The free press. (Poplarville, Miss.) 1890-19??, 1901-06-06
REV. DR.. TALMAGE.
DISCOURSE BY THE EMINENT DE-.
VINE LAST SUNDAY.
Subject: Estimating Character The
Divine Way Differs from the Human
way-The American Nation Put Into
the Royal Balance.

WASHINGTON, d. C.-In this discourse
from a symbol of the Bible DR.. Talmage
urges the adoption of an unusual mode of
estimating character and shows how diff
ferent is the divine way from the human
way; text, Proverbs XVI, 2, "The Lord
weigheth the spirits"
The subject of weights and measures IS
discussed among all nations, is the subject
of legislation, and has much to do with
the worlds prosperity. A system of
weights and measures was invented by
Phidon, ruler of Argos, about 800 years be-
fore Christ. An ounce, a pound, ton,
were different in different lands. Henry
III. decided that an ounce should be the
weight of $40 dried grains of wheat from
the middle of the ear. From the reign of
William the Conqueror to Henry VIII.
the English pound was the weight of 1880
grains of wheat. Queen Elizabeth decreed
that a pound should be 1000 grains of
wheat taken from the middle of the ear.
The piece of platinum kept at the office
OF the exchequer in England in an atmos-
phere of sixty-two degrees F. decides for
all Great Britain what pound must be.
Scientific representatives from all lands
met in 1869 in Paris and established inter-
national standards of weights and meas
ures.
You all know something of avordupois
weight, of apothecaries' weight, of troy
weight. You are familiar with the differ
ent kinds of weighing machines whether
a Roman balance, which is our steelyard,
or the more usual instrument consisting
of a beam supported in the middle. having
two basins OF equal weight suspended to
the extremities. Scales have been invented
to weigh substances huge, like mountains,
and others delicate enough to weigh inf
nitesimals. But in all the universe there
has only been one balance that could
yppIoh thOnUhts pmntinns ofTaatiopS N
treds, ambitions. That balance was fash
toned by an Almighty God, and is hung up
for perpetual service. "Ihe Lord weigh
eth the spirits"
The divine weigher puts into the bal
ance the spirit of charity and decides how
much of it really exists. 1t may go for
nothing at all. 1t may be that it says to
the unfortunate, Take this and do not
bother me any more" 1t may be an occa-
sional impulse. 1t may depend upon the
condition of the liver or the style of
breakfast partaken of little while before.
1t may be called forth by the loveliness Of
the solicitor. 1t may be exercised in spirit
of rivalry, which practically says, My
neighbor has given so much; therefore |
must give as much" 1t is accidental or
occasional or spasmodic. When such a
spirit of charity is put into the balance
and weighed, God and men and angels
look on and say there is nothing of it.
1t does not weigh so much as a dram,
which is only the one-eighth part of an
ounce, or scruple, which is only the
twenty fourth part of an ounce. man
may give his hundreds and thousands of
dollars with such feelings and amid such
circumstances, and he will get no heavenly
recognition.
But into the divine scales another
mans charity is placed. 1t starts from
love of God and man. 1t is born in heav-
en- 1t is lifelong characteristic. 1t may
have a million dollars or penury to be-
stow. but the manner in which that giver
bestows it shows that it is a divinely i'm
planted principle.
The one penny given may, considering
the limited circumstances, attract as much
angelic and heavenly attention as though
| the check given in charity was so large 1t
| staggered the cashier of the bank to cash
it. 1t is not the amount given. but the
spirit with which it is given. The Lord
weigheth the spirits"
Perhaps no one but God heard that good
mans resolutions, but it amounted about
to this: From this present moment to my
last moment on earth, God helping me, L
will do all | can to make the world a
purer world, a better world, happier
world" But the resolution shines out in
his face, sweetens his conversation, en-
larges his nature, controls his life and
shows itself as plainly IN the contribution
Of 81 as though he had the means to con-
tribute 100000.
When that charity Is put into the royal
balance the heavens watch the weighing
and invisible choirs chant from the clouds,
and catch one bar of the music Now
abideth faith hope. charity-these three;
but the greatest of these is charity"
So also in the celestial scales is placed
the spirit of faith. In most cases faith de-
ponds on whether or not the sun shines
L. 4 IL 10, oh
and whether the first person he meets IN
the morning tells him something agreeable
| or dsagreeable. Some day the sales in his
| store do not amount to SO much as he eX-
pected and he goes home with enough
complaints to fill the house as soon as he
enters it, Another day the sales are TWEEN
ty or forty per cent. larger than usual, and
as he is putting the key into the door lock
his family hear him whistling tune most
jubilant He has faith that everything in
his own affairs and in the affairs of church
and state are tending toward better condl-
tions until something depressing happens
in his own personal experiences or under
his own observation.
But there is another man who by re-
pentance and prayer has put himself into
alliance with the Almighty God. Made all
right by the Saviour's grace, this man goes
to work to make the world straight, He says
to himself: "God LAUGHED this world, and
He never launched a failure. The Garden
of Eden was a useless morass compared
with what the whole world will be when
it blossoms and leaves and flashes and re
sounds with its coming glory. God will
save it anyhow, with me or without me,
but want to do my share. | have some
equipment, not as much as some Others,
but what | have / will use. | have power
to frown, and | will frown upon iniquity.
| have power to smile, and | will smile
encouragement upon all the struggling. |
have a vocabulary not so opulent as the
vocabulary of some others, but ! have
storehouse of good words, and | mean to
scatter them in helpfulness. | will ascribe
right motives to others when it is possible,
If can say anything good about others, |
will say it. If | can say nothing but evil
of them, | will keep my lips shut as tight
as the lips OF the Sphinx, which for 5000
years has looked off upon the sands of the
desert and uttered not one word about the
desolation The scheme of reconstructing
this world is too great for me to manage,
but am not expected to boss this job. |
have faith to believe that the plan is well
laid out and will be well executed. Give
me brick and a trowel, and l will begin
now TO help build the wall. | am not
soloist but | can sing Rock of Ages to a