Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1900-08-25
= SPIRITUAL VALUES.
DR.. TALMAGe URGES HIGHER APPRE'
CATION OF RELIGION.

w ASlilNGTON, aug. AJ.-N AOAi ANA'N'
where he preached IN the American
church to a congregation comprising
many of his cOuGtrymen who are
travelling through Europe, DR.. TallnaGe
sends this discourse, In which, by
original methods he calculates spiritu-
nj values and urges higher apprecia-
ton of things religious. The text Is
Mark Will, 80, what shall 1t profit a
man If he shall Sa!n the whole world
and lose his own soulY
Men of all occupations are TO be
found in the assemblies of the house
of God, but in these days of extensive
business operations q large proportion
are engaged from Monday morning to
Saturday night in argain making. In
many of the families across the break
fast table and the tea table are dis
cussed questions of loss and gain. You
are every day asking yourself: What
is the value of this? What is the value
of that? You would not think Of CIV
Ing something of greater value for that
which is of lesser value. You would
not think of selling that which cost you
$40 for S5. If you had property that
was worth $4,000. you would not sell 1t
for $4,000 You are intelligent In oil
matters Of bargain making. Are you
as wise in the things that pertain TO
the matters of the soul? Christ adapt
ed his instructions to the circumstances
Of those to whom he spoke. When he
talked to fishermen, he spoke of the
gospel net. When he talked 10 the
farmers. he said. "A sOwer went forth
to SOW" When he talked to the shep-
herds. he told the parable of the
lost sheep. And am l not right, when
speaking to an audience made UP OF
bargain makers. that address them
in the words of my text. asking. what
shall it profit a man If he shall gain
the whole world and lose his own
soul"
propose, rs far as possible, to esti-
mate and compare the value of the
two properties.
A Grand Property.
First, l have to say that the world
is a very grand property. Its flowers
are Gods thoughts in bloom. Its rocks
are Gods thoughts in stone. Its dew
drops are Gods thoughts In pearl.
This world is Gods child-a hayward
child, indeed; 1t has wandered off
through the heavens. But about 1000
years ago, one Christmas night. God
sent out sister world to call that
wandercr back, and 1t hung over Beth
lehem only long enough to get the
promise Of the wanderers return. and
now that lost world, with soft feet of
light, comes treading back through the
heavens. The hills. how beautiful
they billow up. the edge of the wave
white with the foam of crOcuSes! How
beautiful the rainbow, the arched
bridge on which heaven and earth
come and talk 10 each other In tears
after the storm is overl How nlmble
the feet Of the lampllghters that In
few minutes set all the dome Of the
night ablaze with brackets Of fire.
How bright the oar Of the saffron
cloud that rows across the deep sea
of heaven! How beautiful the spring.
with bridal blossoms In her hairi
wonder who II is that beats time on
June morning for the bird orchestra.
How gently the harebell tolls its fra
GRANGE on the air! There may be grand
err worlds. swarthier worlds, larger
worlds than this, but | think that this
is a most exquisite world q mignon-
cite on the bosom Of immensely!
oh" you say, take my soul; give me
that world. am willing to take it in
exchange. | am ready now for the
bargain. 1t Is so beautiful world. so
sweet a world, 80 grand a world"
But let us look more minutely into
the value Of this world. You will not
buy property unless you can get good
title to it. After you have looked at
the property and found out that it suits
you you send an attorney to the public
office, and he examines the book of
deeds and the book Of mortgages and
the book of judgments and the book of
liens, and he decides whether the title
is good before you Will have anything
to do with 1t. There might be Splen-
did property and In every way exactly
suited to your want but if you cannot
get a good title you will not take II.
Now, | am here to say that it is imp0s-
sible to get q good title to this world.
If | settle down upon 1t, In the very
year so settle down upon it rs a per.
manent possession. may be driven
- In Et.nr Inn fn- a
er / give up my soul for the world
may have to part with the world. and
what kind of q title do you call that:
There is only one way In which | can
hold an earthly possession. and that is
through the senses. All beautiful
sights through the eye, but the eye
may be blOtted out; all captivating
sounds through the ear. but my ear
may be deafened; all IusciOusncss of
fruits and v!ands through my taste.
but my taste may be destroyed: all ap
probation of culture and of art through
my mind. but | may lose my mind.
What a frail hold. then. have upon
any earthly possession!
No Warming of Death.
In courts Of law. If you want to get
a man off property you must serve
upon him n writ of cjcctment, giving
him n certain time to vacate the prem
Uses. but when death comes to us and
serves n writ of ejcctment he does not
give us one second of fOrcwarnlng.
He says: "Off of this place. You have
no right ans longer to the possession"
We might cry out Il gave you Sl0n.O0O
for that property" the plea would ba
Of no avail. We might say. I'VE have
warrantcC deed for that property"
the plea wn,l,d bc of no avail. W.
might say. we have n lien on that
sto-chorco.' il,7t would do us no good
Death is blind, and he cannot see seal
and cannot read an indenture. SO that.
10. 7 I'll l,0&