Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-05-21
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TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMACE. DID,,
Pastor Of Jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Church, Chicago


able obligation. but such loyal and
loving surrender of his life and actions
to the divine will rs 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 IL 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, 1t Is my belief that most
people are honest, that most people
of hypocrites. All men are not scoun-
dres When, in 1779, the statement
was made in the British parliament
that every man had his price and that
all men could he bribed. 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. II
you tell me that all men cheat, | con-
clude that you yourself would cheat
if you had the chance. 1t sometimes
takes thief to catch thief.
If most people were not honest 1t
would be difficult to explain some of
the customs of the business world. In
many of our cities lunch buffcts 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-
pr!etor leaves it to your own honesty
to tell how much you owe. Docs not
this prove that most people are honest?
In the streets of New York, Philadcl-
phia and Chicago stands are placed
| Upon these stands are piled the morn
ing newspapers. You walk up to u
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 if he had not learned by expert
ence that most people are honest?
In Rome my mother some years ago
was examining piece of jewelry.
Before deciding to buy she wished her
! daughters to see the same. The pro-
prietor of the establishment immcdi-
ately wrapped up the article and hand
ed 1t to her. He told my mother that
she could take 1t 10 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, at 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?
A Bill Presented.
Taking this premise, then for grant
ed, shall boldly present to you Il 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 It is greater than
you could ever pay, though you lived
on earth a 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
do 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 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
gestivc 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. brutelke, physically to en-
JOY ourselves? Have we placed that
good health at the service OF the Mas
ter, as we know we ought to have
done? If you had been very sick and
| should come into the room just after
the crisis was past, and say, well
Mr. So-and-so, how are you feeling
today" You would answer. "Thanl
God, l am better; | hope | shall soor
be we'll" you give by that answer al
the credit OF your convalesccnce anc
health to God. Can II be that God Il
not expecting you to do anything foI
him on account OF this blessing?
But answers some one, you can
not blame the average person for no
being more grateful for his coot
health A healthy man does not thinl
about his health. If that good health
was taken away from him it would b'
different. Then the individual woulS
realize what he had lost. But how car
you blame II man for not being crate
full for healthy liver or kidneys o.
spleen when the mere fact that thes,
organs are healthy proves that he new
or knew he had a liver or spleen o.
Kidneys In one sense, my brother
| l. i'll