Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-11-21
CalnnaSe
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmaee. D. D.


business disaster cannot take away.
The text is Job vi, 5, Doth the wild
ass bray when he hath grass or low
9th the OK over his fodder"
Some people have false reputation
for being good naturcd that they may
easily lose. No man can be confidently
pronounced good naturcd until he has
been tested Ivy adversely. No credit is
due 10 prosperous man for not com
Dlaning II when lie Is poor and I'M
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 baskins in the sunshine,
but when he Is deluSed by the storm.
1t is really revealed not when cond-
tons are going the way lie wishes, but
when all his desires seem to be thwart-
ed and he is compelled to do what lie
does not wish to do He is not tempt
ed to grumble 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 Ivy
Or. 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 mp
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
| osopher 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 phioso-
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 by bitter experience the value Of
this ship as a refuge from something
worse he was c0ntcnted TO stay there
in until he could reach the shore. In
Ike manner he best knoweth the value
of prosperity who hath encountered
adversely. On, thou who hast salts
fed thine hunger, thou despisest bar
lev loaf, but to me, a-hungered. bar
lev loaf means life. To the nymphs of
paradise purgatory would be hell. but
the inha bitants 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 a field of sweet scented clover
Does the OK in anger batter his stall
into kndling wood when after hard
days toll he Is allowed to MUNICH his
grain at manger filled to overlooking
The book of Job illustrates this truth
There were three distinct epochs in
Jobs career The first was when ev-
cry desire of his heart was satisfied
Great was he in brain, great in finan'
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 wore around hin
everywhere. Even his enemies were
disarmed by his love and generosity
He never omitted to thank God for hi,
blessings in the morning and at moor
and at night, for everything that hi'
heart desired was given unto him.
Wheel of Fortune Turns.
But suddenly the wheel of fortune
turns. Crash goes his sons home. ant
In an hour all his beloved children are
, dead. Down swoop the robbers, ant
, his herds are scattered and driver
away and his servants put to thu
, sword Then over his body bresl
, forth the horrible carbuncles. Hi
health rs we'll as his wealth and do
nestle happiness is gone. Though HI
, does not sin nor charge God foolish
ly," he docs curse the day of his birth
No sooner does he do this than hi
, three friends gather about him ant
. remind him of his past profession
, They commence TO fling his formc
. avowals OF faith at him. Aha the.
cry. You are pretty servant o
!. God, When things were all goin
your way you We're very willing to tel
\ people what they should do But whej
things go wrong with you you los
q your faith in God just like other men.
!. Il know it," answers job. ALAS 70
;, the weakness OF the flesh, God he
n me! Alas. ! was like the ass standin
. knee deep In sweet scented clover.
, was like the OK munching at the abui
q dant grain in his manager 0 God, hel
me in this time of trouble,'
Now, in applying this principle I
ourselves ! am not going to cataogt
a your misfortunes. You can easily d
that yourself You have complaine
, about them enough You have harpe
upon them day In and day out. But
a. am going to speak about your IS
=. lences.' ! would remind you OF I'll
"A blessings you have in life. PerhaI
,e the thought Of these blessings, abot
which you are apt to be silent, ma
D. strengthen your heart to bear adve
le Bity should 1t come upon you.