Milford chronicle., 1903-05-22
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE. DID,,
Pastor Of Jefferson Park Pres'by-
terian Church, Chicago

grateful acknowledgment of immeasur-
able obligation. but such a loyal and
loving surrender Of his life and actions
to the divine will as shall prove the
genuineness of his professions. The
text is Matthew xxi, 81 Render unto
God the things that are Gods"
Many people talk as if this world
was full Of rogues. do not believe
any such charge There is more hon
esty in the world than it gets credit
for. Indeed, it is my belief that most
people are honest, that most people
want to do right. This is not a world
OF hypocrites. All men are not scoun-
drels. When. in 1T19, the statement
was made in the British parliament
that every man had his price and that
all men could be bribed. Il statesman
arose and said "That charge is not
true. Benedict Arnold might become
a traitor, but there are many generals
in the American army whom all the
money in King Georges treasury can
not buy" If you have not found this
kind of world there is something
wrong with your own principles. The
man who declares that all men are
rogues at heart is practically making
confession of his own dishonesty. If
you tell me that all men cheat. l con-
clude that you yourself would cheat
if you had the chance. 1t sometimes
takes thief to catch a thief.
If most people were not honest it
would be difficult TO explain some Of
the customs of the business world. In
many of our cities lunch buffets have
been started. where you can go to a
large counter and help yourself. You
can eat as much as you want. Practi-
cally no one watches you. The pro-
prietor leaves it to your own honesty
to tell how much you owe. Does not
this prove that most people are honest?
In the streets Of New York, Philadel-
phia and Chicago stands are placed.
Upon these stands are piled the morn
ing newspapers. You walk up to
stand and take the paper you wish.
You leave your money upon the stand
and go off. Often no one watches you.
Would the news dealer thus leave his
stand II he had not learned by expert
ence that most people are honest?
In Rome my mother some years ago
was examining piece Of jewelvy.
Before deciding to buy she wished her
daughters to see the same. The pro-
prietOr of the establishment immedi-
ately wrapped up the article and hand !
ed it to her He told my mother that
she could take it to the hotel and there
decide what she wished to do. But"
answered mother. lis this safe for you
to do? You do not know me. Can
you trust all your customers like this?"
YES" answered the proprietor, 1t is
safe. l know you are an American
lady No American lady has ever yet
deceived us when we trusted her We
will take the risk" Does not that
prove that most people are hOnest2
Bill Presented.
Taking this premise. then for grant
ed, shall boldly present to you a bill
which ! know you will try to pay. It
is from my Lord and Master. Ii is a
statement Of the debt which every
man. woman and child. to more or less
extent. owes to God. l do not demand
payment Of it. for it is greater than
you could ever pay. though you lived
on earth thousand years and worked
as hard as you could; but want you
TO feel your obligations and to resolve /
that you will do all that is in your
power to show your gratitude to your
Heavenly Father for all the mercies |
and comforts with which he has sur /
rounded you during your life There |
fore. what you are to do. you must |
start to do right away, and in order to /
Go it, you must serve Christ from now |
on with your whole heart.
a big bill for good health Is charged |
up against most Of US in the divine /
ledger. We may be growing old now
and have here and there a rheumatic /
twinge; we may be unable to eat as
heartily Of indigestible foods as we
did when young. or to work as rapidly
or as long, but most of us have had
years and years of good health. We
have had years with two stout lungs
and two keen eyes and with good d.
gestive organs and good nerves. Now
comes the question: What have we
accomplished with this God given bless
ing called good health? Have we done
anything more with it than to eat and
sleep. and. brutelike. physically to en-.
Joy Ourselves2 Have we placed that
good health ri the service Of the Mas
ter. as We know we ought to have
done? II you had been very sick and
should come into the room just after
the crisis was past, and say. We'll
Mr.. So-and-sO. how are you feeling
lodayY You would answer. THANK
God, am hetter: / hope shall soon
be well" you give by that answer all
the credit Of your cOnvalescence and
health to G-d. Can it be that God is
rot expecting you to do anything for
aim on account OF this blessing?
But" answers some one. you can
not blame the average person for not
being more grateful for his gool
health. A healthy man does not think
ibout his health. II that good health
vas takon away From him II yvoul1 bn