Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-11-09
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE, DID,.
Pastor Of Jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Church. Chicago

tDe saviour ana MS promises as lne
only means Of securing the greatest of
blessings, relief from the oppressive
burdens OF life which bear heavily on
humanity. The text is Matthew XII, %,
"Come unto me all ye that labor and
are heavy laden. and | will give you
rest"
Like the sensitive opal, this text
shines best when Il has been heated by
the fires Of tribulation. Like the dia-
mond, il glitters and sparkles bright
est when il has been cut by the lapi-
Diary Of trouble. Like some of the
autumnal fruits. IL is sweetest to the
parched lips when it has been frost
bitten. Like the morning sunrise, it
Is the most gladly welcomed by the
poor. tired invalid, who, unable to
sleep during the long, weary hours of
the night, has tossed upon the hot,
fevered pillow and wished for the day.
Like the sight of the old homestead,
II is most desired by the ragged out
cast of a repentant prodigal, wearied
with his journey from the far country,
who sees again his fathers home,
where he shall find forgiveness and
love.
These old promises Of the Bible, Of
fering rest and peace to those who are
troubled and In pain and sin, have
far different meaning to us after we
have been compelled to lift the cup Of
sorrow to our lips and drink its con-
tents to the bitter dregs. When we
first begin to study Gods word we are
like to that young man who for the
first time stood before a famous pic
ture. All the artistic world was rem
dering homage to that canvas and de-
claring that ii was a masterpiece. Yet
what did the young man in his igno-
rance say? "Ah, yes, that is a very
pretty picture but l do not see any
thing so wonderful in it." But after
awhile that young man began to study
art In his studies he developed the
latent or dormant artistic powers Of
his mind and soul. He not only stud
led in the art schools of America, but
he crossed the seas and went to the
schools of France and Italy. He sat
at the feet of the great masters. Then,
fresh from his studies, he came back
and stood q second time before that
same picture. Now 1t seemed to him a
different canvas from that which he
first saw. His cheek flushed; his eye
grew bright; he looked at that picture
first from one side of the room and
then from the other At last, after
many minutes of glorious soul thought,
he cried out in rapture: Beautiful!
Beautiful! Is it not beautiful" When
young men and young women first
open the Bible the gospel promises in
reference to sorrows and heavy bur-
dens do not appeal very strongly to
them. Their horizons are always rain
bowed. Their hillsdes are always
hanging gardens and terraced vine
yards. Their bodies always seem tt
have the warm, rich blood of perpetual
youth coursing through their veins. a
physicians prescription is not sough
after by the well nor an oculist b!
those having good eyes. But when
like that young man who studied il
the art schools of Europe, after w
have been compelled to take a Ion;
and then postgraduate course afte
postgraduate course, oh, then how DIFF
ferent Gods sweet promises appear t
us.
An Interpretation.
Today | would talk to those VIII
have foundered knee deep and chi
deep in the Quicksands of trouble.
would try to interpret for you wha
the gospel rest of my text means.
would interpret it not only for thos
who have found this rest, but also fC
those who may be persuaded to see
II as a God given blessing at the foo
of the cross. What is your burden. m
brother? Perhaps it is some sorro'
common to the whole human race.
Is very heavy and no lighter from II
fact that others are bearing the san
load Perhaps IL is some trouble pecu
lar to yourself that you cannot bear
describe even TO friend. Every hea
knoweth its own bitterness" but, wha
ever IL may be, the invitation Chri
gives is for you.
He offers you rest from the owe
whelming burden Of sin. This was Il
heavy pack which nearly crushed Il
tired pilgrim in Bunyan's great az
CORY. 1t is the heavy burden that max
the hearts and brains and eyes and fe
and hands and the backs OF all territi
ally ache during the sad Journey
life.
The past and the present. like the
amese twins, are inseparably joine
From a human standpoint we cam
live in the today" without feeling {
blistered lips OF the yesterday" breat
ing upon our cheeks. In Dante's Il
ferno" there was one region in viii
suffering spirits had their necks twi
ed by the king OF terrors. While tn
might be walking in one direction tn
eyes were always turned TO the re;
In, lffnsr hn rorrnor-Snff1l