The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-05-19
DIR. TALMAGE'S SERMON
The Eminent Divine's Sunday
Discourse.


TEXT: "While was musing, tho nro
burned. ."--Psalms SXSIy.. ,.
Hero is David. the rsalm,st, with the
forefinger OF hIs right hand against his
temple and the toor shut against he world,
engaged In contemplation. And 1t would
be- we'll for us to take tho sumo posture
often, while we sit down in sweet solitude
to contemplate.
In small island of the coast OF Nova
Scotia once passed II Sabbath in delight
ful solitude, for had resolved that would
have ono day OF entiro quiet before en-
tered upon uutumnal work. thought to
have spent tho day in laying out plans for
Christian work, but instead OF that IL be-
came day OF tender reminiscencc. l re-
viewed my pastorute; | shook hands with
an old departed friend, whom shall greet
again when tho curtains OF life nre lifted.
The days OF my boyhood came back and
was ten years OF age, and was eight, and
was five. Theirs was but ono house on
The island, aud yet from Sabbath daybrcak,
when tho bird chant woke me, until the
evening melted into the Bay OF Fundy, from
shore to shore tNcro were ten thousand
memories, and the groves were album with
voices that had long ago cunseh
Youth Is apt too much TO spend all it's
tlmo in looking forward. Old aga Is apt
too much TO spend all its timo in locking
backward. People in midirc and on tho
apex look both ways. 1t would bo wei! for
us, think, however, TO spend moro timn
in 1oninisccnc". Ey tho constitution Of
our nature we spend most OF the limo look
ing forward. And tho vast mnj jority of peo-
pio live not so much in the present rs IN The
future. find that you mean 10 mako n
reputation. you mean TO establish yourself
nnd the advantages that YOU expect to
achieve absorb great deal Of your time.
But SEQ no harm in this IL ii does not make
You dscoDtented with thc.present or dis.
qualify you for existing duties. 1t is II use
iul thing sometimes TO iooi; back anL to see
the dangers we have escaped, and to secih
t,.,x
and wanderings of our earthly pilgrimage.
and to sum mp our crjoymcnts. | mean so
far as God may help me- to stir up your
memory OF tho past, 90 that in the review
YOU may be encouraged and humblGu and
urged TO pray.
Among tho greatest advantages Of your
past life were IN early home ana its sur
roundinGs. The bad mcn OF the iay for
tho most part, dip their heated passions
ont OF tho boiling spring OF an unhappy
nome. we are not surprised to nd tnut
Byrons heart was Il concentration ps sin
when wo hear his mother wis Abandoned
ANA that sho made sport OF his iniirmty
and often called him ''the lame bra" He
who has vicious parents has to fight every
inch OF his way ii ho would maintain his
Integrity and ut last reach tho home Of the
good in heaven. Perh0Ds your early home
was in II city. 1t may have been when
Pennsylvania avenue, Washington. was
residential nS now 1t is commercial, and
Canal street. New York, was far up town.
That old house in the city may have been
demolished or changed into stores. aul H.
seemed iiSc Sacrtlr;ye to you sOr there WAS
more meaning in that small house than
there is in granite mansion or u turreteh
cathedral. LooSing back, you see il n
though 1t were Icsterday-the sitting
room, whero tho loved one sat by the pluin
lamp light, the mother at tho evening
stand, tho brothers and sisters perhaps
long ago gathered into the skies, then
plotting mischief on tho noor or under the
table; your father with firm vOi.o com.
manding silence that lasted half Il minute.
Perhaps you We're DroUca. up in the
country. You stand now to-day in men
cryWnGer the old tree. You ciubhed it for
fruit that WAS not quite ripe. beeaus" YOU
couldn't wait any longer. You hear tho
brook rnm0linS along over tho pebbles.
You stcp again into the furrow whcrc your
fnthcr In his shit sleeves shouted to the
lazy oNon. You friShtcn the swallows from
tho rafters OF the barn and take just one
egg aud silence your conscience by saying
they will not miss it. You take II drink
again out OF the very bucket that the old
well fetched up. You 80 for the COWS at
night and lind them pushing thnr heads
through the bars. ofttmcs in the dusty
and busy streets you wish YOU were
home again on that cool grass, or in the
rag carpctei hall otthe farmhouse, through
which there came tho breath al new mown
hay or the blossom Of buni;wheat.
You may have in your windows row
beautiful plants md flowers brought from
across the seas, hut not one of them stir,
in your soul SO mech charm and memory
as the old ivy and tho yellow sunnnwcr
that stood sentine! along the garden walk
and the forcct'ne-uors playing hide and
seek mid the long grass. The father who
used to com" in sunbGrnca from the field
and sit down on tho doorsIl and wipc the
sweat from his brow may have gone to hi-
everlasting rest. The mother who used to
sit at the door Il little bent over, cap and
spectac!es OH her face mellowinS with the
NciSsitudes OF many ycals, may have put
down her gray head on the pillow in the
valley, but forget that home YOU mover
will. Have you thanked God for it? Have
you rehearscd all these blessed rcminis.
cences? Oh. thank God for II Christian
father! Thank God Tor II Christian moth
or! Thank God for an early Christian altar
at which you were taught to knec! Thank
God for an early Christian home!
| ring to mind another passage in the
history OF your life. Tho day came when
you set up your own household. The days
passed along in quiet h.essedncss.. You
twain sat ut tho tn 10 morning: and night
and talked over your plans for the future.
The most insignificant affair your lifo
Iccamc tho subject or mutual consultation
and advertisement. You were so happy
you FELT you never could be any happier.
One day II dark cloud lowered over your
dwelling. and 1t got darker and Darker.
but out Of that cloId tho shining mcsscn-
ger OF God descended 10 incnrnato IN i'm
mortal sp rit Two littlo feet started on
mn eternal journey. and YOU wcre to lead
them, gem 10 fast! in heavens coronet,
and you to polish it; eternal ages OF light
and darkness watching tho starting ont of
newly created creature, You reioiced
and yon trombled at the res possibility that
in your I ossessi0n an immortal treasure
was placed. You prayed and rejoircd and
wspt and wondered; you were carncst in
suppiication that you might lead il through
life into the kingdom OF God. There was II
trcmOr IN your earncStncss, Therc was II
double 'crcst about that home. There
was an additional interest why YOU should
stay there and bO faithful, and when in
few month NOmr hnmsO WIS illlrl with the