The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-01-09
REV. DIR. TALMAGE.
The Eminent Divine's Sermon De-
uyered In Washington.
Subject; 'sYoupg Men Challenged to
Nobility,o

Nobtlttys1
TEXT: "And the Lord opened the eyes Of
the young man. III Kings VI, II.
One morning in Dothan a 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 fire-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.
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
good home. Some OF my hearers look back
with tender satisfaction to their early home.
1t may have been rude and rustic, hidden
among the hills, and architect or upholsterer
never planned or adorned 1t. But all the
freseo 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.
traetive 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 porter 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 were
born. All those trees you planted. That
room is solemn because once In it, 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 excallency OF the
place, but you fail. There is only one word
In the language that can describe your
meaning. 1t is home.
Now, declare it, that young man Is com.
paratively safe who goes out into the world
with charm like this upon him. The mem
DRY OF parental solictude, watching, PLAN
ming and praying will be to him a shield and
shelter. Ineyer know man faithful both
10 his early and adopted home who at the
same time was given over to any gross form
OF dissipation or wickedness. He who seeks
his enjoyment chiefly from outside associa.
I'm Ao'nei tnan 'loin .tuo more qulet
and unpresuming pleasures Of whilh
have spoken may be suspected to be
on the broad road to ruin. Absa.
lom despised his fathers house. and you
know his history OF Sin and his death of
shame. II you seem unnecessarily isolated
from your kindred and former associates is
there not some room that you can call your
own? Into 1t gather books and pictures and
harp. Have portrait over the mantel.
Make nUOnAfv rDirSh Of aaf> bo
threshold. Consecrate some spot with the
knee OF prayer. By the memory Of other
days, fathers counsel, and mothers love,
and sisters confidence, call 1t home.
Another defense for a young man is indus
trious habits. Many young men in starting
upon LIE 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 cid as his father was when he first
saw the spires OF the great town. Sitting In
some office rented at $1,000 a 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 bis employers money drawer
and forgets to put 1t back, or for merely the
purpose OF improving his penmanship makes
q copy plate OF a merchants signature
Never mind. All Is right In trade. In some
dark night there may come In his dreams
a vision Of the penitentiary, but 1t
soon yanishes. In q short time he will be
ready. to retire from the busy world, and
amid his flocks and herds cultivate the do
mestic virtues. Then those young men who
once were bis schoolmates and knew no bet
ter than to engage In honest work win come
with their OK teams to draw him logs and
with their hard hands TO help heave up his
castle. This Is no fancy picture. It is
everyday life. I should not wonder II there
were some rotten beams Ia that beautiful
palace. Ishould not wonder II dire sickness
should smite through the young man, or II
God should pour into his cup of life q
draft that would thrill him with unbearable
agony; II his children should become to him
living curse, making his homo pest and
disgrace should not wonder If he goes TO
miserable grave and beyond it into the
crashing OF teeth. The way OF the ungodly
shall perish.
genuine success except through toll either
OF head or hand. At the battle Of Crecy in
l346 the Prince Of Wales, finding himself
heavily pressed by the enemy, sent word 10
his father for help. The father, watching
the battle from windmill. and seeing his
SON was not wounded and could gain the
cay II be would, sent word: mo. will not
come. Let the boy win his spurs. for, flood
will, desire that this day be his with oil its
honors." Young man, fight your own battle
all through and you shall have the victory,
Oh, it is battle worth fighting! Two
monarchs OF old fought duel, Charles V
and Francis, and the stakes were Kingdoms,
Milan and Burgundy. You fight with sin
and the stake Is heaven or hell.
Do not get the fatal idea that you are n
genius and that. therefore, there is no need
OF close application, 1t Is here where null
,Nudes TAIL the curse OF this age is tho
genirses--naen with enormous self conceit
ari egotism and nothing else I had
rather be an OK than an eagle; plain and
piodding and useful rather than high fly
ing and good for nothing but to pick out
the eyes OF carcasses. Extraordinary ca
paclty without work Is extraordinary fall
ure. There is no hope for that person who
begins life resolved 10 live by his wits, for
me probability is that he has not any. 1t
was not safe for Adam, even in his unfallen
State, to have nothing TO do, and therefore
God commanded him to be q farmer and
horticulturist. He was to dress the garden
and keep II, and had he and his wife obeyed
the divine injunction and been at work they
would not have been sauntering under the
trees and hankering after that fruit which
destroyed them and their posterity-a proof
positive for all ages to come that those who
DO not attend their business are sure to get
into mischief.
do not know that the prodigal In Scrip
ture would ever have been reclaimed had he
not given up his idle habits and gene to
feeding swine for a living. The devil does
not so often attack the man who Is busy
with the pen, and the book, and the trowel,
and The saw, and the hammer. He is afraid
OF those weapons. But woe to the man
whom the roaring lion meets with his hands
In his pockets.