Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-11-22
TALMAGE
SERMON
BY Rev.
FRANK DE WITT 1-AI.MAGE. DID,.
Pastor OF Jefferson Park Presby-
tsrian Church, Chicago

Chicago, Nov. 16.-The duty ol
Christian laymen to present the gospe
invitation to people who have not yel
accepted 1t is enjolned In this sermon
by Rev. Frank De Witt Talmage or
the text Luke xiv, %, go out into
the highways and hedges and compel
them to come In"
Christ was comparing the kingdom
CT heaven to great banquet which
God had prepared for his invited
guests, who would not come. The
Earl Of Leicester made great prepara.
tlons to receive Elizabeth, the "Yirgin
Queen of England" when she visited
the castle halls of old Kenilworth.
Not only was his banquet hall brilliant
with many lights, but no sooner did
the royal guest step upon the draw
bridge which led into the castle than a
raft, made as a floating island, came
into view. Upon this floating island
sat beautiful woman. She was sur
rounded by her water nymphs. She
came, as queen OF the lake, to bend
the knee In homage to the visiting
queen. At night while the banquet
went on the heavens were aflame with
the illuminations OF fireworks. Such"
wrote the clerk Of Queen Ellzabeth's
council chamber, "was the blaze of
burning darts, the CLEAN Of stars
cOruscant, the streams and hail Of
fiery sparks. llghtnings OF wildfire and
6ight-shot OF thunderbolts. with con-
iinuance terror and vehemency, that
the heavens thundered, the waters
surged and the earth shook, and for
my part, hardy as | am, 1t made me
vengeably afraid" But, though the
queen lover made great and wonderful
preparations to receive his royal guest
In the gorgeous banquet hall OF old
Kenilworth. he made no such prepara-
tons as God had made in the parable
to receive his heavenly guests, who
would not come.
But. as the divinely invited guests
would not come. then God practically
said: IL will have my banquet hall
filled Notwithstanding. II the guests
for whom the banquet was prepared
will not come to me, then | will send
out for those who will appreciate II. |
will compel them to come'in." SO the
Lord in the parable said to his serY-
ants. as Christ now says to US church !
members. Go out into the highways
and hedges and compel them to
come in" The purpose Of this dis
course Is to show how. as individual
church members, we can become heav-
enly constraners and present the gos-
pei invitation to sinful men and women |
whom we meet In our daily walks Of |
life. 1t is to show how. by gospel con-
secrated work among individuals. we |
can change an empty church into a |
sanctuary and by depicting |
the places Of evil resort we can ulti-
mately make n full heaven.
Mr.. MOody's Plan.
When some one asked Mr.. Moody: |
How shall we reach the masses for
Christ? How shall we give the gospel
invitation to those sinners who are out
IN the highways and the hedges" he
Dluntly answered Ills questioners, "Go
after them" But how are we to go
lftcr them! First, as Christs disciples,
we should begin our personal work
among individuals by presenting the
gospel of Jesus to those who are closest
% us. We should present Christ first
o our fathers and mothers. to our hus-
bands and wives and brothers and SIS
crs and children. to our dear friends
md to all who nre bound to us by the
les of blood and love We should do
ust the same as Andrew. the brother
4 Philip. did when he was converted.
10 sooner did he see the face Of Christ
han he practically said to himself:
Why. must immediately go and hunt
lp my deai brother Philip. How hap
~ can make him. We have been side
~ side in all our joys and sorrows
rom the time we were born. He must
hare today In my new hope" 1t is
lpon this action OF Andrew, who at
nee went and carried the gospel invl-
alton to his brother. that the great
brotherhood of Andrew and Philip"
las been established.
But, though the eternal salvation Of
ur unrepentant loved ones ought to
'e perpetual cause Of anxiety for us
ay in and day out. yet there are thou.
ands and hundreds Of thousands OF
hurch members who never think II
bllgatory for them to present the love
Z q living Christ to those who ought
o be as dear to them as Jonathan
vas to O David. Damon to q Pyth-
IS or the memory Of q murdered king
{ Denmark was to nm avenglng son.
'hese church members are ready to In
ite those friends to their homes, but
hey are not willing to personally In
lite them to sit Mt the holiest OF all ta-
les-the tab.e Of the blessed commun-
IN. They dre ready to talk with their
rlends upon politics or business. but
ley are not ready to discuss with them
lie greatest Of all questions. what
hall II profit man II he should gain
he whole world and lose his own
QUIZ" They are ready to sound the
ralss of their friends to their other |
riends but they are not ready to
ound forth to their earthly friends
be praises Of their Heavenly Father.
hey are always ready to introduce
ne earthly friend to another. but they {
re not anxious to make their earthly
acquainted with that Di.
inc Companion who Is ever willing to
D our helper and guide along the trou. Q
led journey Of life. c
Those church mpnlbpra ire not roadv | 7