Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-08-21
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE. DID,.
Pastor of jefferson Park Presby-
terian Church, Chicago

Chicago, Aug. 1T.-In this DISCOURSE,
The decline of churchgoug. its cause
and its remedy are discussed by Rev.
Frank De Witt Tnlmage with Charilc-
terfstic vfgor and directncss. The text
l. Corinthians ii, %, "Despise We the
church Of GodY'
While rummagiug through book
store the other day I purchased vol
nme with this suggestive title: WHY
Scn Do Not Go 10 Church" In 1t the
huthor gives many blunt statements
He asserts that in New York city alone
not more than 3 per cent Of all the
nalc population are members OF the
Protestant churches. He makes this
Charge against New York city, with
It's millions upon millions of dollars in
vested in church architecture, with its
millions Of dollars every year lavislly
expended for cvangelisttc work. He
makes this charge against New York
city, which Is not a heather town, but
which claims to he not only the wealth
lest but the most enlightened city in
our Christian land The author OF
That book further declared that not
more than one-half of all the inhabit-
ants Of this country ever attend church.
by that the author means the vast ma
1ority of Americans seldom set foot In
any church building, because tho most
Df the half who do attend church do
60 occasionally only,
With the startling statements of that
book still fresh in my mind | would
like to ask you the question which
Paul asked the nonchurChgocrs of
COrinth. The world needs precisely
the things that the church was organ
iZed TO supply. 1t needs strength to
resist temptation. it needs rules for the
guidance of life, it needs support I'M
der affection, solace in bereavement
md hope of heaven after death. All
these blessings come by Christianity.
ii is therefore worth while inquiring
what are the obstacles that keep men
from coming into the church and OBJ
tanning them So I not only want to
ind out why the vast majority Of
people do not join or regularly attend
church, but | also want to try TO re-
move those difficulties SO thnt you, one
and all will como into the fellowship
of the divine institution III which are
numbered the great hosts of the fol-
lowers OF the Lord Jesus.
An Absurd Reason.
well" says some one in answer to
the words Of my text. the reason
despise the church Of God is because
there are certain parts Of the Bible |
lilo not understand. Therefore l will
90 10 ho. I
Comprchend." Now. my friend. such
statement is simply absurd. From
such talk one might suppose that the
only inexplicable things in the whole
universe are those recorded between
tie lbs OF holy writ Why, there
are whole realms ana cycles and uni
verses of facts in every direction yet
untraverSed and unexplained You
cannot focus the whole heavens with
one telescope nor span innnity with
the finite You might rs we'll try to
bulld . range of mountains from Long
Island to England by pitching pebbles
into the Atlantic ocean or try 10 empty
the Pacific by dipping up the waters
with a sewing girls thimble as 10 at
tempt 10 build up system OF science
or 10 develop belief in the Bible IN
less YOU are willing to accept some
ahings which you cannot explain.
But, though statements may be made
dn the Bible which you and ! cannot
understand, the salient truths, the Cal
vary truths, the converting truths, are
all simply told truths. defy any IN
biasod mnp to read the simple words
of tho four gospels and remain blind
TO their meaning. No man can read
the story of the prodiGal son and fat
10 realize That God is represented by
the aged father, that his own sinfu
life is represented by the sins Of the
younger son, that repentance and peace
are represented by the return home
and the divine love and forgiveness by
The ring and the fatted calf and tn,
fathers kiss. Spiritual light and deep
or faith with come later. So, my broth
or, as you believe in God the Father
Cod the Son and God the Holy Ghost
as You believe that Jesus suffered anC
died upon the CROSS for our sins al
you believe that Christ has gone Il
heaven 10 prepare a dwelling place 70
ihbSt WIN AIt 'ifdilptQ ny MS DlDOt
you believe all that is needed to quail
ify YOU to come into the church he cs
tablished on earth. This was the say
Ing belief Of the philippian jailcr, t
whom Paul said. Believe on tie Lor,
Jesus Christ and thou shalt lie save,
lind thy house" 4 man is not neces
sa1ly barred from the church OF Jcsu
Christ because be does not fully under
stand all the Bible. He ia received an.
welcomed because he believes tina
"God SO loved the world that he CAV
,his only be@otten Son, that whosoeve
bolieyeth on him should not perisl
but have everlasting life"
One PASTORS Experience.
One day woman came to the mos
noted minister of the south, the Rev
T. NJ. Palmer of New Orleans. Sh
said, pastor, ! cannot accept and bC
NieYe the doctrines Of the Presbyteria
,church; therefore l am afraid / mus
have my name dropped from tn
church roll" what do you not b.
lieveT asked DR.. Palmer, We'll, Their
is the Presbyterian doctrine of foreol
dination. / cannot believe that Go
knows the end from the beginning
cannot understand how he can forese
everything and yet be a free agent.
81 never asked you TO believe the do'