Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-12-04
REV. DR. TALMAGE.
The Eminent Washington pivine's
Sunday Sermon.
Subject: young Men Challenged to
Nobility"

One morning in Dothan d young theo-
logical student was scared by finding himself
and Elisha the prophet, upon whom he
waited, surrounded by whole army Of
enemies. But venerable Elisha was not
scared at all because he saw the mountAins
full OF defense for him In chariots made OF
fire, drawn by horses OF flre-a supernatural
appearance that could not be seen with the
natural eye. So the old minister prayed
that the young minister might see them also,
and the prayer was answered, and the Lord
opened the eyes Of the young man, and he
also saw the fiery procession, looking some.
what. suppose, like the Adirondacks or the
Alleghanies In autumnal resplendence. -
Many young men, standing among the
most tremendous realities. have their eyes
half shut or entirely closed May God grant
that my sermon may open wide your eyes to
tiny
A mighty defense for young man is q
good home. Some Of my hearers look back
with tender satisfaction to their early home
1t may have teen rude and rustic hidden
among the bills, and architect or upholsferer
never planned or adorned 1t. But all the
fresco on princelY walls never looked so en-
ticing to you as those rough hewn rafters.
You can think of no park or arbor OF trees
planted on fashionable country seat so at
tractive as the plain brook that ran In front
Of the old farmhouse and sang under the
weeping willows No barred gateway
adorned with statue OF bronze and
swung open by obsequious por,er in
full dress has half the glory OF the old
swing gate. Many OF you have second
dwelling place--your adopted home-that
also Is sacred forever. There you built the
first family altar. There your children we're
born. All those trees you planted. That
room Is solemn because once in 1t, over the
hot pillow, tapped the wing Of death. I'M
der that roof you expect when your work is
done to lie down and die. You try with
many words TO tell the excellency OF the
place, but you fail. There Is only one word
In the language that can describe your
meaning. 1t is home.
Now, l declare 1t, that Young man Is COM
paratively safe who goes out into the world
with charm like this upon him. The mem.
DRY OF parental soicltude, watching, plan.
ming and praying will be 10 him shield and
shelter. never knew man faithful both
to his early and adopted home who at the
same time was given over to any gross form
of dissipation or wlckedness. He who seeks
his enjoyment chiefly from outside nssocia-
ton rather than from the more quiet
and unpresuming pleasures Of With l
have spoken may be suspected 10 be
on the broad roal to ruin. Absa-
lom desplsed his fathers house. and you
know his history OF Elm and bis death OF
shame. If you seem unnecessarily isolateh
from your kindled and former associates is
there not some room that you can call your
own9 Into it gather books and pictures and
a harp. Have portrait over the mantel.
Make ungodly mirth stand back from the
Ia IL.
knee of prayer. By the memory Of other
days, fathers counsel, and mothers love.
nd sisters confidence, cal it home.
Another defense for young man is indus
trious habits. Many young men in starting
upon life in this age expect to make their
way through the world by the use OF their
wits rather than the toll Of their hands. A
boy now goes to the city and fails twice be.
fore he is as old as his father was when he first
saw the spires of the great town. Sitting in
some office rented at $1,000 year. he is
waiting for the bank to declare its dividend
or goes into the market expecting before
night TO be made rich by the rushing up of
the stocks. But luck seemed SO dull he re-
solved on some other tack. Perhaps he
borrowed from his employer money drawer
md forgets to put it back, or for merely the
urpose OF improving his penmanship makes
q copy plato of merchants signature.
Never mind. ALI is right in trade. In some
dark night there may come In his dreams
vision OF the peniientiary, but 1t
soon vanshes. In a short time he will be
ready to retire from the busy world, and
amid his fiocks and herds cultivate the do
nestle virtues. Then those young men who
onco were bis schoolmates and knew no BET
ter than to engage in honest work will como
with their OK teams to draw him logs and
hO hon 20 hn1x@ /. L.
castle. This is no fancy picture 1t Is
everyday life. should not wonder II there
were some rotten beams in that beautiful
palace. Ishou!d not wonder il dire sickness
should smite through tho young man, or II
God should pour into his cup OF life a
draft that would thrill him with unbearable
agony; IL his children should become to him
4 living curse, making his homo pest and L
disgrace. should not wonder If he goes to
u miser be grave and beyond It into the
Of teeth. The way Of the ungodly
shall perish.
Fly young friends, there Is no way to
E nuine success except through foil either
Of head or han. At the battle OF Crecy in
l346 the Prince OF Wales, finding himself
heavily pressed by the enemy, sent word 10
lis father for help. The father, watching
be battle from windmill. and seeing his
sou was not wounded and could gain tho
day IL he would, sent word: "No. will not
'ome. Let the boy win his spurs. for, ifGod
will, desire that this day be his with all its
onors." Young man, fight your own battle
III through and you shall have the victory.
)b, it is battle worth fghhng Two
nonarchs OF old fought duel, Charles Y
md Francis, and the stakes were Kingdoms,
lilan and Burgundy. You fight with sin
nd the stake Is heaven or hell.
Do not get the fatal idea that you are q |
,enius and that. therefore, there is no need |
4 close application. 1t Is hero where null
itudes fail. The curse OF this age is tho |
with enormous self conceit
nd egotism aud nothing else I had |
ather be an OK than I'm eagle; plain and
Holding and useful rather than high n.y. |
ng and good for nothing but 10 pick out |
he eyes OF carcasses. Extraordinary ca
acity without work is extraordinary fail |
re. There is no hope for that person who |
egins life resolved to live by his wits, for
be probability is that he has not any. 1t |
Tas not safe for Adam, even In his unfalen |
ate, TO have nothing 10 do, and, therefore
cd commanded him to be farmer and
orticuturist. He was to dress the garden
nd keep II, and had he and his wife obeyed
le divine Injunction and leen at work they
ould not have been SCATTERING under the
ees and hankering after that fruit which
estroyed them and their posterlty-a proof
ositive for all ages to come that those who
D not attend their business are sure to get
ITO mischief.
l do not know That the prodigal In Scrip
Ire would ever have been reclaimed had he
ot given up his idle habits and gene to
eding swine for living. The devil does
d SO often attack the man who is busy
it'll the pen. and the book, and the trowel
nd the saw, and the hammer. He is afraid
f those weapons. But woe to the man
HON the roaring lion meets with his hands
! his pockets.