The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-22
TALMAGES SERMON
BY THE REV FRANK DEWITT TALMAer. D. D.

draws the lesson that an appeal to God in prayer should be made in every case of doubt and difficulty. The text is Acts 1, 24, And they prayed. Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether of these two men Thou hast chosen"
 The cruenlxion was over. The little scattered band of disciples had been brought together by the second and third appearances of Jesus. The ascension also was over. Now the disciples were abid- ing at Jerusalem awaiting the day of Pentecost. The time seemed to the dis ciples appropriate for completing the or sanization of the infant church. The de- lection of Judas had left only eleven apostles. Should not the mystical num- Der corresponding to the twelve tribes of Israel be made up? The disciples appear to have thought so. One reason was that the number of authorized witnesses to the life, worK and resurrection of Jesus should not be diminished. They would choose from among them one who, having been with them from the beginning, was competent to give such testimony. There were two such men, Joseph and Matthias. Either of these was eligible, and choice must be made.
 What did the disciples do? Did they 7 turn their meeting into a political eau GUS, as so many of our religious meet ings become when a new bishop is to be chosen? Did one of the disciples say, ''Select BarsabaS because he Is my sis- ters husband?" Did another disciple say, ''Oh, elect Matthias because he has lent me money, and as he has helped me 1 want to do him fayor2' Do you sup pose another said, We will elect Luke or Mark because we want to have our friends on the apostolate?' Do you sup rose God would have sent day of Pen tecost if such a selfish spirit had moved those disciples? No, no! That was not the way the place of Judas was filled. These disciples said. "We will make no mistake. We will throw the whole re- sponsibility upon God Thus they went to their knees. 70 Lord,i they cried, make this selection for Thy honor and glory Were they right? Ought not we to make every important move of our lifc matter of earnest, intense prayer? Should We not learn to trust God and follow His leadings? And they prayed. Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, show whether fthese two Thou hast chosen" They were wise and pou'ss men. I commend their example to every enc of you. There come times when you raust stand at the parting of lifes ways You hesitate which way you will take because your whole future seems to hang on your decision Then do as the dis cfples did-turn to God, who knows all things and ask Him to direct you Ask NAACceoo for you.
 An Important Decision.
 In the first place, I would turn the at tention of young people to the message of my text. I would first speak to those who have not yet decided what is to be their occupation in life. I am not now addressing those who are coming to the close of their studies in medicine or the law or theology. They are like the sea
 l,t anr11fA 10 Cc and has left harbor and is sailing for a chosen port. I talk to the young people who do not know what they ought to be in life or what vocation they should fol- low, 1 am speaking to those just about to graduate from our grammar schools who have not yet decided what line of work or of studies they will follow. That time of life Is the most critical of all, because a mistake now in all probability will mean a mistake irreparable
 Some of you have no doubt what you are to do Some time ago I addressed the graduating class of one of our gram mar schools The chief attraction of the exercises was the wonderful playing Of famous musician of our city. when he ran his fingers over the keys he could make that piano talk or weep or laugh or dance or march or thunder or sigh. We encored him again and again. After the meeting was over his daughter told a member of my family that her father was born with such a genius for music that he could play upon any musical in strument. It was just as natural Tor him to play as it is for bird to sing or for a fish to swim or for rabbit to burrow Thus some men are born art ists or born inventors or born financiers or born orators. and this genius of their minds is manifested when they are very young But most of us were not de- veloped that way. When we were in our teens we were entirely in the dark about what God wanted us to do.
 cWhat would you do with your son if he came to 15 years of age and did not know what he wanted to be-" lady of my church said to me some time ago, My son is bright boy, but he has no 4 loverpowering desire for any one line of lsworx'' There is a fine, good boy who is fjust as much in the dark about the fu- 1 ture as you and I were when we were 1 in our teens. And yet a mistake now l might ruin his whole future life. If you | get wrong upon the first part of your Z Journey of life, you are apt to follow the wrong path clear to the end What had that young boy better do? What had that father and mother better do? They had all better get down on their knees and pray. They had better lift up an earnest petition to God that He will di- rect that young boy to choose the voca- tion which he should follow, for God had a purpose for him when he was born. And the whole happiness Of that poy' as well as his usefulness. depends upon his making no mistake in following the line of work God intended him to do.
 The Right Line of Work.
 But, fathers and mothers, before you start in this prayerful selection of the line of work your boy or girl will follow through life I want you to thoroughly consecra te yourselves to the Master, for if you do not you may receive jolt that you will never get over What God wants that boy to do. and what you want him to do, may be as far apart as the North star is distant from the equator. God may want that boy to enter the min istry God may want that girl to go to foreign lands a missionary. God may want your son to be a reformer with his pen What God wants and you, the pa- rent. wants may bitterly clash unless you are ready to surrender your will to His will.
 The story is told that when James Russell Lowell was class post friend sent his father, Dr. Lowell, an account of the commencement at Harvard at which the son had achieved such q bril- liant success The old gentleman at the time was staying in Rome When he re- ceived the account instead of being pleased, he was very angry and said: 'Well. well! Look at this. I am very