Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1904-01-09
TALMA(SE
SERMON
By Rev.
FRANK DE WITT TALMAGE, DID,.
Pastor OF Jefferson Park Presby.
terian Church. Chicago

| ulence representing many states OF tne
Union, Pastor Talmage sounds vlgor-
Gus call for increased gospel activities
in many fields during the new year
and especially among those that lie
nearest at hand. The text is Matt. XXX.
Z, Go ye also into the vineyard"
A prospective theme! 1t is especially
appropriate for the first sermon of a
new year. This is not time to sound
requiem over the dead. 1t is time
when the gospel colors should be un-
| furled def1antly to the breeze and when
an aggressive campaign should be
planned for invading the strongholds Of
evil surrounded by Satanic intrench-
ments. forward, marchv' should be
the command all along the lines, not
mark timer not "Haltw not Fall
backw not detailment for sentinel duty.
We should have for the gospel ranks a
grand charge and not tattoo. There
should be no willingness to sleep upon
our arms in peace.
A negative policy will never capture
this old world for Christ. 1t is well at
times to preach the command, '"Thou
shalt not" There came into my posses
sion the other day a beautifully sug-
gestive booklet written by Bishop John
II. Vincent. Its title was Better Not"
But the Christians library to be COM
plete needs a companion volume called
Better Do" The Christian is called to
a life Of positive, active service. On
the first Sunday Of a new year, when
plans are being made for the next
twelve months, / would remind you Of
that call l would direct your attention
to glorious opportunities for Christian
usefulness within your reach, and
assure you that in availing yourselves
of them you will not only benefit 9th
ers, but will receive blessing in your
own soul. 1t is ever true that they
who water others shall themselves be
watered."
Work In the Sunday Schools.
There is work, unlimited work, tre-
meDdous, overpowering and vital work,
to do among the Sunday schools Of
America. This gospel work is the more
important because 1t must be done
quickly or it will never be done at all.
The verdant fields Of childhood do not
stay verdant long. Our own children
seem to spring up under our very eye.
1t Is but q short time since they were
babies. Now they are boys and girls.
Soon they will be grown men and wo-
men. We go back to visit the scenes
of our childhood which we left only a
few years ago, and we find that the
companions of our youth are now
grown up and married and have babies
Of their own. When Lord Lawrence,
viceroy of India was about to leave
for Calcutta he burst into tears as be
bid goodby to his youngest child. Turn
ing aside from his family, he said to
his wife: 81 will never see my baby
Bertie again. When | meet him once
more be will have ceased to be ba-
by" Thus if you would work for
Christ among the children you must
hasten in your work. Children do not
long remain children. the fawn soon
grows q forest Of brlstling antlers. The
swadding clothes Of the cradle are
soon exchanged for the long, flowing
toga of developed man.
Sunday school work offers an unlim-
tied field for gospel effort. Many, many
are the children among whom the ear
nest disciple can labor. President
Roosevelt may be right in uttering a
vehement protest against the tendency
of the upper classes to shirk parental
responsibilities, but among the middle
and the lower classes children seem to
be everywhere. There are broods Of
them, swarms of them, flocks Of them,
great hosts of them. The multitudes of
pattering feet fairly fill the earth with
music when these infantile throngs
every morning start on their daily
tramp to the public schools. In order
to house them for educational purposes
millions upon millions Of dollars must
be spent annually. No Christian discl-
pie need be afraid Of building upon
another mans foundation when he goes
to work for Christ among the little
children. There is not a consecrated
Sunday school superintendent in all
the world who is not at his wits end to
Andthe right kind of teachers who will
gather the 1oys and the girls into the
students clases for his Sunday school.
Seek the ws6GSn.E.~- -. .n
"But," the church member says,
chow am 1 to get a Sunday school
class? How am I to work among the
children? When l enter an ordinary
Sunday school l find all the classes pro-
vided with teachers. Shall 1 try to
steal away the scholars from some 9TH
er teacher? Oh, no, my friend. No
good is ever accomplished for Christ by
theft. What you should do is to go out
and get your own Sunday school class.
There are scores and perhaps hundreds
of little children living near you who
may never have heard the name OF Je-
sus uttered in prayer. Go after them.
Go after them as young Dwight L.
Moody while still an illiterate youth
went after his Sunday school scholars.
Go after them whether they are dressed
in rags or in silks. Go after them even
though you must beg shoes for their
feet and clothing for their backs. Go
after them whether they may be IN
palac', or In hut Go after them anc
beg them to come. Go after them ever
If you have to bribe your way Into
their affections with candy and dolls
and with social calls.
But" you say again, "supposlng l
II