Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-12-22
AN URGENT MESSAGE
DR.. TALMAGE'S WORDS OF COUNSEL
TO YOUNG MEN.

Hs-Get Close to GOD.
copyright. 1895, by American Press Asso.
Ciaton.l
WASHINGTON, Dec. lS.-This, arousirg
and practical sermon by DR.. Talmage vii
reach many hearts and be an especial in
spiration to those who are now starting III
life. His text is Zechariah ii, 4, Run
speak to this young man.
There was no snow on tho beard of the
prophet of my text, and no crows feet had
lett their mark near his eyes Zcchariah
was n young man, and in day dream he
saw and heard two angels talking about
the rebuilding of the city of Jerusalem
One of these angels desires that young
Zechariah should be well informed about
the rebuilding of that city, its circumfer.
encc and the height of its walls, and he
says to the other angel, Kun, speak to
this young man." DO not walk, but run,
for the message is urgent and imminent.
So every young man needs TO have imme-
diate advice about tho dimensions, tho
height and the circumference of that which
under God he is to build-namely, his own
character and destiny. No slow or laggard
pace will do a little farther on and coun-
sci will bo of no advantage. Swift footed
must be the practical and important sug.
gcstions, or they might as well never be
made mt all Run at the pace of five miles
the hour and speak to that young man
Run. before this year of 1898 is ended
Run, before this century is closed. Run,
before his character is inexorably decided
for two worlds, this world and the next
How many Of us have found out by long
and bitter experience things that We ought
to have been told before we were % years
of nge Now l propose to tell you some
things which If you will seriously and
prayerfully observe will make you master
of the situation in which you are now
placed and master of every situation in
which you ever will be placed. And in
order that my subject may be climactcric
j begin on the outside edge of that advice.
which will be more and more important
as the subject uniolds.
Now, If you would be master of the situa
ton do not expend money before you get
1t. How many young men irrctricvabll
mortgage their future because of resources
that are quite sure to be theirs. Have tn
money either in your hand or in n safct,
deposit or in bank or in "a United State
bond before you make purchases or <,
into expensive enterprises or hitch spank
ing team to "a glittering turnout or con
tract for the building Of IA mansion on til,
Potomac or the Hudson DO not depCnt
on an Inheritance from your father or ur
Gle The cid man may live on good dca
longer than you expect, and the day G
your enforced payment may come bcfor
the day Of his decCaso. You cannot Deepen,
upon rheumatism or heart failure or SEMI
ity IN do its work. Longevity is so won
dcrfully improved that you cannot depend
uron people dying when you think the,
ought to. They live to lie scptuagcnarian
or octogcnarians or nonagcnarians or ever
ceutcnarians, and meanwhile their heir
60 into bankruptcy, or, tempted to forgery
or misrepresentation of trust funds or WA
tering Of railroad or mining stock, go into
the penitentiary Neither had you better
spread yourself out because of tho 10 or 20
per cent you expect from an investment
Most of the Is or 20 per cent investments
are apt to pay nothing save the privilege
of being assessed To meet the bligations of
the company in the affairs of which you
get involved. Better get 3 = Per cent from
"a government bond than be promised ID
per cent from n dividend which will never
be declared or paid only once or twice, so
as TO tempt you deeper in before the grand
smash up and you receive, instead Of "a
payment Of dividends, a letter from the
president and secretary of the company
saying they are very sorry.
save n Little Money.
II you have 10 wait n year or five years
or ten years or most of your lifetime, then
you had better wait rather than spend
money you expect to get, Then after you
get it do not spend it all Never spend q
dollar until you have 80 cents that you do
not spend. In the government service in
this city how many splendid women who
are the daughters of men who spent all
they got and then sneaked out of life to
leave their daughters pennllesS to be look
ed after by some kind senator or other
friend who might solicit for them posi-
ton on small salary. but enough to keep
thcm from starvation and the poorhouse!
Such men do not die; they ahscond. /
cannot understand how such spendthrift
and reckless ard improvident men dare at
their dcceasc APPEAR AT the door of heaven
seeking admission when they havo left
their families in the tophet of want and
mendicancy. Such men do not deserve IA
throne and harp and mansion, but AN
everlasting poorhousc. From no disap
pointed or disgruntled state of mind do
] give this counsel, for life has been to me
glad surprise, ms IL has been to most
people disappointment. l expected moth
ing of advantage or opportunity, and so
everything has been to me n matter OF
pleased amaZrmcnt, but l have seen Sc
many men ruined for time and eternity
by going into expenditure, with nothin,
to depend upon except anticipation, that !.
! had power 20 put all warnings into or,
clap of thunder l would with that star
ting vehemence say to all young me-
what John Randolph said in yondcr scnat
chamber rs he stretched his long finger o,
toward some senatorial opponent and wi
shrill voice cried out, Gentlemen. pay
yon gol"
DO not say you have no chance, but r.
member Isaac Newton, the greatest H.
tronomcr OF his day, once poddling cal
bages in the street, and Martin Luthu
singing on the public square for any per
MES that he might pick up, and Johi
Bunyan mending kettles, and the la,
Judge Bradley of the United States su
preme court, who was the son of a char
coal burner, ard Turner, the painter, VIII
was the son of "A barber, and Lord Give
who saved India to England, shipped by
his father TO Madras as IA useless boy whom
he wanted TO get rid of, and Prideaux
the world renowned scholar and thee
Logan. securing pots and pans to worl; NJ