The Caucasian., 1903-04-02
TALMAGE
SERMON
BY Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE, DID,.
Pastor Of Jefferson Park Presby-
terian Church, Chicago

finders, gossips. slanderers and scan
dal mongers and shows by contrast
how Christlike it is to be generously
silent rather than censorious in deal
Ing with the weaknesses Of others The
text is II Samuel /. 90 Tell it not in
Gath; publish it not in the streets OF
Askelon"
Silence" once wrote a trenchant
and poetic author, lis only music
asleep" By the grace of God l would
prove that gospel silence may be mu-
sical without being always somnolence.
1t is often gospel harmonies wide
awake and in full diapason. The gold
en- lips of silence can sometimes be
more eloquent in their gospel signif-
canoe than the silver tongue Of speech.
There is great excitement in the Da-
vidic encampment. A sentinel sees a
courier at full speed running down the
valley. Coming nearer. he calls out
with painting voice. ''Tidings, my lord
tidings for the new kingr From the
different tents the swarthy limbed SOL
diers, who were resting from the con-
quests over the Amalekites. swarm
forth. They lead the new arrival to
the young commander. There he pros
trates himself upon the ground. He
announces that Saul has been defeated
and has committed suicide: Jonathan
has been slain. The empty throne Is
now ready for its new occupant. the
conqueror of the mighty Philistine. Co
Hath. What was the result? Did Da-
yid tell his followers to exult over the
fallen king? Did he say to his COM
panions in arm: Good for Saul! His
defeat served him right. Divine JUS
tice has avenged my wrongs. He had
no business to try to kill me to satisfy
his jealousy. He had no right to drive
me into exile. He should not have be-
come an apostate and defied the divine
power which had anointed him king of
Israeli" No. David had the silver
tongue of speech. No psalmist ever
sang sweeter than this sweet singer of
Israel. But David had the golden lips
of gospel silence. He lifted his hand
in warning. He practically said this:
do not exult over your fallen king.
Do not advertise his faults to the world
lest the uncircumcised Philistines re-
joice. Do not sneer at Gods anointed.
Let his faults be buried in his tomb.
Only remember and talk about his good
qualities. Tell it not in Gath: publish
it not in the streets of Askelon."
Would that we. one and all. might be
as charitable in our comments upon
those who have sinned and wronged
US as David was with Saul. Would
that we might talk only about the good
qualities of those with whom we come
in contact and not examine mans
faults with the magnifying power Of
q microscope and study his virtues
with the minifying power Of the in
verted end of a telescope. Would that
we might cease to write our human
commenda tons in the sands, which
are washed out by the rising tides in
day, and that we might rather chisel
our concentrations IN the solid rocks,
which shall publish them forever.
Golden Lips OF silence
The golden lips of gospel silence
never banquet upon carrion. We know
that healthful physical body has to
draw its strength from clean provender.
If piece of meat is decomposed and
microscopically diseased, it will make
unclean any body into which it is abb
sorbed. When one Of the presidents
elect, many years ago. was about to
be inaugurated. his enemies tried to
poison him. They placed poison in the
food in certain hotel where he was
stopping at the time In the city Of
Scores and. Il believe,
hundreds Of guests eating at that hotel
were poisoned. Some of the guests lost
their lives. Many more were doomed
to a lifetime of suffering invalidism.
cause at that dinner he did not take
any of the poisoned food. Only the
ravens and the buzzards could feast
upon the carcasses floating about
Noah's ark; not the dove with her
wings covered with silver and her
feathers with yellow gold. What is
true in reference to the physical body
Is also true In. reference to the mind
and the spirit. If we allow our thoughts
to feed upon what is depraved in other
mems characters. then our thoughts
will themselves become depraved. If
we allow our lips to revel in uttering
The scandals and describing the weak
nesses and the sins of our neighbors
Dr. friends or enemies, then our own
tongues will become defiled.
This law-that what we let our minds
'eed upon decides what our minds are
% be-is irrevocable and all powerful.
It is so farreaching in its results that
Tesus. in the gospel Of Matthew, de-
,lares that he will condemn US not
,nly for our evil actions. but also for
,ur evil thoughts. 'Ye have heard that
t was said by them Of old. Thou shalt
lot commit adultery. But say unto
-ou that whosoeyer looketh on a wom-
IN to lust after her hath committed
dultery with her already in his heart"
We are to be condemned not only for