Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-05-18
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMACE. DID,.
Pastor of Jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Church, Chicago

relation TO his Divine Creditor, to
whom he owes not only a full and
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. q, Render unite
God the things that are Gods"
Many people talk as II this world
was full OF rogues. do not. believe
any such charge. There is more hon.
esty in the world than II gets credit
for. Indeed. II 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 1779. the statement
was made In the British parliament
that every man had his price and that
all men could be bribed, a 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 cam
not buy" If you have not found this
kind OF a 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. IL
you tell me that all men cheat, 1 con-
clude that you yourself would cheat
II you had the chance. 1t sometimes
takes a thief to catch thief.
II most people were not honest II
would be difficult to explain some Of
the customs Of the business world. In
many OF our cities lunch Bullets 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 IL 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 q
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 a piece Of jewelry.
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 II to her. He told my mother that
she could take ii to the hotel and there
decide what she wished to do. But"
answered mother. lis this safe for you
20 do? You do not know me. Can
you trust all your customers like this?"
YES" answered the proprietor, lit is
safe. 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 honest?
Bill Presented.
Taking this premise, then. for grant
ed, shall boldly present to you a bill
which | know you will try to pay. 1t
Is from my Lord and Master. 1t is a
statement of the debt which every
man. woman and child, to more or less
extent, owes to God. | do not demand
payment of it. for 1t is greater than
you could ever pay, though you lived
on earth thousand years and worked
as hard as you could; but l want you
TO feel your obligations and to resolve
haN do oil hot fo In,
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
do IL, 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 di
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 ii than TO eat and
sleep. and. brutelike. physically to en-
Joy ourselves? Have we placed thai
good health at the service OF the Mas
ter, as we know we ought to have
doneI II you had been very sick and
l should come into the room Just aftei
the crisis was past, and say, well
Mr.. So-and-so, how are you feelins
todayT You would answer. "Thanl
God. / am better; hope | shall sooI
be we'll" you give by that answer al
the credit OF your convalescence anC
health to God. Can II be that God Il
not expecting you TO do anything 70
him on account OF this blessingl
"Rut" answers soma one ssvou IN N