The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-01-11
DIR. TALMAGE'S SERMON.
BY THE REV. FRANK DE WITT rALMAeE, D. D.

They are not. They are the tears ot your dead and redeemed father and mother, which God has long been pre- serving in his sacred bottle They are the tears of joy which your father and mother are now shedding In heaven, be- cause the whlte-wlnged angels have al- ready flown to the Celestial City to an- nounce to them that their boy Is wearied of sim that their boy is now ready 10 cast himself upon the love of Jesus and be saved. Oh, today the sacred band Of Christian worshippers about me can hard ly keep from clapping their hands in joy. Truly, thls Is not only for us, but also for your repenting soul a happy, happy new year day
 Your Mothers Memory.
 This ought to be especially a happy new year for you, repenting, sinful man, be- cause now the good works of your dead father and motfier are about to be per petuated through the coming centuries. When your mother died. you said: T do not want for her any expensive funeral or useless show. I do not want any trained choir to sing any classical music by her casket l do not want for her public funeral. I do not even want her body to be taken to the church. Let her sleep as long possible in the bed where she died. Let her funeral be by her own IlTeSlue. Del d lew lTlenuS BdIntT neTt who loved her. Let some young girl who is a friend of my sister sing a simple song like
 Safe in the arms of Jesus.
 Safe on his gentle breast,
 "Mother was not fond of society. She was a home body. She lived mostly for father and us children" Well. my broth CT, if your mother was a home body and lived mostly for her children, do you not bot ,--F.. ta to consecrate your life to the cross, re- fused to be a good man and live a pure life, your sinful acts would be damming back great part of her prayers and the good results of her life? When your mother died, you gathered up all the kind, sympathetic letters wfich were written to you about her past lSindnesses. You also had the officiating minister write down his funeral address. Then, you had those letters and that address all printed and bound together In a booklet, which you called My Mothers Memo rial" But, man. the mightiest and most triumphant memorial you could ever make to your mothers life is your own life consecrated to the service of Jesus. S1e put her blood and her life into your life So man, this ought to be a happy year for you. It ought to be happy be- cause of your own conservation to the service of the Lord Jesus you are here now and ready to let your mothers pray CTS echo and re-echo and resound in your prayers. Her good deeds will find true continuance In your good deeds. Her Christ shall hereafter be worshiped with a sweeter look because he Is also now her boys Christ.
 The holy endeavor to fulnIl the past pledges which you have made to God shall be another desire inspiring you during this ensuing happy new year. All your past days have not been bright and happy days. The meadow larks do not sing when they hear the merciless growl of the destroying cyclone, The red rosss of June do not like to rest their blushing cheeks against the January snowbank. You may have welcomed the many, con gratulations which your friends showered upon you in your younger days of tri- umphs. But you have also had your de- feats and heartaches and disappoint- ments. You have also had your days when you lay upon a bed of sickness. You have days when your life was hang ing by slender thread, ready to be snap ped by death at any moment. Your wife and mother nursing you at the time did not think that you fully realized how sick you were You did. You knew it by the anxious way the doctor watched. You knew by the care the nurses took In giving the proper medicines at the exact time. Then-oh. then that dark hour you felt as did the poor fellow whom I buried some weeks ago. One Saturday he was at work in seemingly full health. The next Monday he lay upon the operating table as a last resort for his life After the operation they told him he had to die He looked up in pathetic way and said: I do not want to die. I am afraid to die Oh do not let me diel" What did you in that hour of your dangerous sickness?
 In the Dark Hours.
 What did you in that dark hour of trouble, when you knew that no human aid could rescue you? Did you not prac- tlcally say at that time, 70 God, if you will make me well and come to my res cue I will give up all my life to thee and thy servlce?" Yes. sinful man, God made you well. God rescued you. Have you kept your pledges to him? Have you given up your sinful heart to be purged from its past sins? Those broken vows are today driving into your bleeding re- pentant heart the sharp keen dagger of remorse. As a man of honor ana cnarac- ter, by the grace of God, you today are going to be true to those pledges. I feel It. l know 1t. I can see a new and holy purpose making your cheeks flush and your eyes flash with consecrated enthu- siasm. You would not break a pledge with any man to whom you gave your word Your boast heretofore has always been that your word is as good as your bond. Neither will you today, man, continue longer to break those old prom ises you made to God
 A noted preacher once told of pros- porous merchant who had a strange dream, and yet not a dream. For many years he had been a member of the church, but not living his religion as he ought to have lived 1t. In his dream he seemed to be sitting in his study reading the evening paper There was a quick knock at the door, and a stranger entered and stood before him. He fixed keen His look penetrated the innermost cham bers of his temple of conscience. One year ago tonight" said the stranger, your daughter was supposed to be dy- ing. Whom did you call upon for help? Whom did you promise to serve at that time? God. Ten years ago you were supposed to be lying upon your death- bed, Had you died at that time you would have left your family penniless. Whom did you promise to serve if he made you well? God. Fifteen years ago you joined the church during a time of religious awakening. Have you kept your pledges that you made to Jesus Christ at that timer" Nay, nay" an- swered the merchant In his dream But I will. From henceforth 1 will I will" And from that moment the sinful mer- chant lived a new life This ensuino