Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-01-21
TALMAGE
SERMON

4e By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAcE, DID,,
- Pastor Of Jefferson Park Pfcsby.
terrain Church, Chicago

hivine flame which energizes and spir-
ltualIzes the whole life is the preachers
theme in this discourse, which deals
with a practlca! religion for everyday
people. The text Is salonians V,
xix. "Qucnch nc. the Spirit"
The mighty phrase maker Paul is a
roiner Of many sIperlatives. He is no
stupid platitudtns rian. Everyday. com.
monplace, insipid, tasteless comparisons
have for him no attraction. He never
harnesses dull eyed and spawned axi-
pms to his verbal chariot. His forge il
always redlot; his arms are cranes,
his hammers pile drivers. his doors
noodgates; his streams are fathomless,
pnrushing rivers of molten iron; his
sparks are stars, and his seconds mil
lenniums.
We would. for our present lesson, use
one Of PauIs impressive, significant
words His "quench" has supcrlu-
tive meaning. 1t is one of those sharp
pointed verbal chisels which can open
ndamantine rock and in cutting power
putdiamond the diamond. 1t is one of
those intense lurid words which pic.
ture their thoughts in colors of blood
ITO quench" means to smother, as q
mother would extinguish the flames
consuming the dress Of her burning
child by wrapping about the finsy
garments a heavy, wet blanket. jerkcd
from Off the clothcsline. "To Guench"
means TO deluge, to submcrge. as the
Johnstown fires were put out when
the Conemaugh dam broke. In that
word "quench" Paul startlingly warns
all believing Christians against the
sin Of extingulshing the power of the
Holy Spirit. which is now burning
within them as living flame "Qucnch
not the Spirit Is the command TO the
Thessa lonians. Smother not the d.
zine flames.
A Practical Question.
Now come the practical questions:
How do many believing Christians
open the f1oodgntes Of sin and drown
out their spiritual fires! How do many
Of our new converts chill their holy Ell.
thusiasm and dry their checks, wet
with penitent tenrs, and harden again
their hearts in sin? First and fore
most, by neglecting Gods place of pub
lie worship. BY turning their backs
upon the Sunday church services. BY
claiming that they can pray 10 God
just as we'll Mt home as in the week
plight prayer meetings. BY asserting
that the communion of the snints." in
I building which has been dedicated
to God as 'house Of prayer" is not
essential for true spiritual life. No
true convert should ever be guilty Of
fasting slur upon the public altar Of
Jesus Christ. 1t is hard work for
dive coal to keep warm and to remain
/ live coal outside of the crate. 1t is
hard work for a warm hearted, loving
Christian to remain a spiritual olive
coal unless he continually lives in
lose contact with other loving Chris
dans. 1t is by the comminsling of
prayers that the best prayer Is pro-
auced. 1t is by the comminglng of
testimonies that the best testimony
springs from our lips. II is by the
'oolishness" of preaching that sinners
Ire saved. Yes And also by the fool
lshness Of preaching that they are
brought nearer week by week to the
personality of Jesus Christ
If public worship Is not essential for
Ipiritual life, why did God decree that
Moses should build tabernacle as
loon as the hosts Of Pharaoh had found
1 watery grave in the depths of the
Red sea? AT that tabernacle the He
brews were compelled TO worship. If
not essential. why did Christ during
mis- earthly ministry again and again
go up to Jerusalem to attend
the feasts and again and again go
Into the synagogues to worship and
10 pray? If not essential, why did
Christ command his disciples to as
semble IN one place in Jerusalem and
await the coming Of the Holy Ghost:
If not essential, why did the puritans
and the pilgrim fathers place such en-
phasis upon the attendance Of their
church members at the house of God?
We can laugh at these stern faced set
tiers Of New England. We can poke
fun at their blue laws" and their
plain ways. We can say that Cotton
the instigat tor OF the Salem witchcraft
prosecutions. But, laugh Mt the New
England Puritans as We will. we know
they produced the highest type of
spiritual men then known. We know
that for spiritual truth they were ready
10 die. We know that in order to get
that truth in the public meeting house
they turned their backs upon the old
world and faced the new. 1t was in
public worship that the Puritan gospel
thrived. 1t is in public worship that
the new convert should catch the glow
Of the spiritual fires, which will make
bis heart warm toward God and his
fellow man.
Public Worship Essential.
Public worship Is absolutely essen
ial for the -pirtunl life Of the average
nan. SOM years ago country boy
was riding IN the cars toward Phila-
aelphin. In the seat sitting next to
bin was an old man. After a long
Conversation in which the young man
lold his sea. mate that he was going
70 Phlladelp IA to find work, the nged
man asked him for his letters. "Oh,
res" said the young fellow. here Is
,ne from my old employer, Here Is one
from my schooltea Here Is one
from my physician" "Is that allf
Have You not one from your ministcri'
asked his seat mate. Eyes, have that
tlso.' We'll, NY young rriend,' sal