Milford chronicle., 1908-01-31
Calnaoe
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmage, D. D.

versal problem-that of social compan-
ionship-and shows the perils of evil
associations and how to 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
20 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
association and social activity. Jesus
went into seclusion either to recover
from an uncommon strain or to prepare
for an approaching demand on his ener-
giles. 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 ye 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 a
gregarious animal. 1t was meant that
he should associate with men. AS God
said at the creation, at 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 be
may aid in the development of theirs.
The psychologist looks with suspicion
on the nature that avoids society and
perpetually Graves solitude. Such a
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-
tamination. but his innocence is not
virtue, and it does not become virtue
until it has been tested In society.
Association, then, is a necessity, but
it should not be indiscriminate assoct-
alton. A man is not only known by
the company he keeps, but he is liable
to become like the company he keeps.
It is not possible to avoid contact with
evil. but to seek out evil and vOlun-
farilv associate with 1t is suicidal. II
IS not a capricious punishment that
Solomon pronounces In my text, but a
philosophlc conclusion, when he says.
"a companion Of fools shall be de-
strOyed." This danger, then. is seri-
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 Athsistie Fool.
In Il. first place, there is the athe-
4sfic fo,l. 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 ccndemna-
ton against the atheist, the inspired
writer repeats the same words in the
Fifty-third Psalm. BY this repetition
he seems to say, 81 cannot warn
Young people too much against asso-
citation with those who are denying
the existence Of God" But, though
the Bible so vehementiy and emphat-
icallv denounces the atheist, yet how
Iittie 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
10 saw "Amen'' to the divine com
mand. Thou shalt not be unclean IN
morals" But we are not willing to
discontinue our fellowship with those
whose whole lives are spent denying
Cod and that Christ who is our only
hone for this world and for the next.
Now. l do not believe it is possible
to love God Alright and at the same
time 20 with those who do not love
and honor him. No; we cannot do this
anv 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.
II should come into your home and
begin to talk against your dead mother
and by letters and newspapers try to
prove to you that she was 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 too
MANY years not to know that what you
saw is false. Furthermore, no man can
stay in my home who would utter such
Language as you have done. ! could
not continue to love and reverence my
mother If believed the charges you
have made. and viii not associate
with one who despises her as you do.
Therefore we must forever part" But.
though you would speak like that in
your defense of a father, a mother.
brother, a sister, a wife or a child, yet