Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-12-16
Caln1ase
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmaae, D. d.

godlincss Is profitable both In this
world and the next and that religion
brings in its train enduring success
AMI material as well as spiritual bless
Ing Is shown In this sermon. for which
the preacher has taken us his text the
story Of Joseph in Genesis xxx, 2.
And he was II prosperous man."
"Did you ever stop TO think how much
God appeals To the selfish motives of
the children of Israel In the Old Testa-
mcntT' said an aged Christian some
time ago II am nearly eighty years
of age now hut ann not too old to read
the Bible. So few weeks ago, with
my daughter. | decided TO start ut the
first chapter of Genesis and go straight
through the Old Testament. Though
have read the Bible many times be-
FORE was never struck with this fact
so much us during the last reading.
All through the Pentatcuch and UP to
the time of Joshua and the Judges
God keeps saying: Follow me. and |
will Increase your herds. Follow me.
and will give you land. Follow me.
and ! will make you a powerful peo-
pie God seems to he appealing al
most entirely to mans self interest in
stead of to mans duty to make sacri-
fees for him." We'll" said. that is
50. never thought of that matter be-
fore am going to look into it."
When | went home | began TO turn
the leaves of my Bible. and I found
what my good friend said was literally
true. In that child age OF the world
God woocd men rs we WOO children.
to he good with promises Of reward.
And he kept his promises. When the
children of Israel obeycd God. then
God prospcrcd them. And when they
went to worshiping false idols and dis
obeycd God. then God sent them wars
and pcstilcnccs and famincs and trials
of all sorts. He seemed 10 say. "Obey
me and prosper" or. "Disobcy me and
suffer" He seemed to appeal TO their
selfish motives IN order to make them
good. And yet. as | sat in my study
brooding over this thought. said TO
myself. lis IL not possible To find the
cause of every mans actions and deeds
In u selfish motive:'
Abraham Lincoln said. mo man ever
did anything in life unless 1t was with
selfish motive" One day when riding
about Oh his Illinois circuit with
brother lawyer he argued this question
By the way. At last as the two law
yers were passing mudhole the fu-
turc president saw Il little pig strug-
CLING in the mud AMI about TO be
drowned Lincoln dismounted from his
horse. lie wadcd through the mud.
picked NJ the little pig and placed 1t
Oh the solid ground. Then he mounted
his horse 10 ride on To the next county
seat. There" said the lawyer. Lin
coin. you have disproved Your own
case. You say man does nothing but
with II selfish motive. What selfish
motive did you have In saving that lit
tie pig:" My motive was purely a
selfish one" answered Lincoln. Il did
not want to go into that puddle and get
my clothes covered with mud any more
than you did. But ! said TO myself.
Abe. il YOU don't save that pig you
will hear him squcaling all night long.
calling for help. and YOU won't get n
wink of sleep | saved him In order to
keep my conscience from bothering
me-" Like Abraham Lincoln are many
of us. When we analyZe our motives
for doing some good deed we often
find self interest nj the bottom. II IL
not always pity for the sufferer that
prompts the charitable gifts so much
MS fear of the self upbraiding we would
have 10 endure il we refused To give.
OF course that Is very low motive,
but IL is Il very potent one with the ma
jority of people. Now. ] want to show
you that even on that low plane reli-
gon has claims that no one can afford
TO ignore. Godlincss Is profitable for
the life that now IL as we'll as for that
which Is 10 come. Like Joseph, you
want To become prosperous man. and.
like Joseph. we all want To make the
best Of our lives.
Wants 90 he Prosperous.
Every man, in the first place. wants
to bc financially prosperous. This does
not mean that he necessarily wants TO
he a millionaire and have private
yacht and palaces scattered all over
the country like the Duke of Westmin-
ster, or II wardrobe crowded full OF
garments which he can never wear out.
like the head of the German empire,
who has u different uniform 10 CORE
spond with every regiment of his army