Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-03-20
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE. DID,.
Pastor Of Jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Church, Chicago

y
Is shown by Rev. Frank De WIT Tai
mage In this sermon on the text Mat
thew 1, 4. And Naassop begat Sal
mon"
Why did Thomas Carlyle entitle one
Of his books Heroes and Hero Wor-
shipp He knew that the vast major
ity of the human race loved to study
the lives of ITS great men and women.
Most people are Boswells, bowling be-
fore some Johnsonian shrine. We want
to see the hero as divinity, prophet,
n priest, man of letters or king.
What Dante or Shakespeare or Luther
or Rousseau or Burns or Cromwell or
Napoleon was IN public and private
life has for most of us an absorbing in-
terest We are not. as rule, over
wrought with excitement when we
come in touch with n seeming mo
body" but We will travel far to sit at
the feet of great orator or TO clasp
hands with a Goethe or n Victor Hugo
or TO see one whose dictum may influ-
ence the destiny of nation.
We do well to honor the tranScendent
genius and TO take an intense interest
in the characteristics OF the great man,
but we ought not to overlook the heroic
elements I'm ordinary lives. There are
men among us, inconspicuous and un-
known, who are living valiant lives.
overcoming the evil within them and
around them and exercising benef-
cent influence on their own contracted
circle. These are men who, If a great
crisis came or a great opportunity
opened, would achieve fame, but with
4 will a To
few who know them we'll 1t is such
men 1 would hold up for your admira-
ton today, and L choose at random as
an illustration of the class an obscure
name from n genealogical table.
The Cradles Influence.
First, Naasson's cradle must have
been an important part of his life's
ministry. 1t is a very common custom
for people to sneer at the helpful in
Guence of cradle. Many critics are
apt to say that all n baby is good for
Is to eat and sleep, to cry and get sick
and TO keep the house in upronr from
the time he gets into IT until, as a
young man, he goes forth TO start q
home of his own. For nearly two
years at least the mother is bound to
that cradle as firmly as If she were
linked TO Ii with chain of steel. For
four or five years the baby is utterly
helpless. II turned out in the cold, he
would not be able to take as much care
OF himself as a five-month-old puppy.
For the first fifteen years of n child's
life his opinion upon any subject is
practically valueless. The first twenty
years are for the most part preparation
hoY hr
ment OF any high purpose. There
FORE" some one says TO me, 'I do not
see how you can affirm that Naasson's
cradle could have been a very impor-
tant part OF his LIES ministry"
While admitting these facts, still
contend that the first few years of a
child's life have n momentous in1u-
ence. They are important not only to
the child, but to his parents. Who has
not witnessed the influence of n cradle
in house? 1 appeal to your own ex-
perience. 1t must be I'm essential prin-
ciplcs parallel OF mine. My cradle
and the cradles of my brother and sis
tiers had a hallowing influence in our
home. They were an inspiration to my
father and mother. My father preach
ed better sermons on Sunday because
he knew that In his nursery the chill
dren with whom he romped during the
week would look TO him as an example
and model. My mother was al! the
more consecrated and circumspect be-
cause her daughters were looking to
her for guidance and maternal train
Ing. And, my brother, when any one
says that your childhood amounted to
nothing, you deny IL. BY the sainted
graves OF your dead father and mother
you declare that you know they were
better Christians and better citizens
because you. Us little stranger, once
crept into their hearts. Your parents
not only gave you 10 the Lord Jesus
Christ when they stood with you at
the baptismal altar, but they also at
the same time, on your account, re-
newed their conservation vows to the
Christ who loved their little child.
Child In Camp.
The purifying, ennobling and Chris
thanking influence OF little child was
once illustrated by q brother minister
In the following story: One day, in the
Tar west stalwart miner was return
ing to his encampment when he found
lost child. She was n beautiful little
girl OF about five summers. where are
your father and mother, little oner
asked the miner. Don't know" said
The baby What are you going to |
dor WELL" she answered, not the |
least abashed, 81 guess i will go home |
with you and wait until mamma comes |
and gets me-" The miner, with laugh, |
picked her up in his strong arms and |
started up the mountain side. The lit |
tie girl in bis embrace was not a bit |
afraid. She laughed and sang and |
Chartered all the way. When the min
er came to camp, he asked the men |
what he would do with her. and they
said, Let her stay here over night, and /
then some one will take her to town in |
the morning" After supper the little
girl suddenly stopped her chattering
and said: Nov il is time for me to 60
TO bed. Who will undress me?" That
was a new task for those hard listed
workmen. They did not know what to
do. At last the man who had found
her said, Little one, come here: I viii
undress you" He got out q wooden
shirt and used 1t for her nightgown.
Then she looked up in her sweet, inno-
cent way and said: Now / must say
my prayers. Who will say them tor
This was harder proposition for the
men to solve than the other At last
one miner said, Come, my darling, and
say your prayers to me-" When the
little one knelt. the tears came yelling
out of the miners eyes. He pushed
her Off as he said, mo, my little one;
am not good enough for you to say
your prayers to me-" Another miner
tried 1t. He broke down. At last the
little girl knelt by her bunk When
she commenced to pray the old prayer
Now lay me down to sleep
pray the Lord my soul to keep
and ended up that prayer with the
plea that God would bless the good
men who were looking after her, there