St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1900-05-05
CHRIST THE THEME.
He Brings Happiness Into Every
Life That He Enters.

All Mature Sings His Praises, Say
DIR. TaImage-Hymns Heard In
Infancy Have q StronEsIn-
Aaence In After Life.
Copyright, 1900. by Louis Klopsch.l
Washington.
In this discourse DR.. Talmage show
how Christ brings harmony and me
ody into every life tina: He enters
text, Psalms, 1854: "The Lord is m
strength and song"
The most fascinating theme for
heart properly attuned is the Saviour
There is something in the mornin
light to suggest. Him and somethin
in the evening shadow to speak Hi
praise. The flower breathes Him, tn
stars shine Him. the cascades pro
claim Him, all the voices of natur
chant Him. Whatever is grand, brigh
and beautiful, if you only listen to il
will speak His praise. So when il
the summer time pluck a flower
thing of Him who is "the Rose o
Sharon and the Lily of the Valley.
When see in the fields lamb, say
"Behold the Lamb of God that taketl
away the sin of the world" When il
very hot weather l come under a pro
jecting cliff. say:
Rock OF ages. cleft for me.
Let me hide myself in thee!
Over the old-fashioned pulpits there
was sounding board. The voice Of
the minister rose to the sounding
board and then was struck back again
upon the ears Of the people. And SC
the 10000 voices Of earth rising up
find the heavens a sounding board
which strikes back to the ear of all
nations the praises of Christ. The
heavens tell His glory and the earth
shows His handiwork. The Bible
thrills with one great story OF
redemption. Upon q blasted and
faded paradise it poured a light OF
glorious restoration. 1t looked upon
Abraham from the ram caught in
the thicket. It spoke in the bleating
Of the herds driven down to Jerusa-
lem for sacrifice. It put infinite pa
thos into the speech of uncouth fish
ermen. It lifted Paul into the third
heaven, and it broke upon the ear of
St. John with the brazen trumpets
and the doxology of the elders and
the rushing wings of the seraphim.
Instead of waiting until you get
sick and worn out before you sing
the praise Of Christ, while your heart
II happiest and your step is ightest
and your fortunes smile and your
way blossoms and the overarching
heavens drop upon you their benedic-
ton, speak the praises of Jesus.
The old Greek orators, when they
saw tkeir audiences inattentive and
had one word with which
they would rouse them up to the
greatest enthusiasm. In the midst of
their orations they would stop and
cry out: ''Marathon!" and the peo-
ple's enthusiasm would be unbound
ID. Ny hearers, though you may
have been borne down with sin, and
though trouble and trials and temp
tation may have come upon you, and
vou feel to-day hardly like looking
Up, methinks there is one grand, royal,
word that ought to rouse
7our soul to infinite rejoicing, and
hat word is "Jesus-"
Taking the suggestion of the text,
shall speak to you of Christ our
song. 1 remark, in the first place,
hat Christ ought to be the cradle
ong. What our mothers sang to us
vhen they put us to sleep is singing
ct. We may have forgotten the
words; but they went into the fiber
4 our soul and will forever be a part
f it. II is not SO much what you
teach your children as what
ou sing to them. A hymn has wings
nd can fly everywhither. One hum
red and fifty years after you are
cad and "Old Mortality" has worn
ut his chisel recutting your name on
he tombstone, your great-grandchil-
rem will be singing the song which |
lst night you sang to your little ones
altered about your knee. There is
place in Switzerland where, if you |
utter your voice, there come |
ack ten or Is distinct echoes, and |
very Christian song sung by a moth
+ in the ear OF her child shall have
1000 echoes coming back from all the
ates of Heaven. Oh, If mothers only
new the power of this sacred spell,
ow much oftener the little ones
ould be gathered. and all our homes
ould chime with the songs Of Jesus!
We want some counteracting influ-
ce upon our children. The very mo-
emit our child steps into the street
. steps into the path of temptation.
here are foul mouthed children who
ould like to bespoil your little ones.
will not do to keep your boys and
rls in the house and make them
'use plants. They must have fresh
r and recreation. God save your chill
en- from the scathing, blasting,
mining influence of the street! III
ow of no counteracting influence but
e power of Christian culture and ex-
,ple. Hold before your little ones
e pure life of Jesus. Let that name
the word that shall exercise evil
,m their hearts. Give to your in
-uction all the fascination of music
,rning, noon and night. Let it be
sus, the cradle song. This is impor-
Mt, if your children grow up, but per-
ps they may not. Their pathway
" be short. Jesus may be wanting
1t child. Then there will be a
andless step in the dwelling. and
; youthful pulse will begin to fiut- !,
:, and the little hands will be lifted /.
. help. You cannot help. And a
at agony will pinch at your heart.
the cradle win be empty, and the
rsery win be empty. and the world
I be empty. No little feet standing
the stairs. No toys scattered on &
, carpet. No quick following from I
I'm to room. No strange and won
ring. questions. No upturned face .
b laughing blue eyes come for a
5. but only . grave and wreath of 1
ite blossoms on the top Of it and c