The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-01-25
DIR. TALMAGES SERMON.
SUNDAYS DISCOURSE BY THE NOTED
DIVINE. p

Subject: "C1ing to tho Cross''-The Null
t1pIicitv OF Opportunities For Doing
Good That Men OF Talent Have Within
Their Reach-Brave stay-st-Homes.
TEXT: "Thou art worth 10000 Of u.s.
II Samuel xviii, 8.
One Of the most wondrous characters of
his time was David. A red haired boy, he
could shepherd flock or carry "ten loaves
and ten slices otmilk cheese to his brothers
in the regiment" or with leathern thong,
stone loaded, bring down giant whose
armor weighed two hundredweight OF
metal, or cause lion which roared at him
in rage to roar with pain as he flung It,
dying, to the roadside, or could marshal q
host, or rule an empire. or thumb harp
so skillfully that 1t cured saul's dementia
"A harp from whose strings dripped pas
torals, elegies, lyrics, triumphal marches,
benedictions. Now, this man, a combina-
tion Of music and heroics, Of dithyrambs
and battle fields, Ct country quietudes and
craftsmanship, is to fit out military ex-
peditioD. Four thousand troops. accord
ing to Josephus, were sent into the field.
The captains we're put In command OF
the companies, and the colonels In COM
Inuno oI tue leSimeule, HulCu Wofo oie-
posed into right wing, left wing and
and General Ittai are to lead these three
divisions. But who shall take the field
as commander In chief David offers
his services and proposes to 70 to the
front. He will lead them in the awful
charge, for he has not cowardly nerve
: in all his body. He did not propose to have
his troops go into perils which he himself
would not brave, and the battlefield re-
quired as much courage then as now, for
the opposing forces must, IN orderto do any
execution at all, come up to within posi-
tive reach Of saber and spear. But there
came up from the troops and from civilians
O mighty protest against David's taking
the field. His life was too important to
the nation. II he went down, the empire
went down; whereas, II the whole 40c0 OF
the ranks were slain another army might
be marshaled and the defeat turned into
victory. The army and the nation practi.
cally cried out: "INol No! You cannot
20 to the 'front.' We estimate you as 10, 900
menl Thou art worth 5000 Of usl'" -.
That army and that nation then and
there reminded David and now remind us
Of the fact which we forget or never ap-
preciate at all that some people are moral
ly or spiritually worth far more than
OlucISs duu bOluO nOGlA loL AOnSs LhO SSa-
sus and statistics Of neighborhoods, or
churches, of nations, serve their purpose,
but they can never accurately express the
real state Of things. The practical subject
that want to present to-day fs that those
who have especial opportunity, especial
Graces, especial wealth, especial talent,
especial eloquence, ought to makeup By
especial assiduity and conservation for
those who have less opportunities andless
gifts. You ought to do ten times more for
God and human uplifting than those who
have only tenth Of your equioment.. The
rank and the file OF the 1000 OF the text
told the truth when they said, "Thou- art
worth 10000 OF u.s."
In no city Of its size are there so many
men Of talent as are gathered In the capital
of the American nation. Some Of the States
are at times represented by men who have
neither talents nor good morals. Their
political party compensates them for parti-
sun services by sending them to Congress
or by securing for them position IN the war
or navy or pension or printing depart
ments. They were nobodies before they
left home, and they are nobod1es here but
Union generally send their most talented
M On and men Of exemplary lives and noble
purposesHSome of them have the gifts and
qualifications Of ten men, Of hundred men
yea, of thousand men-and their con-
stituents could trutbiully employ the
words Of my text and say, "Thou art worth
10000 Of US.
With such opportunity, are they aug
menting their usefulness in every possible
direction2 Many Of them are, some OF them
are not. It is stupendous thing to have
power-political power, social power, Of.
loial power. It has often been printed and
often quoted as one of the wise sayings OF
the ancients. knowledge is power" Yet
good. The lightning express rail train has
power for good II K is on the track, but
horrible power for disaster II 1t leaves the
track and plunges down the embaDkment.
The ocean steamer has power for good,
calling in right direction and In safe waters
and under good helmsman and Wide awake
watchman on the lookout, but indescrib-
able power. for evil II uhdor full head
way It strikes the breakers. As steam
power or electricity or water forces may
be stored In boilers, II dynamos, In reser-
voirs, to be employed oil over town or
city, 30 God sometimes puts IN one man
enough faith to supply thousands OF men
with courage. II mnn happens to be thus
endowed, let him realize his opportunity
and improve It. At this time millions Of
men are a-tremble lest this nation make q
mistake and enter upon some policy OF
government. for the islands Of the,sea that
win founder the republic. God will give
to few men on both sides Of this question
faith and courage for all the rest. There
are two false positions many are now tax.
Ing, false as false can be. The one is that
II we decline to take under full charge
Cuba and Porto Rico and tho Philippines
We make declination that will be dtsas-
trous to our mutton, and other nations will
take control OF those archtpelagoes and
rule them, and perhaps to our humiliation
and destruction. TIE other theory Is that
II we take possession OF those once Spanish
colonies We invite foreign interference and
enter upon a career that Will finally be the
demolition OF this government. Both posi-
tions are immeasurable mistakes. God has
set apart this continent for free govern
ments and the triumphs Of Christianity
and We may take either the first
or the second course without ruin.
We may say to those islands, 1--WE
do not want you, but We have set you
free. Now stay free, while we see that the
paw on your neck" Or we may invite
the annexation Of Cuba and Porto Rico and
say to the Philippines, "Get ready by edu.
cation and good morals for free govern
ment, and at the right time you shall be
one OF our Territories, on the wayto be one
OF our States"
And there Is no power in Europe, Asia or
Africa, or oil combined, that could harm
this nation In its worldwide endeavor. God
Is on the side OF tho right. and by earnest
imploration for divine guidance on the purt
OF this nation We will be led to do the right,
We are on the brink Of nothing. There IS
no frightful crisis. This train OF Republic
can and Democratic institutions Is