Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-11-21
TAl.MACE
SERMON
BY Rev.
FRANK De WITT TALRfAGE. DID,.
Pastor of jefferson Park Pre.by-
terrain Church, Chicago

Christian laymen TO present the gospel
invitation to people who have not yet
accepted ii is enjoined i'm this sermon
by Rev. Frank De Witt Talmage on
the text Luke xiv, %, "Go out into
The highways and hedges and compel
them to come In
Christ was comparing the kingdom
of heaven to great banquet which
God had prepared for his invited
guests, who would not come. The
Earl of Leicester made great prepara-
lions to receive Elizabeth, the Virgin
Queen of England" when she visited
the castle halls OF old Kenilworth.
Not only was his banquet hail 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 n floating Island, came
into view. Upon this floating tsusd
sat n 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
III.
went on the heavens were aflame with
the Examinations OF fireworks. "Such,"
wrote the clerk of Queen Blizabeth's
council chamber, twas the blaze of
burning darts, the CLEAN of stars
coruscant, the streams and hail Of
fiery sparks, hghtnings OF wildf1re and
flight-shot of thunderbolts, with con-
tinuance terror and vehemency, that
the heavens Numbered, the waters
surged and the earth shook. and for
my part, hardy as / am, it 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: 81 will have my banquet hall
filled Notwithstanding. II the guests
for whom the banquet was prepared
will not come to me, then 1 will send
out for those who will appreciate it.
will compel them to come in" So the
Lord in the parable said to his serv-
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-
emily constrainers 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
crowded sanctuary and by depicting
the places OF evil resort we can ulti-
mately make a full heaven.
Mr. Moody's PInn.
When some one asked Mr.. Moody:
How shall we reach the masses for
Christi How shall we give the gospel
Invitation TO those sinners who are out
in the highways and tiie hedgesY' he
bluntly answered his questioners, go
after them" But how are we to 20
after them? First, as Christ's disciples,
we should begin our personal work
among individuals by presenting the
gospel of Jesus TO those who are closest
TO us. We should present Christ first
TO our fathers and mothers, TO our hus-
bands and wives and brothers and sis
tiers and children, to our dear friends
and to ell who are bound to us by the
ties or blood and love. We should do
Just the same as Andrew, the brother
or Philip, did when he was converted.
No sooner did he see the face OF Christ
than he practically said TO himself:
why, must immediately 40 and hunt
up my dear brother Philip. How hap
py can make himi We have been side
by side in all our joys and sorrows
from the time we were born. He must
share today in my new hope" 1t is
upon this action Of Andrew, who Mt
once went and carried the gospel'invi-
tation to his brother, thns ne mes
brotherhood OF Andrew and PhilIU-
has been established.
But, though the eternal salvation OF
our unrepentant loved ones ought to
be perpetual cause OF anxiety for us
day In and day out, yet there are thou
church members who never think Il
obligatory for them to present the love
OF living Christ to those who ought
TO be as dear to them as n Jonathan
was to David, Damon to a Pyth-
las or the memory OF q murdered king
or Denmark was to an avenging son.
These church members are ready to in.
vite those friends to their homes, but
'hey are not willing to personally in
Vite them to sit at the holiest of all tn
bles-the table OF the blessed commun-
Ion. They are ready to talk with their
friends upon politics or business. bat
tney are not ready to discuss with them
the greatest Of all questions, what
shall 1t profit a man If he should gain
The whole world and lose his own
soul!' They are ready to sound the
praises OF their friends to their other
friends, but they are not ready TO
sound forth to their earthly friends
the praises Of their Heavenly Father.
They are always ready TO Introduce
enc earthly friend to another, but they
are not anxious TO make their earthly
companions acquainted with that Di.
vine Companion who is ever willing 10
be our helper and guide along the trou-
bled journey Of life
Ihese church members are not ready
10 do as Sunday school teacher did
some years ago. She was the daughter
or one OF the wealthiest financiers In
the world. Her teacher, who was a
very Intimate friend OF my mother.
told of the incident Being converted.
the young girl not only gave her heart
10 Christ, but she at once wanted those
who were dearest to her 10 do the same.
SO, few days before her public pro-
fession in the church, she came to her
father and said, Papa, am going to
Join the church next Sunday, and I
want you to come and see me-" mo.
daughter" answered the father, ct
am ready to do anything for you, but I
can't go TO church. Your mother, you
know. attends to that part OF the fam
lily duties. Besides. Helen, 1 have a
very important meeting next Sunday
with one of our New York boards and