Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-05-22
TAL.NAGE
SERMON
By Rev.
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALhfAGE. DID,
Pastor OF Jefferson Park Presby-
terrain Church, Chicago


relation to his Divine Creditor TO
whom he owes not only full and
grateful acknowledgement OF immeasur-
able obligation. but such loyal and
loving surrender of his life and actions
TO the divine will as shall prove the
genuineness of his professions. The
text is Matthew xxi, 21, Render unto
God the things that are Gods"
Many people talk as if this world
was full of rogues. 1 do not believe
any such charge. There is more hon.
esty in the world than it gets credit
for. Indeed, it is my belief that most
people are honest, that most people
want to do right. This is not world
of hypocrites. All men are not scoun-
drels When. in 1779, the statement
was made in the British parliament
that every man had his price and that
all men could be bribed. n statesman
arose and said: THAT charge is not
true. Benedict Arnold might become
n 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 n world. there is something
wrong with your own principles. The
man who declares that all men are
rogues ut heart is practically making
confession of his own dishonesty. If
you tell me that all men cheat, L con-
clude that you yourself would cheat
If you had the chance. 1t sometimes
takes a thief to catch thief.
If most people were not honest it
would be difficult TO explain some of
the customs of the business world. In
many of our cities lunch Bullets have
been started, where you can go TO
large counter and help yourself. You
can eat as much as YOU want. Practi-
cally no one watches you. The pro-
prietor leaves il 10 your own honesty
to tell how much you owe. Does not
this prove that most people are honest?
In the streets of New York, Philadel-
phia and Chicago stands are placed.
Upon these stands are piled the morn
ing newspapers. You walk up to
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 il he had not learned by expert
ence that most people are honest?
In Rome my mother some years ago
was examining n piece of 1ewelry.
Before deciding to buy she wished her
daughters 10 see the same. The pro-
prietor of the establishment immedi-
ately wrapped up the article and hand
ed II TO her. lie told my mother that
she could take it TO the hotel and there
decide what she wished to do. But"
answered mother, sis this safe for you
to do? You do not know me. Can
you trust all your customers like thisI"
Yes" answered the proprietor. lit 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
cd, L shall boldly present 20 you n bill
which know you will try TO pay. 1t
IS from my Lord and Master. 1t is
statement OF the debt which every
man. woman and child, 10 more or less
extent, owes 10 God. 1 do not demand
payment OF IL. for it IS greater than
you could ever pay, though you lived
rs hard as you could; but L 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 II, 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 Il rheumatic
twinge; we may be unable to eat as
heartily OF indigestible foods as we
Old when young, or 10 work as rapidly
or as long, but most of us have had
years and years OF good health. We
nave had years with two stout lungs
ana two keen eyes and with good di-
gestive organs and good nerves. Now
comes the questions: What have we
accomplished with this God given bless
ang called good health? Have we done
anything more with it than to eat and
sleep. and, brutelike. physically to en-
good health at the service OF the Mas
Ter as we know we ought to have
doneF 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, THANK
God, 1 am better; 1 hope | shall soon
De WELL, you give by that answer all
the credit OF your convalescence and
health 10 God. Can it be that G ID is
not expecting you TO do anythin, for
him on account OF this blessing?
But" answers some one, You cam
not blame the average person for not
being more grateful for his good
health. healthy man does not think
about his health. If that good health
was taken away from him it would be
different Then the individual would
realize what he had lost. But how can
You blame man for not being CRATE
ful FOR healthy liver OF kidneys or
spleen when the mere fact that these
organs are healthy proves that ne nev-
er knew no had n liver or spleen or
kidneys| In one sense. my brother,
your answer is right. When q man
loses his good health he is ready to
give up almost everything he has to
win it back. If his lungs are diseased
he will sell out his business TO so and
live in Los Angeles, Cal, or San An
tonic, Tex, or in some mild climate OF
Arizona. IL he has gallstones he will
gladly cross the seas in the hope that
the Carlsbad waters may dissolve
them. II he has cancer willingly
does he lie down upon the operating
table in the hope that the surgeons
knife may cut out the fatal destroyer.
But in another sense, my brother, your
answer is wrong. Though most OF us
may be healthy, yet there was n time
when nearly all well persons were
sick, and awfully sick. We know what
it Is to have the temperature run up to