Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-08-24
REV, DR. TALMAGE.
THE EMINENT DIvINE'S SUNDA,
DISCOURSE.
Subject; Spiritual values-Earthlv Riches
Are Transitory, But the Glories Of
Heaven.Are observation-disclosures the
Priceless Soul with the valueless Body
copyright 1901

copyright 1901
WASHINGTON, d. c. From Berlin,
where be preached in the American church
to a congregation comprising many OF his
who are travelling through
Europe, Dr. Talmage sends this discourse,
in which, by original methods, he calcu'
latks spiritual values and urges higher APP.
probation of things religious. The text
is Mark viii, go: "Wbat shall it profit a
man if he shall gain the whole world and
lose his own soul?"
Men of all occupations are to be found
Ia the assemblies of the house OF God, but
in these days of extensive business opera
tons a large proportion are engaged from
Monday morning to Saturday night in bar
gain making In many OF the tamllles
across the breakfast table and the tea
table are discussed 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
giving something of greater value for that
which is of lesser value; You would not not
think of selling that which cost you SIC
for Is. If YOU had property that was
worth $4,000, you would not sell it fol
$4,000. You are intelligent in all matters
OF bargain making. Are you as wise in
the souis Christ adapted His instruc'
tions to the circumstances of those to
whom He spoke. When He talked :. to
fishermen, He spoke of the gospel net.
When He talked to the farmers, He said;
"A sower went forth to SOW" When He
talked to the shepherds. He told the para.
BILE of the lost sheep. And am ! not right
svhen speaking to an audience made up OF
bargain makers that / address them iii the
words of my text, asking, What shall il
profit man if he shall gain the whole
world and lose his own soul?"
propose, as far as possible, to estimate
and compare the value of the two proper
ties.
First, | have to say that the world is o
very grand property. Its flowers are
Gods thoughts in bloom. It's rocks are
Gods thoughts in stone. It's dewdropss
are Gods thoughts in pearl. This world
is Gods chId-a maynard child, indeed ;
it has wandered off through the heavens
But about 1907 years ago, one Christmas
night. God sent out sister world to call
that wanderer back, and it hung over
Bethlehem only long enough to Get the
promise of the wanderers return, and
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 to each
tther in tears after the storm is over.
How nimble the feet of lamplighters 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
,ows across the deep sea Of heaven! How
hautiful the spring, with bridal blossoms
hen hair! | wonder who it is that beats
e on a June morning for the bird or
Iesrsr.--sHew gently the harebell tolls its
Fragrance on the air! There may be
gyander worlds, larrer worlds than this,
but think that this is most exquisite
world-a mignonette on the bosom of I'M
oh" you say. take my soul;
give me that world! j am willing to take
II in exchange. am ready now for the
bargain. 1t is SO beautiful a world, so
sweet world; 50 grand world!
But let us look more minutely into the
value of this world. You will not buy
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
and the book of liens. and ne decides
whether the title is good before you will
have anything to do with it. There might
be splendid property and in every way
exactly suited to your want, but II you
cannot get good title YOU will not take
it. Now. am here to say that it is inn
possible to get good title to this world.
If ! settle DOWN upon it, in the very year
- settle down upon it as permaiient
possession, may be driven away from 1t,
Ave. in five minutes afterward | give up
nv soul for the world may have to part
with the world, ana what kind of a title
do you call that: There is only one way
in which | can hold an earthly possession,
and that is through the senses. All beau
tiful sights through the eye, but the eye
may he blot,ed out; all captivating sounds
through the ear, but my ear may be deaf
ped; all lusciousness OF fruits and vlands
through my taste, but my taste may be de-
Aroyed aJe appreciation OF culture and OF
art to uIny mind, hnt l may lose my
nod a frail hold, then, have
pm aIiy earthly possession!
N courts OF law, if you want to get
p off property YOU must serve upon
writ of ejectment, giving HIM GER
time to vacate the premises, but
VI QcdtH IOliltS W uS anu oNiNNo q Ni''
iectment he does not give us one sec
of forewarning He says: "Of OF this
You have no right any longer &c
possession" We might cry out, 81
you 100000 for that property the
Would be of no avail. We might say,
have a warrantee deed for that prop.
the plea would be of no avail,
light say, 1--WE have a lien on that
ouse;" that would do us no good
is Blind, and he cannot see seal
hnnot read an indenture. So that,
YOU propose that | give up my SOU
nd last, j want to tell you that
world you cannot give me the first
Of title.
-ing examined the title Of property
ext question is about insurance. IoU
not be silly enough to buy large
lse that could not possibly be in
You would not have anything to
h such property. Now, | ask you
assurance can you give me that this
Id is not going to be burned up:
none. Biologists tell us that
it rs already on fire; that the heart of the
world is one great living coal; that It is
Just like a ship Oh fire at sea, the flames
not bursting out because the matches are
Kept down. And yet you propose to palm
IF on me, In return Tor my soul, world
ior which, in the first place, you give nc
title, and, in the second place, for which
,ou can give no insurance. "Oh," you
,ay. 1.-THE water of the oceans will wash
,ver all the land and put out the fire.
)h. no. There are infammable elements
n the water, hydrogen and oxygen. Call
If the hydrogen, and then the Atlantic
nd Ithe Pacific oceans would blaze like
,esps OF shaviEgs. You want me to take
his world, for which you can give no pos
ible insurance.
Astronomers have swept their telescopes
through the sky and have found out that
here have been fifteen worlds, in the last
wo centuries, that have disappeared. At
irst they looked just like other worlds.
Then they got deeply red-they were on
ire. Then they got ashen, showing they
we're burned down. Then they disap'
,eared, showing that even the ashes were
And, if the geologist be right
n his prophecy, then our world is to 60 in
he same way And yet you want me to
Exchange my soul Tor 1t. All, no; it is
world mat is burning now. Suppose you
,rought an insurance ageSN to look at