Democratic messenger., 1906-10-13
Calnnage
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmaec. d. ID.

Los Angeles. Cal. Oct. Tn this
sermon the preacher utters a whole
some warning against the common sin
of nncharitable Judgment OF others.
lest we by such means. miss the bless
Ing that comes of 'entertaining angels
una wares" The text Is Genesis xviii, .,
And 10. three men stood by him."
When gentleman travels in the far
east he does not stop ut n public inn.
but lodges with the people he meets on
the way. Thus one day Abraham was
sitting at the door of his tent. on In
the distance he sees three travel stain
ed men approaching. At once. accord
Ing To the social customs then practiced
and with the cordial hospitality of the
east. Abraham runs toward these three
travellers and kncels ut their feet aud
says: Come and lodge with we. Tarry
and rest yourselves and eat OF my
bread. After refreshing yourselves you
can continue on your Journey" The
three travellers accepted this kind invi-
tation. Abraham spread before his
guests the best food he had He killed
n calf. His wife baked for them some
hot bread. After the meal was over
one of the strangers said Where Is
thy wife," Abraham went and called
Sarah Then. as the three men were
about 10 60 they said practically these
words: "Oh. We aged and childless ones,
the dearest wish of your hearts Is about
TO be fulfilled. In your old age you
shall have son" To make long
story short Abraham and Sarah found
out that their guests in human form
were not simply three men. but three
angelic messengers of God. What an
inconceivable privilege that was. Let
us think about II this morning. remem-
bering that we, too. can entertain an
gclic messengers almost every day IL
we will We can entertain them, as
did Abraham. when strange travellers
approach our dwellings and perhaps
knock at the door for admittance. You
may think these strangers are men. as
did Abraham. but they are not. They
are messengers of God. Thus the ques-
tions which now confront lis all are:
"Will we let In these angelic visitors?
Will we receive from them the spiritual
blessings which God intends US TO get? p
Shall We. in the first place. receive
the angelic visitors who come from
God dressed IN the rough garments of
poor men! These messengers come TO
us almost daily. as the three strangers
came TO Abraham In olden time. As
we approach the Hebrew patriurch's
tent we see him sitting under the shad.
ow. Ii Is almost noon. The intense
Syrian sun is beating down upon the
plains. Most of the work was done.
The shepherds or the cattleman's day
does not begin, as with many Of us.
at S or . o'clock These men start
their work very early In the morning.
While II IL yet dark the busy wives
and daughters are up preparing the
early breakfast. Then with the first
light of the day the sheep aud the
cows and the horses begin TO get rest
less They want to get out and feed
upon the rich grasses. Then the 1ocks
and the herds begin TO move. and by
10 o'clock the animals are well fed
and are resting themselves under the
shadows of the trees until late In the
afternoon. Abraham like a wise mas
ter, had seen that his hcrdsmen and
shepherds had cared we'll for his stock.
Then when the hot sun begins TO beat
down he goes back to his tent to pre-
pare for dinner and take rest and
"a Int xr-sVh hfu q.
Sarah, for. though Abraham at this
time was over ninety years OF age and
Sarah had passed her thrcescore years
and ten. yet they were still lovers as
when In their youth they had taken a
journey into faroff Egypt and the
kings messenger wanted to select
Sarah for Pharaoh's bride.
The Three Travellers.
While the busy Sarah is preparing
the midnoon meal Abraham, sitting by
his tent. suddenly puts his hand over
his brow aud begins TO look. He seems
to he watching something afar of.
What is it. Abraham?" says his wife,
"Do you see any one comingY Yes"
answers the aged lover. II think | see
three travellers. They are strangers 10
me. They must be poor men. They
ARE coming afoot. In this country
horses are so cheap that all except the
poorest can own one. These men have
not even a donkey with them. They
must truly he very poor. wonder IL
they have enough food along Poor
fellows. See how tired and hungry
they look. Sarah. We have so much:
let us give them good meal and stnrt
them OH their journey afresh. No man
ought to bc travelling In this awful
heat" "Ali right. Abraham" think l
hear Sarah say. "All right. You go
and ask them TO tnrry. will hurry up