The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1896-07-17
LAME ON BOTH FEET.
THIS is THE BIBLE IDEA AND DEFINI-
TON OF SIN.

Rev. DIR. Talmage breaches Upon ''Klnd-
ness For Another's Sake"-Novel Presen-
tation of the Theories of Ruin and Res
toration.
WASHINGTON, July 12.-Dr. Tai
mage's sermon of today is vivid and
novel presentation of the theories Of
ruin and restoration. The Bible scene
described is dramatic. His text was II
Samuel tx, / and 10: sis there yet any
that is left of the house of Saul, that I
may show him kindness for Jonathan's
sake? So Mephibosheth dwelt in
Jerusalem, for he did eat continually at
the kings table and was lame on both
his feet"
Was there ever anything more roman
tic and chivalrous than the love of
David and Jonathan? At one time JON
athan was up and David was down.
Now David is up and Jonathan's family
Is down. AS you have often heard of
two soldiers before going into battle
making a covenant that if one is shot
the survivor will take charge of the
body, the watch, the mementos and
perhaps of the bereft family of the one
that dies, so David and Jonathan had
made covenant, and now that Jona-
than is dead David is inquiring about
his family, that he may show kindness
INTO them for their father Jonathan's
sake.
Careful search is made, and a son of
Jonathan by the dreadfully homely
name of Mephibosheth is found. His
nurse, in his infancy, had let him fall,
and the fall had put both his ankles out
of place, and they had never been set.
This decrepit, poor man is brought into
The palace of King David. David looks
upon him with melting tenderness, no
doubt seeing in his face resemblance
to his old friend, the deceased Jonathan.
The whole bearing of King David to-
ward him seems to say: "How glad /
am to see you, Mephiboshethl How you
remind me of your father, my old friend
your father good many years ago, and
am going to keep it with you. What
can do for you, Mephibosheth? I am
resolved what to dol will make you a
rich man. will restore to you the con-
fiscated property of your grandfather
Saul, and you shall be guest of mine
as long as you live, and you shall be
seated at my table among the princes. "
1t was too much for Mephibosheth, and
he cried out against it, calling himself
dead dog. "Be still, =" says David, II
dom do this on your own account; l do
this for your father Jonathan's sake. I
can never forget his kindness. l remem-
Der when 1 was bounded from place to
place how he befriended me. Can ever
forget how he stripped himself of his
courtier apparel and gave it to me in
stead of my shepherds coat, and how
he took off his own sword and belt and
gave them to me instead of my sling?
Oh, can never forget him l feel as if
couldn't do enough for you, his son.
don't do it for your sake; l do it for
your father Jonathan's sake. " $50
Mephlbosheth dwelt in Jerusalem, for
he did eat continually at the kings ia
BILE and was lame on both his feet. "
There is so much gospel in this quaint
incident that l am embarrassed to know
where to begin. Whom do Mephibosheth
and David and Jonathan make you
think of?
Disabled.
Mephibosheth in the first place,
stands for the disabled human soul.
Lord Byron describes sin as a charming
recklessness, as a gallantry, as Don
Juan; George Sand describes sin as tri
npmhant in many intricate plots; GA
varni, with his engraver's knife, always
shows sin as a great jocularity; but the
Bible presents it as Mephibosheth,
lame on both feet. Sin, like the nurse
in the context, attempted to carry US
and let us fall, and we have been dis
abled, and in our whole moral nature
we are decrepit Sometimes theologians
haggle about technicality. They use
the words total depravity," and some
people believe in the doctrine, and some
reject it. What do you mean by total
depravity? Do you mean that every man
is AS bad as he can be? Then, do not
believe it either. But do you mean that
sin has let us fall; that it has scarified
and disabled and crippled our entire
moral nature until we cannot walk
straight and are lame in both feet?
Then admit your proposition. There
is not so much difference in an African
jungle-with barking, bowling kissing,
fighting quadruped and reptile, and
paradise, with its animals coming before
Adam, when he patted them and stroked
them and gave them names, so that the
panther was as tame as the COW and the |
condor as tame as the dove-as there is
between the human soul disabled and |
that soul as God originally constructed |
it. / do not care what the sentimental |
lists or the poets say in regard to sin. In |
the name of God, declare to you today |
that sin is disorganization, disintegra-
ton, CHASTITY designation, hobbling de-
formity.
Your modern theologian tells you
that man is a little out of sorts; he |
sometimes thinks wrong; he sometimes
does wrong; indeed his nature needs a |
little moral surgery, an outside splint,
q slight compress, a little rectificatioD. |
Religion is a good thing to have; it
might some day come into use Man is |