Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-01-30
CalnnaSe
Sermon
By Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmagc, d. d.

Sermon the preacher deals with uni
versal problem that Of social compan-
ionship-and shows the perils Of evil
associations and how 70 avoid them.
The text is Proverbs xiii, 20, "a COM
. panion of fools shall be destroyed"
1t is good for man ever and anon to
60 off alone. as Christ often went alone,
into a desert place to pray, but notice
that these periods Of solitude in Christ's
life followed or preceded times of large
|nssocia ton and social activity Jesus
went into seclusion either to recover
from an uncommon strain or to prepare
for an approaching demand on his encr-
ges. He never sought solitude for its
own sake. He loved to have his dis
ciples around him and evidently gained
help and comfort from their presence.
In that supreme crisis in the night pre-
ceding his death he longed to have
them near him and was hurt when
they cared so little for his trouble that
they went TO sleep. Gould We not
watch with me one hour?" he asked
them in pathetic reproach.
God never meant man to live a her.
mit's existence. Man Is naturally
gregarious animal. 1t was meant that
he should associate with men. AS God
said at the creation. 1T is not good that
man should be alone" He needs com
panions. associates, friends He needs
them for the development Of his own
character and he needs them that he
may aid In the development of theirs
The psychologist looks with suspicion
On the nature that avoids society and
perpetually Graves solitude. Such
man. he says, is abnormal; he Is mo-
rose; he is liable to become demented.
Even piety does not thrive In seclusion,
The old monks thought It did, but their
experience proved the contrary. The
youth brought up carefully, apart from
boys Of his own age, is saved from con-
tamina ion. but his innocence is not
virtue. and 1t does not become virtue
until it has been tested in society.
Association. then, is n necessity, but
It should not be indlscriminate associ-
elton A man is not only known by
10 become like the company he keeps
1t is not possible to avoid contact with
evil, but to seek out evil and volun-
tarily associate with 1t Is suicidal. 1t
is not a capricious punishment that
Solomon pronounces In my text, but a
philosophic conclusion. when he says.
"A companion Of fools shall be de-
stroyed." This danger, then. Is ser-
Gus, and want this morning to point
out TO you four kinds Of character that
come under the designation of fools
characters to be avoided because they
bring destruction on their companions
The Atheistc Fool.
In the first place, there is the athe
istlc fool, whom David describes
psalm xiv, II, in some respects the
most dangerous Of companions "The
fool hath said in his heart, There Is
no God" Then, as though not salts
fed with once hurting his condemna-
ton against the atheist the inspired
writer repeats the same words in the
Ffty-third Psalm BY this repetition
he seems to say, II cannot warn
young people too much against asso-
citation with those who are denying
the existence Of God" But, though
the Bible so vehemently and emphat-
tcally denounces the atheist, yet how
little some of us heed the warning
against associating with the atheist,
who hath said in his heart. There is
no God" We are willing to obey Gods
command. which says, Thou shalt not
associate with murderers or with
thieves or drunkards." We are willing
to say Amen to the divine com
mand, Thou shalt not be uncean in
morals" But we are not willing to
discontinue our fellowship with those
whose whole lives are spent denying
God and that Christ who is our only
hope for this world and for the next,
Now, I do not believe 1t is possible
to love God Alright and at the same
time go with those who do not love
and honor him No; we cannot do this
any more than we can love our wives
and mothers and yet associate with
those who despise pure women and are
continually speaking evil about them
If ! should come into your home and
begin to talk against your dead mother
anu ny ltIlelS anu NSI'dpcln Wy ~
prove to you that she was a bad wo
man you would not let me go very far
You would turn upon me with all the
Indignation in your nature and would
bid me desist or quit my company
You would say: you are no longer my
friend. lived with my mother toe
many years not to know that what you
say is false. Furthermore, no mdn car
stay in my home who would utter such
language as you have done. l could
not continue to love and reverence my
mother If believed the charges yor
have made, and ! will not associate
with one who despises her as you do
Therefore we must forever part" But
Though you would speak like that If
your defense of father, mother,
brother a sister, a wife or child, yet
strange to say, some Of us continue to as
sociate with those on earth who openly
and brutaly deny the goodness and thu
very existence Of that God whom w
love and worship. Now, my friends
you are Mt the fork OF two divergen
roads. Either you must bring you
atheistlc friends to the foot Of the cross
and lead them to bow and worship n
the manager or else for C'hriSts sake