Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-10-24
THE HARVEST FIELD.
1T INSPIRES DR.. TALMAGE's SERMON
ON GOSPEL FARMING.

Noah the First Farmer-The Honor to
Agriculture Of the Ages-Deep Flowing
For "a Soul The Straight Turrow With
Gods Red Standard as Guide.
WASHINGTON, Oct. ls.-This sermon at
this season, after most people have had u
good, long breath Of the country, If they
do not actually live there, will revive many
pleasant memories. while it deals with
great religious truths. DIR. Talmage's text
was John Nv. /, My Father is the hus
bandman."
This last summer. having gone in diff
fcrent directions over between five and six
thousand miles Of harvest fields, l can
hardly open my Bible without smelling
the breath of new mown hay and seeing
the golden light of the wheatileld. and
when open my Bible to take my text the
Scripture leaf rustles like the tasscls of the
corn.
We were nearly all Of us born In the
country We dropped corn in the hill and
went on Saturday tn the mill, tying the
grisi in the center Of the sack 50 that the
contents ON either side the horse balanced
each other, and drove the cattle afleld. our
with the halter to the brook until we fell
OF. and hunted the NOW for nests until
the fcathcrUd occupants went cackling
away. We were nearly all of us born in
the country. and all would have staid there
had not some adventurous lad on his vaca,
ton come hack with better clothes and
softer hands and set the whole village ON
fire with ambition for city life. so we all
understand rustic illusions. The Bible is
full Of them. In Christs sermon on the
mount you could see the fun blown lilies
and the glossy black Of the crow wing rs
it flies over Mount olivct. David and
John Paul and Isaiah find in country life
source of frequent illustration, while
Christ in the text takes the responsibility
Of calling God farmer, declaring, My
Father Is the husbandman.
The Earth Was Noah's Farm.
Noah was the first farmer We say moth.
| ing about Cain, the til!cr of the soil.
Adam was gardener on IA large scale, hut
To Noah was given all the acres Of the
earth. Elisha was an agriculturist, moi
cultivating ten acre lot, for we find him
blowing with IL yoke of oxen. In Bill,
times the land was 50 plenty and the in
| habitants So few that Noah was right whcI
he gave to every inhahitant a certain por
ton of land: that land. II cultivated, evci
after to- bc his own possession, just rs II
4 Nebraska the nitcd States government
ON lnynsnt Of SID wears ago gave pre-
cmption right Ia leo acres 10 any mar
| who would settle there and cultivate III,
soil.
All classes Of people were expected t'
cultivate ground except ministers of n
/ lgion. II was supposed that they wodl,
/ have their time entirely occupied Will
their own profession, although am told
that sometimes ministers do plunge st
deeply into worldlincss that they rmin,
one OF what Thomas Fraser said in regart
tn "A man in his day who preached verl
well. hut lived very i'll. when he Is ou
of the pulpit, 1t is "a pity lie should ever -
into IT, and when he is in the pulpit. it is
vsty hc should ever come out Of 1t.
They were not small crops raised il
those times. for though the arts Were rude
the plow turned up very rich soil. ant
barley ard cotton and flax and all kind
of grain came upat the call of The harvest
ers Pliny tells of one stalk OF grain tina
had on il between thnc and four hundrc,
ears. The rivers and the brooks, through
artificial channels, were brought down q
| the roots Of the corn, and IL this habit %
turning river wherever il was wantc'
solomon refers when he says, The king
heart is in the hand Of the Lord, and b
turneth IL as the rivers of water are turned
whithersoever he Will -