Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1898-02-16
{ SERMONS OF THE DAY

s'Giants" is the Subject Of the Twelfth Of
the New York Herald's Competitive
sermons-Dr. Talmage breaches on
the Style of the Christian Character.
TEXT: "There were giants in those days."
-Genesis, vi, 4.
This text represents the wall Of the NOR.
bid man who refuses to enter into the ac-
tivities Of life and finds no flt leadership
among the men of to-day. He views the
men of yesterday. and, by comparing them
with his own nothingness, calls them
giants. Unwilling to follow his rightful
leaders, he pines for the mighty men OF the
past.
If the wall were only the expression OF
dissatisfied dOnothings In the world il
would be Of little account; but the cry re-
garding the ancient giants has connected
with it an inference that no giants exist to-
day, because there is no opportunity for
giant life. This pseudo reverence for the
great men of the past carries with it the
poisonous pessimism that says, ''There can
be no giants now" 1t Is encouragement
boiled down and sugar-coated with pious
worship Of ancient worthless.
Caesar, Napoleon and Wellington were
great generals, but there never will be any
more;" "There will never be another poet
like Homer" "No more orators like Burke
Pitt and Webster" mo more preachers like
Wesley, Whitefield and Edwards;" mo
"There is no chance for such men to-day,
and no demand for them"
This is n fair specimen of the idle talk OF
men who pretend to appreciate the great
ness OF the fathers, and with this pious
plant unnerve the ambition OF youth. Were
this simply the silly talk of imbecility no
protest from the pulpit would be in place,
but in behalf of discouraged youth pur-
pose to enter an unqualified denial Of the
spirit of all this word. Did it not seem
like impious rejection of sacred writ, I
would affirm that there were no giants in
those days. The men of yesterday were
not so great as the men of to-day.
Physically men are better than ever be-
fore. The average men Of to-day is too
large to wear the English armor discarded
by giant warriors Of few centuries back.
The collegian of to-day surpasses the
ancient Olympian. Cicero and D Demosthenes
were giants in oratory by comparison.
Orators were few and poor at that time, so
these were easily noted. There are better
preachers to-day than Wesley. Edwards is
far surpassed in truthful presentation OF
the word by modern sermon makers. Bis
marck, Blaine and Gladstone overshadow
ancient men in Statecraft. Macauley tells
US that men usually put the golden age of
England at time 'when noblemen were
destitute of comforts which would cause
riot in modern w0rkhouse."
SO men are constantly placing the age Of
when men were conspicuous not so much
for their own individual merit as because Of
the lack of ordinary merit among their fell
lows. In very true sense we may say that
in the light of the nineteenth century men
there were no giants in those DAYS. There
is a proper egotism which boasts of to-day,
and imperiously declares that no such men
lived in the past as our generation has
produced.
I Turning from this, We may bow with def
erence to the coming man. The youth Of
to-day may rise above the best of theiF
fathers. There was never greater call for
giants than now; not giant here and
there, but a race of giants. Every profess
sion is crowded with little men and is
seeking for giants. Professions, like sky
scrapers, have vacant rooms on the top
floor.
Railroads are anxious for first class men;
editorial offices will give handsome salar-
les to skilful writers; pulpits seek COM
manding preachers; corporations seek in
vain for properly qualified counsel; the ma
tion calls for better statesmen, the colleges
for better teachers, the merchants for bet
ter statesmen, the manufacturers for better
artisans. "Top floors for rent" is hung
out at every corner, inviting boys who are
willing and able to climb the old-fashioned
stairs. There is no elevator for carrying
Idle seekers to the top of business and pro-
fessional life. Men who work at the head
OF profession or business must have
strength, and that strength best comes by
toiling up to the high places.
Giants are not born. they are made In
herited adaptability will have some bear
ing, but earned qualities will have more.
Common strength, common sense, common
are the first requisites. The gen.
ins of hard work. frugalty of time and
power, controlled by an indomitable 81
will" must enter into the makeup of a
g eat man. Time, money and nerve pow-
er dissipated by young men. not in true
recreation and relaxation, but in idle lott
erilg, would, if truly directed make many
great.
Nor will we forget that Goodness is
profitable" The giants spoken ofin Gene
sis were grandsons of God; the giants of
to-day are real sons of God. The strong
est men are they that arc strong in the
Lord Jesus is the giant of the age, and
the nearer related to Jesus the more gil
realizable assets, for Christ rules to-day
more than all earthly potentates Men
who scoff at religion desire Christlike quail
tiles in their employees.
Faith, hope and charity are fit emblems
for the market, for commerce and the pro-
fession. There are Calvarys along the
road to greatness; men must bear crosses
II they would rise. "It is good for a man
that he bear the yoke in his youth" 1t is
more than good-it Is essential: and the
Christ yoke is the typical emblem by which:
men may work themselves, by the grace of
God to be present day giants.
JAMES A. CHAMBERLIN, Ph. D..
Pastor of First Congregational Church OF
Newark, N. J.