Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-08-20
TALMAGE
SERMON
BY Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMACE, do.
Pastor Of Jefferson Park Presby.
torinn Church. Chicn 10

Chicago, Aug. 16.--In his sermon the
preacher points out the key to q sue
cessful life and the secret whereby
even seeming rNverses may be trans
formed into triumphs. The text is
Joshua 1, 5, "As was with Moses
so will be with thee"
One Of the greatest novels ever writ
ten, so considered by many of our best
critics, is Victor Hugos masterpiecc
Les Miserables." Amid all the art gal
lery Of that treasured book the most
wonderful description is the word
painting by which the dennnciator OF
Napoleon the Little" pictures the
downfall of Napoleon the Great nj
the battle field of Waterloo. When this
great master Of literature topples over
the French colossus, the earth trem-
bles and the dead centuries come forth
out of their musty tombs and look on
in perpetual wonderment.
In that marvellous recital you can
hear the booming Of the artilery's
guns and the crack of the infantry's
muskets and the groans of the dying
and the cheers Of the charging cav
airy, and the tramp Of the British lines
forming themselves into the unbreaka
bic squares against which the Old
Guard flung itself in vain. In
it you can see the flushed checks and
the flashing eyes of conqucring host
and the pale, wan, haggad faces of a
flying mob.
Yet after all in reading the thrilling
story ! am impressed not so much by
what happened as what did not hap
pen. For many hours the eagle Of vic.
tory seemed undecided upon which
standard to alight. She futtered this
way and that. az though awaiting some
ones expected advent to help her to
decide. Napoleon himself was waiting,
}nxiously waiting, for the same helper.
Every little while he would take his
field glass and scan the surrounding
hills and valleys. Every little while he
would turn to his staff officers ana say:
do you see him? Have you heard
any news from Grouchy? We must
have re-enforcements or we are lost"
In the meantime over the bills march
ed Marshal Butcher with his German
re-enforcenents. That was the de-
cisive event. Victory hesitated no
longer. She few to the standard of
Wellington and perchcd there. The
Napoleonlc star set in gloom to rise no
more in this world 1t was the lack of
re-enforcenents at critical moment
which destroyed the French army. 1t
is the lack of divine re-enforcements
which may destroy us in the battle OF
life.
~ VIII De with Thee" Said the Lord
The text tells us Of another general
who also needed re-enforcements. To
Joshua was committed the task of con-
quering a country held by warlike pco-
pie. To him at the supreme moment
comes the assurance of the Lord Of
Hosts, II will be with thee" Now, my
friends, the same kind Of divine re-en
forcemcnt which came to Joshua when
he took command Of the Israelitish
forces may also be given to us. When
God gave to him his commission he said,
Joshua, If you will be true TO me and
tight under my standard | will be with
thee, as | was with thy predecessor ="
That divine succor which God gave to
Joshua he gave to our Christian IA
theirs; that divine help he will give 10
us if we will trust him and believe on
him and live for him. Therefore
would inspire every Christian to
prayerfully go forth and do what God
wants him TO do. I would inspire all
Christians to live and work with n
brave heart, because the results Of our
future conflicts are as sure as God 3
promises are sure.
First, God will be with the Christian
workers of this present generation. We
fight under his glorious banner. David
had proved it by experience when he
wrote, Thou hast given a banner to
them that fear thee, that it may be
displayed because Of the truth" Under
that banner the church of God has won
victories in all ages. Solomon saw It
on its march and pronounced ii terri
BILE as an army with banners" He saw
1t later, triumphant over all evil. enter
ing like bride into the home of n
bridegroom and her lord leading her
into the banquet hall and placing over
her the banner OF love.
Now, a banner Is not merely a piece
of rag or larlng bit Of flutterins
bunting or a dress parade endazzls
ment. The banner Of God is Sag or a
standard. 1t Is the symbol of supernal
authority. Whoever therefore strikes
Mt Gods banners strikes ut the divine
heart. When, some years ago. an
American citizen was arrested by the
Spanish authorities in Cuba and sen.
fenced to die, the American consul 1T
first protested in vain. But on the day
set for the execution the Cuban au-
thorities dared not shoot because that
consul wrapped an American flag about
the condemned man, saying: HE is
an American citizen. Now shoot him
through the folds Of that flag If you
dare" Today, in symbol God wraps
about every Christian worker his ban
ner. 1t is the symbol or protection. II
Is the symbol of omnipotence. 1t is the
symbol of the atonement 1t is the
symbol of divine forgiveness. 1t is the
symbol of glorious and never ending
life
symbols In the Gospel banner.
We all can see the beautiful symbols
IN the American flag. Is there none
for us in the gospel banner? We say
there never was q national flag 30