The morning times., 1896-06-22
COD IS N LITTLE THINGS.
Rev. Dr.. Talmage breaches
of the Sparr0w's Fall.
CARE FOR MEMS LIVES
Drew Lessons From the Thought
That God Counts the starry HOsts
and Numbers the Hairs of Mans
Head-He Fills the Universe,
and Guides Our Lives. ~

III
Rev. T. Dewitt Talmag ge preached at the
First Presbyterian Church yesterday morn
ing on the subject; THE Sparrow's Fan;
or God in Little Things His text was
taken from Matthews x: 20: Are not
two sparrows sold for a farthng? and
one of them shall not fall on the ground
without your Father
You see the Bible will not be limited In
the choice OF symbols. There is hardly q
beast, or bird, or insect, which has not
been called to illustrate some Divine truth
the ox's patience. the ants industry, tne
SPIDERS skill, the hind's surefootedness, the
eagles speed, the doves gentleness, and
even the sparrow's meanness and insig-
nificance. ht
In oriental countries none but the poorest
people buy the sparrow and eat it-so
very little meat is there on the bones, and
SO very poor is it, what there tsof 1t. The
comfortable population would not think OF
touching it any more than you would
think of eating bat or iamprey. Now.
says Jesus, If God takes such good care
of a poor bird that is not worth a cent,
will he not care for you, an immortal?
We associate God with revolutions. We
can see a Divine purpose In the discovery
OF America, In the invention Of the art OF
printing, in the exposure or tile gunpowder
plot, in the contrivance OF the needle gun,
in the rum OF an Austrian or Napoleonic
despotism; but how hard it is to see God
In the minute personal affairs OF our lives.
We think of God as making a record
OF the starry host, but cannot realize the
Bible truth that He knows how many hairs
are on our head. II seems a grand thing
that God provided food for hundreds of thou
sands of Israelites in the desert; but we
cannot appreciate the truth that, when q
sparrow is hungry God stoops down and
opens its mouth and puts the seed in.
FILLS TIE UNIVERSE. 4
We are struck with the idea that God
fills the universe with His presence, but
cannot understand how He encanps in the
crystal palace of a de wdrop, or finds room
to stand between the alabaster pillars
OF the pond lily We can see God in the
clouds. Can we see God in these flowers
at our feet?
We are apt to place God on some great
stage-or to try to do it-expecting Him
there to act out His stupendous projects;
but we forget that the life of a Cromwell.
an Alexander or a Washington or an arch
angel is not more under Divine inspection
than your life or mine.
Pompey thought there must be mist
over the eyes of God because He so much
favored Caesar. But there is no such mist.
He sees everything. We say Gods path is
in the great waters. True enough; but no
more certainly than He is in tie water in
the glass on the table. We say God guides
the stars in their courses.
Magnificent truth, but no more certain
truth than that He decides which road
or street you shall take in coming to
church Understand that Gcd does not
cir ~ iphifserppt m n efiC
throne. but that He sits down beside You
today. and stands beside ne today. and no.
affair Of our lives is SO Insignificant but
that it lis of Importance to God.
CHOOSES OUR OCCUPATION.
In the first place. Gcd chooses our occu-
patiun for us l am amazcd to see how
many people there arc, dissatisfied with
the w,rk they have to do.
1 think three-fCurths wish they were in
some other occupation. and they spend
great deal or time in Tegretting that they
got in the wrong trade or profession. I
want to tell you that God put into opera
tion all the influences which led you to
that particular choice. Many of you are
not in the business that you expected to
be in.
Ycu started for the ministry and learned
merchandise: y,u started for the law and
you are u physician; you preferred agri-
culture and you became mechanic. You
thoughtone way; God dthoughtanother. But
you ought not to sit down and mourn over
the past. You are to remember that God
arranged all these circumstances by which
you were made what you are.
remark further that God has arranged
the place of our dwelling. What particu-
lar city or town, street or house you shall
live in seems TO be mere matter Of acci-
dent. You go out to hunt sfor a house,
and you happen to pass up certain street,
and happen TO see sign, and you select
that house. Was it all happening so? Oh,
no!
God guided you I'm every step. He foresaw
tlefuture. He knew all your circumsta noes,
and He selected Just that one house as
better for you than any OF the ten thou
sand habitatioDs in the city. Our house,
however humble the roof and however low
ly the portals, is as near Gods heart as an
Alhambra or Kremlin. Prove II, you
say. Proverbs 3:33, He blesseth the
habitation Of the JUST
remark further that God arranges all
our friendships. You were driven TO the
wall. You found a man just at that crisis
who sympathized with you and helped
you. You say, How lucky wasv'
There was no luck about it. God sent
that friend Just as certainly as He sent the
angel TO strengthen Christ.
Your domestic friends. your business
friends, your Christian friends, God sent
them to bless you, and If any of them have
proved trailorous, it is only to bring
out the value OF those who remain. II some
die, 1t is only that they may stand at
the outposts of heaven to greet you at
your Coming.
1 remark again. that God puts down the
limit to our temporal prosperity. The
world of finance seems to have no God in
1t. You cannot tell where a man will land.
The affluent fall; the poor rise. The in.
genious fail; the ignorant succeed An
enterprise opening grandly. shuts in bank
ruptcy, while OF the peat dug up from
some New Eng and marsh the millionaire
builds his fortune.
The poor man thinks 1t is chance that
keeps him down: the rich man thinks It Is
chance which hoists him; and they are
both wrong. 1t is hard to realize that
God rules the money MARKET and has q
hook in the nose of the stock gambler, and
that all the commercial revolutions OF the
world shall result in the very best for Gods
dear children.
OUGHT NOT TO FRET.
There are two things, says an old pro-
verb, you ought not to fret about: First,
things that you can help: and second
things which you cannot help. II you can
help them, why do you not apply the
remedy? II you cannot help them, you
might as well surrender first as last. NY
dear brethren, do not sit any longer mop
ing about your ledger.
IN nnt 1onEinO Gn