Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-04-02
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE. DID,.
Pastor Of Jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Church, Chicago


silent rather than censorlous In deal
ing with the weaknesses of others. The
text is II Samuel !, 20, Tell it not in
Gath; publish it not in the streets of
Askelon."
"Silence," once wrote trenchant
and poetic author, as only music
asleep" BY the grace of God would
prove that gospel silence may be mu-
steal without being always somnolence.
1t is often gospel harmonies wide
awake and in full diapason. The gold
en- lips of silence can sometimes no
more eloquent In their gospel signifi-
canoe than the silver tongue of speech.
There is great excitement in the Da-
vidic encampment. A sentinel sees n
courier at full speed running down the
valley. Coming nearer, he calls out
with painting voice, "Tidings, my lord
tidings for the now king" From the
different tents the swarthy limbed SOL
diers, who we're resting from the con-
quests over the Amalekitcs, swarm
forth. They lead the new arrival to
the young commander. There he pros
trates himself upon the ground. He
announces that Saul has been defeated
and has committed suicide; Jonathan
has been slain. The empty throne IS
now ready for its new occupant, the
conqueror of the mighty Philistinc, Go
Hath. What was the result? Did Da-
vid tell his followers to exult over the
fallen king? Did he say TO his COM
panions in arm: Good for Saul! His
defeat served him right. Divine JUS
tice has avenged my wrongs. He had
no business to Try to kill me to satisfy
his jealousy. He had no right to drive
me into exile. lie should not have be-
come an apostate and defied the divine
| power which had anointed him king of
Israeli No! David had the silver
| tongue of speech. No psalmist ever
sang sweeter than this sweet singer of
! Israel. But David had the golden lips
of gospel silence. He lifted his hand
| in warning. He practically said this
"Do not exult over your fallen king.
! Do not advertise his faults to the world
lest the uncircumcised Philistines re-
| joice. Do not sneer at Gods anointed.
Let his faults be buried in his tomb
Only remember and talk about his good
qualities. Tell it not in Gath; publish
| it not in the streets of Askelon.'
Would that We one and all, might be
as charitable in our comments upon
those who have sinned and wronged
US as David was with Saul. Would
that we might talk only about the good
qualities of those with whom we come
in contact and not examine n mans
faults with the magnifying power OF
microscope and study his virtue,
with the minifying power of the In
verted end of a telescope. Would that
we might cease to write our human
Communications in the sands, which
are washed out by the rising tides in Z
day, and that we might rather chise
our commentators in the solid rocks
which shall publish them forever.
Golden Lips Of silence.
The golden lips of gospel silence
never banquet upon carrion. We know
that heathful physical body has Il
draw its strength from clean provender
! i Il
microscopically diseased it will max
unclcan any body into which it is alb
sorbed. When one Of the president
elect, many years ago, was about Il
be inaugurated, his enemies tried It
poison him. They placed poison in tn
food in a certain hotel where he wa
stopping at the time in the city o
- .I,s 1.n1;.
, hundreds of guests eating at that hote
were poisoned. Some Of the guests los
their lives. Many more were doome'
TO n lifetime of suffering invalidism
The president elect did not suffer, be
= cause at that dinner he did not tax
any OF the poisoned food. Only tn
= ravens and the buz2ards could feas
, upon the carcasscs floating abou
/ Noah's ark; not the dove with he
$ wings covered with silver and he
feathers with yellow gold. What
true in reference to the physical bod
Is also true in reference to the min
@ and the spirit. If we allow our thought
TO feed upon what is depraved in othe
mems characters, then our thought
VIII tutIuSclNcS DccOluc utIlldN tu.
we allow our lips to revel in utterin
the scandals and describing the veal
nesses and the sins of our neighbor
70 or friends or enemies, then our ow
S tongues will become dcGled.
V This law-that what we let our mind
= feed upon decides what our minds ar
Y to be-is irrevocable and all powerful
1t is so farreaching in its results this
Jesus. in the gospel of Matthew, d.
= clarcs that he will condemn us NJ
/ only for our evil actions, but also fC
our evil thoughts. aye have heard tn;
1t was said by them of old, Thou sha
not commit adultery. But ! say unit
= you that whatsoever looketh on won
10 an to lust after her hath committe
adultery with her already in his heart
;, We are to be condemned not only f
what we say and do, but also for WIFI
g we think.
y ooh, no." says some hearer. "That
{ not square. A man should not be co
o demned for what he thinks. III
thought action of the brain is abs
IL lutely involuntary. We think in spi
+ of ourselves. We sin only when v
e carry out the evil desires of our soul
l. We do not sin necessarily when v
Is think evilly." All, my brother, you a
g mistaken. A man can indirectly 90
1t ern his thoughts. as he can direct
govern his actions II Il man ALLOW