The Caucasian., 1907-08-06
Ca(nna9e
Sermon
By Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmage, D. D.

! sermon the preacher shows that the
highest JOY Of life Is not to he found
In the pleasures Of the senses, but in
personal consecration and active Chris
tian service. The text is Philippians
iv, 4, "Rejoice In the Lord alway, and
again say, Rejoice"
An aged minister once said to me
"The entire character Of my preaching
has changed with my advancing years
As young man used to preach on
the terrOrs of the law, on the wrath Of
God, on the warnings against sin and
on the awful picture of the lake Of fire
drawn by st. John In the ApocalyN N&e.
But as | grew older found my favor
lite texts in the tender passages Of the
to his disciples set down by the be-
loved disciple and In the eloquent eXor-
dunn ON charity or love by the Apostle
Paul. | find that the nearer come to
heaven the more my heart burns with
an unutterable desire to see chrst's
face and to have Il part in the never
ending reunion of the redeemed, AID
therefore the less think about the
terrOrs OF the Judgment. Faith to me
Is becoming more and more the sub
stance of things hoped for. and | am
looking forward to peace and JOY
rather than backward at the drawn
fiery sword of an avenging angel
standing at the gate of paradise
These are not the exact words Of my
venerable friend. but they convey the
substance of his thought Truly what
this aged man said about his ministe-
rial life every minister who is con-
scious of advancing years feels as his
soul grows ripper and richer In spirit
ual development. More and more he
loves to preach about the joys of the
gospel rather than about the destruc-
ton that is Inevitable to one who leads
a sinful life.
Faufs letter to the Philippians was
written near the close of his life He
had passed beyond the carnal part of
his religious experience. He does not
now think so much of Christ presiding
In Judgment as he does of the Jesus
Of salvation. He does not dwell so
much Oh the leaping flames of the
bottomless pit as he longs for the
songs Of Moses and the Lamb and is
thrilled at the thought of all the mer-
cies and blessings with which Jesus
will welcome him. Thus he comes to
us not groaning a dirge. but singing a
psalm Of praise. He comes to us with
JOY smiling upon his lip. with JOY
shining forth from his eye. with JOY
throbbing Cd his heart and with JOY
in his consratulatory handshakE. He
comes to us with a rapturous exhorta
tion as he bids us take an inventory
Of our spiritual opportunities. He
says Rejoice in the Lord Away"
Then. as though he had not made this |
gospel salutation emphatic. enough, he
repeats his words as he says. again
I say, Rejoice" Now, today l am not |
going to talk to those who look upon |
the cross Of Jesus Christ only as n |
means Of escaping the horrors of eter |
nal anguish. but am going to talk to |
those who have so developed In the |
Christian life that their gospel faith
is Il pleasure and JOY and never |
ending consolation. AS speak to you
today | shall tell you why you should
rejoice in the Lord Away and why |
you should come to him with never
ending praise and with eternal
Joy is a fruit that will not grow
In natures barren soil;
All we can boast till Christ we know
Is vanity and toll:
But where the Lord has planted grace
And made his glories known.
There fruits of heavenly JOY and peace
Are found. and there alone
Rejoice In the Lord Away.
My Christian brother, you Of the
leeper and holier religious experience,
you should in the first place rejoice
N the Lord alway because you have
Dy your side divine friend who will
guard you and keep you and be very
present help In all your troubles. He
las keener eye than you. He has a
stronger arm than you. He has all the
DOWoES Ol DcdNcI uAIo cdl III ot Lis |
He has a heart SO tender
md loving and self sacrificing that he.
8 willing to surrender all and do all If
le can In any way help you in your
struggle of life. He is not an absent
riend a thousand miles away who Is
,oing to meet you by appointment at
he brink of the grave, but he Is
riend SO near that you can whisper
o him and he will hear you. He IS
10 near that you can put out your
land as little tottering child and he
will grasp that hand and keep you
rom falling. He is so near that. like
loving mother. he will guard you
when you are asleep. and he will greet
'ou with smile when you awake In
he morning. He will go with you to
he breakfast table. He will follow
'ou In the street and stand with you
" the Store counter. He IS an ever
resent friend. But he Is also Omnipo-
ent and omniscient as we'll as omni-
resent. Now, ought 1t not to be JOY
o YOU that this divine Friend, this
ION Of God. is always by your side to
.,,, yo,, ond caro- for Won and love