Year: 1873

The Hard Timcs-Praying for Working
men and Merchants-The Wants Of the
immortal Soul Defined.


Mr.. Talmage, in his opening prayer, at the morn
ing service yesterday implored the blessing OF God
on the laboring classes and prayed that they
might not come to want. "Be thou to them," said
the preacher, 'all they need. Give them clothing.
Give them fire on the cold hearth. Give them
everything they need for this life, and, above ALL
give them that bread OF which II man eat he will
never hunger again. Bless all our merchants and
business men, perplexed and knowing not which
way to turn. Restore public confidence. Let not
the land be utterly Frustrated. Rouse up again all


OUR FAILING COMMERCIAL INTERESTS.
Bless those who have lost large estates. Comfort
them and may they seek for God and those trea-
sures which never TAIL"


Mr.. Tamage's sermon was founded on the para
BILE or the sProdgal Son. which, he said, contained
enough texts for man to preach about for nfty
years, and then he must 60 into the eternal world
feeling that he had only Just opened the outside
door OF the subject. The meaning OF the parable
starting, but we all went from God. our
home. Sin had despoiled US and made US
hopeless, iriendess and goddess. We had fine
and we now ..begin to be in want"


care not, continued the pastor, how fine our
worldly estate may be- or how much bank stock


PAUPEREp THE WHOLE RACE,


and until we 60 back TO God, our home, we are in
is no exception TO Il: May God help
mortal soul. II you are not Christian your
first want Is the Holy Ghost. Some of
you have been familiar with those themes
about which am talking long before was born.
Some ofyou have heard thousand sermons. Some
OF you have spent whole years Of glorious Sabbath
contemplation and religious joys and yet you tell
me frankly you are not Christians Whys Because
the Holy Ghost has not led you to the cross. What
does all this service amount to this morning unless
the Divine Spirit touch your soulS wasted hour.
What is all this Bible, with its hopes and promises
It. you unless the Holy Spirit lumine the pager


SEALED BOOK.


What are all the advantages you have had for
the Spirit God drive the truth TO the heart So
many arguments for your condemnation. "weln
slble for not having it ~ Yes You must, my dear
brother, pray for His coming and He will come.


Se the Holy eses n wSy IS that
times, when we come TO the people with ella
borate discourse and we have carefully analyzed
the subject and brought out the thoughts, as
we think, in a harmonious way, and we
think II is about as good sermon as we know
because the Holy spirit did not bless the truth
that day. Why is II that on some other occasion
when we come with only a few thoughts lying in
our mind hardly arranged at all, but with burn
ing desire for the salvation OF the souls OF men,
ana the sermon is poor sermon, judged BY the


RULES OF HUMAN RHETORIC,


that on that day ten people come to Godf Because
the Lord sends His spirit to bless that sermon.
Oh II this morning the Spirit OF God would shine
on your hearts You would wake up as from long
sleep; you would look around about you and Jon
would kneel down and cry for mercy.


Again, your want is pardon. That young man
down In the wilderness, ah how he thought OF his
father. He thought, I'll could only hear my father
say 4 forgive YOU l would be happy" 1t was
pardon he wanted. That is what you need. What
has been the greatest sin In your ifeY IL Is the sin
Of driving back the Son OF God from your souls and
recrucifying the Lord OF glory and trampling on
the bleeding heart OF infinite love, and that sin We
have all committed. Added to this are 100000
other unforgven transgressons God is willing to
blot them all out ana take you in the arms OF His
compassion. Free, everlasting pardon for all.


Then again, you want comfort You have found
the world to be "a rough world, and there Is in your
soul


AN ACHING VOID


that It cannot I'LL Worldly amusements cannot
silence it. The intoxicating cup only makes the
matter worse. You go about seeking for peace and
happiness and finding remorse and anguish. It is
because the flower you are hunting for does not
grow in earthly soil. Substantial comfort viii not
grow in natures barren soil. Only in Christ is
your comfort. He is the balm Tor all wounds,
liberty for all captives, life for all who are dead.


Mr. Talmage also defined strength against temp
tation and hope for heaven.as further wants OF the
SOUL and on these subjects he descanted at con-
siderable length.