Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1903-10-03
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMhGE. DID,.
Pastor Of Jefferson Park Presby-
terian Church. Chicago

Chicago, Sept. 81 - Amid the dis
fractions and temptations Of modern
life this sermon utters warning cry,
a timely call for a return to the simple
ways and upright, honorable. Chris
tan lives The text is jeremiah vi.
10, "Ask for the old paths"
Most simple is the texts figure. Its
simplicity gives it homely beauty. 1t
has in 1t the aroma of the woods. Ii
Is one Of those simple SMILES Of coun-
try life that bring back to the weary
city dweller, whose feet have been long
accustomed to the hard paving stones
Of the city sidewalks. the memory OF
the footpaths over turf covered hills
and the narrow lanes between the
banks bejeweled with sweet wild how-
ers that he used to walk in his child
hood days. The old paths-we can
never forget them. 1t Will do US good
IL we think Of them this morning and
see II there are any moral lessons we
can learn from them. Sometimes the
commonest incidents of everyday life
have a voice for those who Will near.
Jean Francois Millet is everywhere
ranked among the most famous artists.
He taught, however, his greatest les
son by painting two ordinary every
day French peasants bending over
their hoes in the center of country
field In an attitude of prayer. The
"Angelus," immortalized by Millet, was
rung from a village church spire. HIS
worshipers were those who once lived
in humble poor mans home.
Robert Burns was the sweetest bard
old Scotland ever Graded among the
wild flowers Of Ayr and lullabied to
sleep by the murmuring waters OF the
Bonnie Doom" Yet, with the hand
OF a master, he played upon the silver
chords Of the grand old instrument or
human love by singing one OF his
sweetest songs about mouse's nest
In the death OF a four legged dumb
brute Burns loosened the silent tongues
Of many a songster and songstress who
have blended their voices In chorus
of praise at the sacred altars OF domes-
tic happiness jeremiah, among the
greatest of the prophets, lamenting
that his countrymen had deserted their
God and disobeyed his laws, PLEADS
with them to avert the impending pun
ishment by returning to him. and he
employs this simple figure to portray
their condition. He describes them as
travellers lost upon the mountains or
sin, hunting for path which will lead
them out of their moral difficulties. He
represents God as telling them to ask
for the old paths, which Is the good
way, and walk therein, and ye shall
find rest for your souls. But they said'
Eve will not walk therein" jeremiah
points the right path leading to the
throne of God by using the homely
simile of the ordinary country paths
or rough roadways In common use at
the time, over which the eastern cara
vans have Travelled and the cows have
/ come home for the evening milking
and over which have passed tired men
and women when, with daily tasks well
done. they have sought the home hre-
sides for rhysical refreshment and for
blessed sleep.
The Pathway to the Cross.
Like jeremiah, would today carry
your thoughts back TO the reminiscen-
ces of the country and from the sweet
| fresh flowers Of the village hedgerows
pluck blossoms which will remind you
of old time associations and resolves.
The greatest of horticulturists Is not
! the gardener who fashions his beds IN
the many colors" Of Joseph's coat or
a grandmother's crazy quilt 1t Is he
who makes his floral designs simple
very simple. One bed looks as though
II were a bit Of Alpine lake fung
among the crowded regiments OF now
era. It Is planted entirely with yiolets.
| IT looks as simple and yet as beaut1ful
an the June heavens colored In blue
Another bed looks like great collec'
ton of leaping flames. 1t Is planted
only in roses. It is very simple. 1t Is
AZ simple in colors as a cardinals robe
II is as simple In colors as the setune
un. Another bed has the jaundiceo
look of Malay's skin. 1t is only
planted In golden glows. Another VIII
he an azalea bed, another a dahlia, an
other planted in white lilies, another 10
geraniums. The horticulturistic genius
thrives best in the simplicity OF colors
From this sermonic bed l would plucH
only the sweet forgeti1eDots OF tenoel
memories. Like jeremiah the propne'
I would try to lead you over some ol
the old paths which your feet nave
trodden in the past, and in the leading
I would lead you to the foot OF the
GROSS.
The old path which wound its wa!
toward the old homestead is the mrs
one would bid you to seek. ina
path by the side of which was once
builded your fathers and mother'
nursery Is today in all probability Gov
cred I'D with underbrush. Here 1t II
blocked by the rotting trunk OF a tre'
which has fallen sideways. Ihere
has been scooped out by freshet an(
yonder covered up with a landslide l
looks a great deal like one Of those Oh
deserted log roads which once woun'
their way through the woods TOWARD
the town. After the new highway o
pike was opened the farmers ana I'M
farmers wives always went the otne
way to market. The result Is tnat IN
small bushes and the weeds nave De
gun to grow over that path whicn ie'
to your mothers nursery. II mas ION
been untrodden by any human foo'
Five, ten, fifteen, twenty. thirty years
What? whati Have your mother am
father been dead as long as thatf Ny
my. how time does go! No wonde
you have forgotten great deal aoou
your mother and her ways.