Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-11-13
TALMAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT rALMAGE. DID,.
Pastor Of jefferson Park Presby.
terien Church. Chicago
By Rev.

paths"-the simple Christian faith In
the Saviour and bis promises-as the
only means of securing the greatest OF
blessings. relief from the oppressive
burdens of life, which bear heavily on
humanity. The text is Matthew xi. %.
Come unto me all We that labor and
are heavy laden. and 1 will give you
rest"
Like the sensitive opal. this ext
shines best when II has been heated by
the flres Of tribulation. Like the dia
mond, II glitters and sparkles bright
est when II has been cut 10y the lapi-
Gary OF trouble. Like some OF the
Autumnal fruits. 1t is sweetest to the
parched lips when II has been frost
bitten. Like the morning sunrise. it
a 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.
IIkes the sight OF the old homestead.
1t 10 most desired by the ragged out
cast of q repentaDt prodigal. wearied
with bis journey from the far country,
who sees again his fathers home.
whore 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 a
O. 40 oftn
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 famous pic
ture. All the artistic world was rem
derfDg homage to that canvas and de-
ciaring that II was masterpiece. Yet
what didythe young man In his igno-
rance say? "Ah, yes, that Is very
pretty picture, but ] 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 10 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 n second time before that
same picture. Now II seemed TO him
different canvas from that which be
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 II not beautifulr' 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 hillsidcs are always
hanging gardens and tcrraced vine
yards. Their bodies always seem to
have the warm, rich blood of perpetual
youth ooursing through their veins. A
physicians prescription is not sought
after by the well nor an oculist 10y
those having good eyes. But when.
the -nrt schools OF Europe, after we
have been compelled to take long
course I'm the school or adversely"
and then postgraduate course after
postgraduate course oh. then how diff
ferent Gods sweet promises appear to
us,
An Interpretation.
Today l would talk to those who
have foundered knee deep and chin
deep In the quicksands OF trouble.
would try TO interpret for you what
the gospel rest of my text means.
would interpret II not only for those
who have found this rest, hut also for
those who may be persuaded to seek
IL as God given blessing at the foot
OF the cross. What is your burden, my
brotherf Perhaps il Is some sorrow
common to the whole human race.
rs very heavy and no lighter from the
fact that others are bearing the same
load Perhaps IL is some trouble pecul-
lag to yourself that you cannot bear to
describe even to a friend. Every heart
knoweth Its own bitterness" but, what
ever II may be, the invitation Christ
gives Is for you.
He offers you rest from the over
wheiming burden of sin. This was the
heavy pack which nearly crushed the
tired pilgrim In Bunyan's great allie
CORY. II is the heavy burden that makes
the hearts and brains and eyes aud feet
ana hands and the backs OF ali terrific
ally ache during the sad journey OF
life.
The past and the present, IKE the 81
amess twins, are inseparably Joined.
From human standpoint we cannot
live In the today" without feeling the
bli'tersd lips of the yesterday" breath
log upon our cheeks. In Dante's "In-
ferno" there was one region in which
SUFFERING spirits had their necks twist
cd by the king Of terrors. While they
might be walking in one direction their
eyes were always turned to the rear.
In iife's journey the remorseful eyes of
the unforgiven sinner are always turn
cd to the rear. They are always look
ang at the threatenins.y results OF evil
deeds which may have been committed
years ago. "Oh." says the royal prose
Suting attorney. NJ. de yillefort, In Du.
mas greatest story, "if | could only
GET It'd OF the burdens OF my past sins.
Hut l cannot: ] cannot. No; he can
not The evil results of those sins, like
hound upon the track of n hare, ney.
er lose their scent. They track the sim
ner from town to town; they track him
into the Partisan capital they track
MIN until at last Vilieforts reason be-
comes deranged, and as mailman Inc
passes the rest OF his life behind iron
bars
read only short time ago OF an
old man who was at last brought to
Justice on account ot sin OF his
youth. In a northern state over a
quarter OF a century ago he commit
ted murder and fed. He went TO
i've In the mountainous regions of
Kentucky. He married there and
reared a large family of children. Aft
or his hair was white and back bent
the sleuthhounds OF the law found him.
He was arrested and handcuffed. He
was brought back to his childhood
home. In his Old age he had to an
swer for the crime of his youth. An
Qf0FDiVan man nan navap naf