gone ilf-
,H' years ago into glory; that scene coming
10 70 you to-day, as YOU swept backward
,rh Onward on the gate, singing the songs
i, w Tchildhood. But there are those here
~ nave their second dwelling place. Ii is
=, adopted home. That is also sacred
NJ. er There you established the first
"a Wy altar. There your children were
.a, IN that room Mapped the wing OF the
~ -hgel. Under that roof, when your
Is done, you expect TO lie down and
There is only one word in all the Ian
iEU mat can convey your idea of that
= ana that word is ''home."
min, Nlet me say that never know man
b. was faithful TO his early aud adopted
man VINO was given over at the same time
-, |! gross form of wickedness. II you
'@' lore enjoyment in the club room, In
n0N Ssmry society, in the art salon, than
Ns 10 IN these unpretending home pleas
~, A YOU are on the road to ruin. Though
i "a. may be cut off from your carly asso-
= N aha though you may be separated
90. "' your kindred, young man, Is there
,rs room somewhere that you can call
- .Nht Though 1t be the fourth story
'nlrd-elass boarding house, into that
Ia sa'her books, pictures ald harp.
:, your mothers portrait over the
. BID unholy mirth stand back from
~ threshold. Consecrate somC spot In
-1o| yoh with the knee of prayer BY the
SSs ,y OF other days, fathers counsel,
T,, sIove and a sisters confidence, call
Ga .s,s .aer safeguard for these young men Is
As nous habits. There are great
people trying to make their way
gu lhe world with their wits instead Of
w. toll There Is young man who
hens rom the country to the city. He
ID. asl S'ye before he is as old as his father
,Iul 1yI ~ nc iirst saw the spires of the great
lpd ne Is seated In his room at rent of
iIsRs year, waiting for the banks TO de-
Na A..