The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-11-19
Caln1a9e
Sermon
By Rev.
Frank De Witt TalTnage, D. D.

times of financial disturbance the
preacher in this sermon shows us
many reasons for thankfulness, which
come to all men and which panics and
business disaster cannot take away.
The text is Job vi, 5, Doth the wild
ass bray when he hath grass or low
eth the OK over his fodder:'
Some people have false reputation
for being good natured that they may
easily lose. No man can be confidently
pronounced good natured until he has
been tested by adversely. No credit is
due to a prosperous man for not CON-
planning If when he is poor and un-~
fortunate and sick he does not COM
plain, then he has given proof of the
strength and sweetness of his charac-
ter. His true nature is shown not
when he is basking in the sunshine.
but when he is deluged by the storm.
1t is really revealed not when condi-
lions are going the way he wishes. but
when all his desires seem to be thwart-
ed and he is compelled to do what he
does not wish to do. He is not tempt
ed to grrlmble when he is prosperous.
Doth the wild ass bray when he hath
grass or loweth the OK over his fod-
der?''
There is quaint legend told by
Dr. Knight that many years ago an
eastern king was sailing in ship with
a Persian peasant The peasant began
to bitterly complain of being shut up
in the narrow confines of the boat.
These complaints irritated the king.
Then a philosopher who was travelling
in the same boat said, Il can silence
yonder grumbler if thou wilt let me-
The king gave his consent. The phi
losopher ordered the sailors to throw
the peasant into the sea. After the
man had gone down a couple OF times
the sailors caught him by the hair and
pulled him back into the boat safely.
Then were all his bitter complaints 81
fenced. The king asked the philoso-
pher why this was so. The sage re-
piled: AT first yonder man had never
thought of the danger of being drown
ed; neither did he appreciate the safe
ty of the ship. AS soon as he found
out ~ bitter experience the value of
this ship as refuge from something
worse he was contentod 10 stay there
in until he could reach the shore. In
like manner he best knoweth the value
of prosperity who hath encountered
adversely. Oh, thou who hast salts
fed thine hunger. thou despisest a bar
lev loaf, but to me- a-hungered. bar
ley loaf means life To the nymphs of
paradise purgatory would be hell. but
the inhabitants of hell would hail pur-
gatory as paradise"
In other words. the eastern philoso-
pher was teaching the lesson that
when a mans wish is satisfied then
he does not complain. He complains
about what he has not, but not of
what he has. Does the wild ass find
fault because he is wading knee deep
in d field of sweet scented clover!
Does the OK in anger batter his stall
into kindling wood when after hard
days toll he is allowed to MUNICH his
grain at a Manager filed to overlooking?
The book of Job illustrates this truth.
There were three distinct epochs in
Jobs career The first was when ev-
ery desire of his heart was satisfied.
Great was he in brain. great in hnan-
cial resources. great in domestic hap.
piness His pasture land extended on
every side. His sheep and cattle and
horses grazed upon thousand hills.
His harvest fields, like the surface Of
the sea, stretched away as far as the
eye could see. Old age mellowed him.
but did not deplete his physica!
strength. His children were his pride
and joy His friends were around him
everywhere Even his enemies were
disarmed by his love and generosity
He never omitted to thank God for his
blessings in the morning and at noon
and at night, for everything that his
heart desired was given unto him.
Wheel of Fortune Turns.
But suddenly the wheel of fortune
turns. Crash goes his sons home. and
in an hour all his beloved children are
dead. Down swoop the robbers. and
his herds are scattered and driven
away and his servants put to the
sword Then over his body break
forth the horrible carbuncles. His
health as we'll as his wealth and do
nestle happiness is gone. Though he
does not sin NOR charge God foolish
IT," he does curse the day of his birth
No sooner does he do this than his
three friends gather about him and
remind him of his past profession
They commence to fling his former
avowals of faith at him. "Aha." they
cry. "You are a pretty servant OF
God. When things were all going
your way you We're very willing to tell
people what they should do. But when
things go wrong with you YOU lose
your faith in God just like other men"
II know it," answers Job. ALAS for
the weakness of the flesh, God help
me! Alas, was like the ass standing
knee deep in sweet scented clover. !
was like the OK nunching at the abun-
dant grain in his manager. @. God, help
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