The Yale expositor., 1898-02-18


Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes,
Philologus and Julia. Where were
they born? No one knows. When
aid they die? There is no record OF
| their decease. For what were they
distinguished? Absolutely nothing, or
the trait of character would have been
brought out by the apostle. III they
had been very intrepid; or opulent, or
hirsute. or musical of cadence, or Grass
of style, or in any wise anomalous,
that feature would have been caught
by the apostolic camera. But they
were good people, because Paul SENDS
to them his high Christian regards.
They were ordinary people moving
in ordinary sphere. attending to ordi-
nary duty and meeting ordinary re-
| sponsibilities.
What the world wants is a religion
for ordinary people. II there be in
the United States 100000 people.
there are certainly not more than l.
100000 extraordinary; and then there
are 69,OOO,O0O ordinary, and we do well
to turn our backs for a little while
upon the distinguished and conspicu-
Gus people of the Bible and consider in
our text the seven ordinary. We
spend too Auch of our time in twist
Ing garlands for remarkables and
sculpturing warriors and apothesizing
philanthropists. The rank and file OF
the Lords soldiery need especial help.
The vast majority of people will
never lead an army, will never write
state constitution, will never electri-
portant invention, will never introduce
a philosophy, will never decide
the fate of a nation. You do not ex-
pect to; you do not want to. You will
not be Moses to lead a nation out
OF bondage. You will not be Joshua
to prolong the daylight until you can
shut five kings in cavern. You will
not be st. John to unroll an Apoca-
lypse. You will not be a Paul to pre-
side over an apostolic college. You
will not be a Mary to mother a Christ.
You will more probably be Asyncritus
or Phlegon, or Hermas, or Patrobas
or Hermes, or Philologus. or Julia.
Many of you are women at the head
of households. Every morning you
plan for the day. The culinary depart
ment of the household is in your do
minion. You decide all questions OF
diet. All the sanitary regulations OF
your house are under your supervision
To regulate the food and the apparel
and the habits, and decide the thou
sand questions of home life is a tax
upon brain and nerve and general
health absolutely appalling, IL there
be no divine alienation.
1t does not help you much to be
told that Elizabeth Fry did wonder.
full things amid the criminals at New.
gate. 1t does not help you much tC
be told that Mrs. Judson was very
brave among the Bornesian cannibals
1t does not help you very much to be
told that Florence Nightingale was
very kind to the wounded in the Cri
mea. 1t would be better for me to tel
you that the divine friend of Mary
and Martha is your friend, and that hi
sees all the annoyances and disap
pointments and abrasions. and exas
perations of an ordinary housekeepei
from morn till night, and from the
first day of the year until the last day
of the year. and at your call he is read,
with help and reinforcement.
They who provide the food of tn,
world decide the health OF the world
You have only to go on some erranC
amid the taverns and the hotels of tn,
United States and Great Britain to ap
preciate the fact that a vast multitude
of the human race are slaughtered b,
incompetent cookery. Though a youn,
woman may have taken lessons in mu
sic. and may have taken lessons IL
painting, and lessons in astronomy, sh
Is not we'll educated unless she ha
taken lessons in dough! They who de
, eide the apparel of the world, and tn
food OF the world, decide the endurance
of the world.
An unthinking man may consider
matter OF little importance-th
, cares OF the household and the econo
mics OF uOmebLlC llIe-Dut tell yO
the earth is strewn with the martyr
OF kitchen and nursery. The health
shattered womanhood Of America erie
, out for a God who can help ordinar
women in the ordinary duties of house
keeping. The wearing, grinding, I'm
appreciated work goes on, but the sam
Christ who stood on the bank Of Gall
, lee in the early morning and kindle
the fire and had the fish alread
cleaned and broiling when the sports
men stepped ashore, chilled and hun
CRY, will help every woman to pre-
pare breakfast, whether by her ow
hand, or the hand OF her hired hell
; The God who made indestructible eu
logy of Hannah, who made a coat 10
Samuel, her son, and carried It to tn
! temple every year, will help every wo
man in preparing the family ward
robe. The God who opens the Btu
with the story OF Abraham's entertain