Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1898-01-20
SERMONS OF THE DAY
RELIGIOUS TOPICS DISCUSSED BY
PROMINENT AMERICAN MINIS TIERS.

he Sixth of the New York Herald's Com
petition Sermons is on "The ROVER OF
Gentleness',-Rev. DIR. Talmage Dis
courses on Christ as Village Lad
TEXT: "Thy gentleness hath made me
:reat. Psalms, xviii, 80.
There is little in the popular idea of gen.
leness to make it desirable for God or man.
We think Of it as lacking in vigor and a
ong way removed from greatness. So sug-
;estive is it of weakness and softness that
ge want very little to do with it.
Our ideas Of gentleness need rect1fying:
We speak often of gentle horse. Wnat
10 we mean by it? That horse Is gentle
hat is nervy and full of mettle, able to pass
anything on the road, and yet SO easily
ubdued that the voice OF little ch1Id
yould bring him to standstill at once.
hat man is gentle who has the strength OF
Hercules and the tenderness Of a woman.
ientleness is power withholding itself and
pending itself in good ness.
A good illustration of gentleness was
hat on Spanish battle field. gallant
french soldiers swo rd was uplifted to
trike his foe to the ca rth, but he saw as the
word was about to descend that his an
agonist had but one Farm, Instantly he
tayed his sword, brought it to salute
md rode on.
Gentleness in woman is loves mighty
Magnet and will attract it's own from the
snds of the earth. A woman without it Is
monstrosity, a warrior with it is greater
ar than he who shows his power by burn
ng villages destroying crops, executing
prisoners. The great general at Appomat-
OK, considering the interests OF the men
gray, treating them as his countrymen,
ilencing the salute already under ay to
her humiliated, and sending the defeated
>nes home we'll fed and equipped for labor
IN the farms, declaring himself gentle
nan as we'll as great soldier, and did
more in that hour to make his country
great than other great men have done in a
ifetime. Grant could have crushed the
'outh in that hour; instead, he caressed 1t
S mother her weak and wayward child,
nd melted it to tears.
We speak often of the power of God, but
/ is the gentleness of God that works the
reatest wonders. 1t is this that makes
len great. See the gentleness of God at
he beginning. 1t Is not the strong arm
ut the tender heart, that concerns itself
7ith fallen man. 1t is not a kings voice
hat we hear in Eden, but fathers.
athletic cry that, "Adam, Adam, where art
hou?" When God came down in human
esh to save lost world He came in the
anne spirit. still and quiet night it was
hen the Saviour was born. The stars
,oked down peacefully upon the shepherds
they watched their sheep. The world
as wrapt in slumber. 1t was into this
illness and quiet that Gods angels came
nd Gods glory shone around. Gentle
ords those were the angel spoke-"Be not
traid." So sweet and gentle was the music
the angelic host that DO one save the
lepherds heard it.
The spirit of the Gospel is the same. 1t
summed up in the words: "a bruised
ed will He not break; the smoking lax He
i'll not quench." 1t is by gentleness that
cd seeks to win the world to righteous
ass and truth '"rhe Lord God is a sum-"
ooner or later cold and icy hearts must
We way before Him. We need more gen.
eness before the earth can become like
eaven-gentleness on the part of parents.
ou can shout at your children and bring
,em into trembling submission; you can
rash them into obedience; you can starve
lem into submission. The strong can
ring the weak to terms for while by any
the methods. But If you want to show
DUR child the sweet reasonableness OF
)ur position and to make him docile, obe-
ent, trustful, sit down and talk gently
ith him and seek to make his heart your
yn.
We need more gentleness on the part of
'eachers. The servant of the Lord must
Vt strive, but be gentle toward oil men,"
le Great Preacher was so gentle that ST.
on the Pharisee asked him to dine with
m; the poor harlot fingered near His feet
reSsingly; Zaccheus and Matthew, the
tblicans, became His loyal disciples, and
en- thief in the agony of crucifxion,
led, Lord, remember me-" The world
eds nothing more than it needs gentle
SIS and love. Human hearts are hungry
r the music Of gentle voices and the touch
tenderness. Why should we not all try
show that we are the sons and dau ghters
the gentle God?
Rough, rude boys have been made great
dme and eternity by the sweetness and
Itleness of mothers and sisters. Dull,
lful. petulent scholars have been made
oughtful and earnest by the tender pa
Mt love Of self-denying teachers. Souls
lall, mean, selfish, sinful, have been
ide great by the gentle, faithful labors
those not willing that any should perish,
The night of life is coming on apace. 1t
II pe sweet to have the gates swing in
rd at our approach to the city eternal,
d to be welcomed by some watching for
home coming, and to hear from joyful
ssuch words as these: "Thy gentleness
tn made me great
RICHARD G. WOODBRIDGE,
stor Central Congregational Church,
Middleboro Mass.