Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-19
Caln1aQe
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank DE Witt Talmate, d. D.


an incident in the early history of the
Christian church the preacher in this
sermon draws the lesson that an appeal
TO God in prayer should be made in
every case of doubt and difficulty. The
text is Acts i. ~ "And they prayed
Thou. Lord, which knowcst the hearts
Of all men. show whether of these two
men thou hast chosen"
The crucifXion was over. The little
scattered band of disciples had been
brought together by the second and
third appearances OF Jesus. The ascen-
sion also was over. Now the disciples
were abiding at Jerusalem awaiting
the day of Pentecost. The time seemed
to the disciples appropriate for com
pleting the organization of the infant
church The detection of Judas had
left only eleven apostles. Should not
the mystical number 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 Il choice must be made.
What did the disciples do? Did they
turn their meeting into a political eau
rus, as SO many of our religious meet
In, y,-bn a1Hpr Or a
new pastor or n new bishop is to be
chosen? Did one of the disciples say
Select Barsabas because he is my sis
ter's husband:" Did another disciple
say, "Oh, elect Matthias because he
has lent me money. and rs he has help
ed me ] want to do him favor" DO
you suppose another said, I'VE VIII
elect Luke or Mark because we want
to have orr friends on the apostolate|
DO YOU suppose God would have sent
day of Pcntecost 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: I'VE will make no mistake. We
will throw the whole responsibility
upon God" Thus they went to their
knees. 80 Lord" they cried, make
This selection for thy honor and glory
Were they right? Ought not we to
make every important move Of our life
matter of earnest. intense prayer
Should we not learn to trust God and
follow his leadings? And they pray
ed, Thou. Lord, which knowest the
hearts of all men, show whether OF
these two thou hast chosen" They
were wise and pious men. ! commend
their example to every one OF you
There come times when you must stand
at the parting of life's ways. You
hesitate which way vou will take be-
cause your whole future seems to hang
on your decision. Then do as the dis
rples did--turn to God, who knows all
Ihngs, and ask him to direct you. ASK
him which of the two ways he chooses
FOR you.
An Important Decision.
In the first place, | would turn tho
attention of young people to the mes
sage of my text. / would first speal
TO those who have not yet decided
what is to be their occupation in life
am not now addressing those wh'
are coming to the close Of their studies
in medicine or the law or theology
They are like the sea captain who ha
already set his compass and has lief
harbor and is sailing for a chosen port
talk to the young people who do no
know what they ought to be in lif
or what vocation they should follow
am speaking to those just about t
graduate from our grammar school
who have not yet decided what lin
OF work or of studies they will follow
That time of life is the most critical O
all. because a mistake now in all prot
ability WILL mean mistake rrepara
BILE.
Tome Of you have no doubt what yo
are to do. Some time ago | addresse
the graduating class of one of on
grammar schools. The chief attraC
lion Of the exercises was the wonder
ful playing of famous musician G
our city. When he ran his fingers owe
The keys he could make that plan
tnlk or weep or laugh or dance c
march or thunder or sigh. We encore
him again and again. After the NEE
Ing was over his daughter told a men
Der of my family that her father wa
born with such a genius for mus
that he could play upon any music'
instrument. 1t was just as natural f.
him to play as it Is for bird to sin
or for fish 10 swim or for rabbit
burrOw. Thus some men are born ar
fists or born inventors or born final
ciers or born orators, and this genr
Of their minds is manifested whe
they are very young. But most of |
We're not developed that way. Whe
we were in our teens we We're entir
~ In the dark about what God wante
us to do
"What would you do with your sc
IF he came to fifteen years of age ar
did not know what he wanted to be
a lady Of my church said to me son
time ago "Ny son is n bright boy, b
he has no overpowering desire for M
one line Of work" There is fin
good boy who ia Just rs much In Il
dark about the future as you and
were when we were in our teens. Al
yet mistake now might ruin Il
whole future life, If you get wroI
upon the first part of your journey
Dfe, you are apt to follow the wrol
pain clear to the end. What had tn