Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-01-17
Catnage
Sermon
By Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmase. d. D.

the preacher reminds us OF the lesson
or divine generosity and sympathy
taught US By the Master OF the Gall.
lean hillside feast. The text Is John
vi. II. Gather up the fragments that
remain that nothing be lost"
Most instructive aud suggestive Is
this miracle of the feeding OF the 5000
A great throns has followed Jesus In
10 the desert. They have seen the
blind eyes opened. the leper cured. the
maniac restored. and they wonder what
he will do next. They are so absorbed
watching him and listening to him
that they forget their food. forget how
far they are away from any place
where Il Is sold Jesus looks around
on the eager faces ana thinks OF their
need. Send them away 10 get food"
say his disciples when be mentions
their hunger. But Jesus SAYS they
are faint and many OF them came from
long distance. lie is concerned about
them. He Is not like some OF his fol.
lowers i'm the present day. who think
the church has done its whole duty
SHlTllUuJ
wants OF the people. GIVE we them 10
eat" be says, and out OF the meager
supply OF FIVE loaves and two fishes he
makes bountiful repast sufficient for
the whole company, and there are
twelve basketsful remaining when all
have been satisfied He never does
anything by halves He gives album.
dance. and he gives Il freely. AS be
said about the spiritual life. 81 am
come that they might have life and
that they might have 81 more abun.
dainty"
Then Jesus said: There are hun.
dreds OF poor people In yonder towns
or Capernaum and Magdala and IT.
berias. Let us not waste this food
Let as gather up all and give II to
those who would be glad 10 eat it,"
10 the disciples went among the people
and gathered up the wholesome bread
and fish When all was In. there were
twelve basketfuls. Then methinks
Jesus arose and said: "lf there are any
here who know OF poor people in yon.
ser towns who need this food. l wish
they would come forward and take
seine of this fish and bread 10 them.
God never wants us 10 waste that
which can sustain life and be OF use 10
our fellow men"
Christ feeding the multitude upon the
hillsides fringing the sea OF Galilee is
symbolicai I'm the first place OF the in
unity OF Gods pardon and love- 1t Is
symboical OF that Offering which
Christ made when he gave his body
and shed his blood to redeem nil who
VIII come TO his mercy seat When
the Jews We're looking for their Mes.
siah they were looking for Hebrew
christ. They were not looking for n
Christ TO save the barbarian and the
Ereek. People still make that mistake
they are looking for sectarian
Christ. They are looking for a Christ
who will come holding in his hand a
Westminster confession of faith or an
Episcopalian prayer book. But Jesus.
10y breaking the bread and the fishes
for all who were ahungcred. proved
that he had come rs n worlds Christ
and Il worlds Saviour.
Tho People Did Net Come.
once read OF family I'm the east
who had suddenly come into great
able 10 purchase palace and have
scores or servants TO run at their bid
ding. They were able to have horses
and carriages and liveried coachmen
and footmen. But there was one thing
they croved from their new neighbors.
aud that was social recognition. So
they prepared great banquet. They
sent their Invitations broadcast They
did not know that the people among
whom they had come to live were
proud and despised them. And when
the night of the reception arrived hard
" one or the guests came. There was
the great mansion all lighted up
there were the orchestra and the watt
Ing servants. There was the stately
dining room with its polished silver
aud rich viands. But the rooms for
the most part We're enpty. and the
banquet was without any merry guests.
1hat Is symbol of the banquet which
Christ has prepared for the world He
not only prepared spiritual banquet
Tor the multitudes which sat at his
feet, but for all those In the cities
about the sea of Galilee. and for all in
Palestine, and for all who were living
IN other lands. and for generations vet
TO be born. Oh, the provision which
Jesus has made for the redemption OF |
The human racei Could IL be more mi |
versal in It's scope?
Christ has made provision for the Re- |
aemption of the world to the utter
most. His body has been broken. The
virtue OF his sacrifice is enough to
cover all the world. Could I presenf
10 you better symbol than the loaves
ana the fishes which satisfied the mui-
tftudes, and there was surplus OF
Twelve basketsful? One dark night a
haif clothed girl, terror stricken girl
timidly knocked at the door OF Lon
don missionary. When the door was
opened she said: BE you the preacher
mat told us down at the mission the
other night that Jesus could save to
the uttermost? Well, come; come
quickly. My father came home drunk
tonight and stabbed mother, and he ia
IN perfect frenzy of rage. He is ALI
right when he is not drunk. but he f.
hrunk now. and l want Jesus to save
him."
The missionary quickly put on his
clothes and started. There in a poor
tenement lie found the bleeding wife
lying upon bed of straw There was
The intoxicated husband, who had stab
bed her because she had nothing for
rim 10 eat. The missionary turned to
speak 10 the husband when the half
cad girl said: Don't talk to him
Don't talk. If talking could have
iaved him he wonld have been saved
long ago. You must ask Jesus TO save