Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1902-09-05

By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALhAGE, DID,.
Pastor Of Jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Church, Chicago
Chicago, Aug. 31.-SOund advice in
view Of the uncertainty Of life is given
In this sermon by Rev. Il. De Witt Tai
mage OH the text Isaiah xxxviii 1,
''Set thine house in order, for thou
shalt die"
am going to stay aboard this planet
as long as l can. When the time comes
for me to die, believe sufficient grace
will be given to me with which to die.
But have never felt less like dying
than at the present time. My home
was never SO happy, my fr ends never
more kind, my work never more alb
sOrbing. Present earthly life is mex
pressibly sweet to me. feel In refer
ence to 1t Il great deal as did Christie
pher North. the physical and literary
athlete, who, with his friends and chill
dren, used to race over the heather of
old Scotland, his yellow curls a-hying
in the Winds singing and shouting as
he ran. because he was bubbling over
with JOY and animal spirits l am in
love with tho world because l like the
people who are In it.
But, though earthly life may be a
priceless boon to some people as well
as to myself, yet there must come to
all time when we shall have to die.
lnaslnu fnIr Of
who besOught God by prayer to in
crease his earthly day,'wc may be able
10 prOlOng our existence ten. fifteen or
even twenty years by RICHLY Obeying
the well tested physical laws of health
bio Lewis. the great lecturer upon by
gienc, once declared that every normal
healthy child born into the world
ought to live to be at least 100 years
old. He asserted that nearly all the
members Of the human race do not
live out half their earthly life be-
cause they do not eat the right kind Of
food. Wear the proper clothing and
take the proper amount OF exercise.
But though the longevity of the hui
man race might be increased to 100 or
=
Grafton might be able to reach the two
hundFedth and fiftieth milestone which
marks the highway of life's journey
instead of only the twentieth or fif-
tieth or SEVENTEEN milestone, yet for
every man and woman there must
come at last an end to earthly exist
ence. The Bible distinctly and en-
phatically states it. All history proves
| it. Though DiO Lewis himself rigidly
practiced the laws Of health which his
keen and far reaching intellect framed;
though lie only ate just enough food to
rcplcnish the amount of waste tissue;
though he wore the proper clothing
and daily took the proper amount of
| physical exercise, yet bio Lewis him
self had to die. SO the same words
Of warning which the prophet Isaiah
brought to the sick ruler in the ancient
Jerusalem palace bring to you. They
are just as pertinent for the present
| generation as they were to the Hebrew
king who lived nearly 5000 years ago.
The First steps Necessary.
In anticipating his earthly demise
common sense man should in the first
place set his temporal house in order.
That means he should, if necessary,
get his life insured. He should make
out his last will and testament. He
should appoint the executors of his es-
tate, and the future guardian of his
children. He should explain the de
tails of his business and invest his
moneys In such Il manner as that his
executors can easily carry out his
plans. He should train up his chill
dren or his lieutenants SD that they
may carry on his work after he is
dead. He should, If desirable, buy
his family plot and make all arrange
ments for the last resting Place of HIM
self and his loved ones. We have con-
tempt for the man who has SO little
interest In the temporal welfare OF
his wife and children that he will not
make last will and testament.
but, Mr.. Talmagc," answers some
, one, Il would do as you say. but am
very superstitiOus about this matter of
making a will. l intend to make will
: and fix up my temporal affairs when
feel that my life is drawing to an
earthly close, but not now. have al
ways superstitlOusly felt that when a
/. man makes his last will and testament
he will certainly die before the year is
out. Therefore / want to postpone
making my will as long us possible"
L Although am, comparatively speak
= ing, young man, yet / have had a
/. great deal of experience In sickrOoms
and by deathbeds, and. my brother,
want to warn you as a friend that il
all probability when you come to die
you will not have any time to fix VI
your estate and make an intelligent
will and last testament. In all prObn
billty you will be in such physical anC
= mental weakness that YOU will no
, have enough strength to do anythin,
l; else but lie in your bed and murmur
n few words of farewell until you ar,
" gone. Therefore. my brother, wha
q you want to do In reference to settin,
d, your temporal house i'm order through
the Influence Of your last will and tes
lament You had better do right away
When death comes. your brain may b
, too feeble to plan and your fingers to-
trembling 10 hold pen.
Furthermore, my friend, that state
7. ment Of yours about being supersti
tious in reference to making a will /
very foolish. II is as foOli sh as the 81
- perstitiOn some people have nbOu
sitting one Of thirteen at a table O
n looking at the new moon over tn
~ wrong shoulder or carrying new
IN born babe downstairs before he is cal
10 ried upstairs. 1t is so foolish that
les am surprised it should be anywheI
S 1ss entertained among INTEL gent peOpl
in You will not die because you max
ms your last will and testament, but yC
me ought to make your last win and test
Tor ment in reference to yOuI temporal u
lis fairs because your death is ineVitabl
nj ''Set thine house in order"
A Question Answered.
Il. "But, Mr.. Talmage," says some OF
er, what is the good of making a la
II will and testament? l have nothing
n leave except the few clothes in n
wardrobe, and there are not many
them. am u clerk on a cOmparatiV
ly small salary. l live up to the la
p cent Of my income, and l cannot G
e. ford to insure my life for the bene
Of my children"
- My brother, that is a very brave al
frank statement to make. You say