The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-12
DIR. TALMAGE'S SERMON.
RY THE REV. FRANK DE WITT TALMAoE. D. Q.

what they wanted tears of holy joy ran down his cheeks. The good mans emo- ton at the spectacle of sailors seeking re- ligion was so true, so genuine, that the ribaid men were touched. They listened to his earnest words, and as they lis tened the Holy Spirit worked on their hearts Before they left three of the company were completely broken down and were led to seek shelter under God 8 wing. That new creation. that new spir- itual birth was not mans work, but Gods alone.
 Oh, the creative and the creating spir- itual power of Gods wingl We cannot afford to be one moment without it. Sir Henry Havelock, the most famous Chris tian soldier, at the time of his death, in the British army, so felt his spiritual dependence upon God that he dare not and would not let any day pass without at least two hours spent in closest con- tact with Gods wing. If the army was to march at 6 in the morning then Have lock rose at and spent the intervening time in prayer and Bible reading in talk ing with God and having God talk to him. "I cannot afford to neglect every pulpit preparation" once wrote the great Rob- ert Hall, rather than neglect my pri- vate devotions and sacred solitary com munion with Christ" Oh, my brother and sister, are we trying to get divine life by merely coming into touch with man? Are we trying to be gospel evan zelists, known and read of all men, with out having our penitent hearts beating against the great pardoning spiritual. life giving heart of God? Come under Gods wing today. Come, that we may have life and have 1t more abundantly. Listen to the divine call and come to the divine shelter, and as the chickens find under the hens wing comfort and safe ty and peace, so shall you find rest and peace for your souls.
 A Symbol of True Love.
 Gods wing is a protecting wing. There are two kinds of hens. The one is a chickenless fowl, which is an arrant coward She will run at every strange sight and known danger. If she could fly, she would. When a little boy throws a stone at her she will run to the oppo- site of the yard just as fast as she can go, keeping her wings Tapping to help along in the retreat. But how different Is the behavior of one who is clucking to her brood Then there Is no coward 8 heart beating within the mothers breast Then there Is no danger she will not face for her young.
 The protecting care of hens wing IS one of the sweetest symbols of all true love. What is the matter win that
 hen2" says the farmers wife to her hus- band. For the last five minutes she has been Misunderstanding and calling to her chickens She has now gathered them all under her wing. She is hiding behind the wheelbarrow." The husband says nothing until he goes out upon the porch. He uses his hands for a shade and casts his eyes over the heavens. "Yes, wife" he answers, "I thought as much. Do you see that black speck in the heavens? We'll, I think that Is the old hawk who stole so many of our chickens last summer, and that old hen remembers him. I guess I will help Biddy out and try to kill MT. Hawk and help save her chickens. However, now those chickens are all safe. They are under the hens wings"
 The hens wings in time of danger are always protecting wings. The other day I was walking about a farm and exam ming the horses in the stalls and the cattle in the fields. while a pet dog was running at my heels. During my explo- rations I heard an excited clucking, but thought nothing of 1t. As I stepped into the barnyard proper I saw a hen lying under a board I called to her, but she moved not I called again and again, and then tried to shoo her off what l thought to be a sctolen nest Then l took a stick and gave her a poke. In- stead of a frightened hen flying away for her life I found vindictive and outraged mother flying at me and my dog. The dog ran in one direction, I in the other. Then the hen called again to her young and gathered her chickens under her wing, while she still eyed my four-legged companion as she would eye the would be murderer of her children. Oh. my friends. in the beautiful symbol of my text, did you ever stop to think that Gods care could be a protecting wing?
 Gods Physical Protection.
 God protects us in a physical sense. Some time ago, a gentleman with his family, wished to make a journey to Boston. He hurried through his work that his vacation might be one of com plete rest but. try as hard as he could, he lost the desired train. A short time after the gentleman read the telegraphic reports that the train upon which he hoped to travel was wrecked in a collision and scores and scores of people were killed He immediately gathered his family together and returned thanks to God because he and his loved ones had ] been saved from this calamity But why ought that man especially to have thanked God that day? Ought he not rather to be grateful to his Heavenly Father for caring for him and his loved ones every day? I never take trip in my life, and I have travelled thousands and tens of thousands of miles, but I re- alize the inQumerable dangers which | everywhere beset me. One intoxicated 1 engineer, one drunken swltchman, one failure of the signal lights to work and Death Is ready to reach out her bony arms and hug the breath out of me. If you do not believe what say, some night when travelling lie awake in your berth. | Then listen to the rumbling in the dis tance coming nearer and nearer until, with one wild shriek, the limited shoots l past, and then realize the prevalent dan