Live coals

Front matter

LIVE COALS,

FROM THE DISCOURSES OF

T. DE WITT TALMAGE, D. D.

Contents

Preface 5

Table of Contents 7

BIOGRAPHY.

Chapter I. Business Life

The General Impression— God's Intentions — A School of Energy — God's Demands — Anecdote of a Millionaire — A School of Patience — Of Useful Knowledge — Traders — Manufactures — A School of Integrity — Temptations of To-Day — Honesty — Scarcity of Commercial Honesty — Men who Have Conquered — Heavenly Rewards 43

Chapter II. Gnats And Camels

The Grub— The Camel— Religious Work— Humor— The Infinitesimals—The Magnitudes— Large versus Small Thefts— Prison for Small Crimes — Palaces for Large Crimes — Nervousness and Dyna-

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Viii CONTENTS.

mite — Dishonest Fruit Dealers — False Crop Reports — Society Needs Reconstruction — False Statements to Assessors — All More or Less Guilty 5 1

Chapter III. The Insignificant

Trouble Develops ^Character — Is an Educator — A Young Doctor — Grecian Mythology — Past National Distresses — Adversity Proves Friendship — Life a Game — Paths of Hardship and Darkness — The Hour of Conviction — Alone — No more Hunger or Thirst — Persecution of Christians — The Reward — The Importance of the Insignificant—Indolence—The Gleaner 57

Chapter IV. Paul In A Basket

Great Results Hang by Slender Tenure — Paul's Life — His Great Work — Moses' Tiny Craft — Rescue of John Wesley — Pitcairn Island — Infinity made up of Infinitesimals — What you do, do Well — Unrecognized and Unrecorded Services — Paul's Rescuers — Early Struggles of Ministers — The Son at College — The Sacrifices of the Family — Early Influences and Prayers 69

Chapter V. The Needle

The Praises of the Needle — Operatives — Its Triumphs — Its Cruelties — Its Charities — Practical Benevolence — Earnest Christian Man — Against Theorists — Female Benevolence Written on every Page of History — The Women of the Civil War— The Unmissed — Josephine's Funeral — The Grief of the French Poor 76

Chapter VI. The Secret Out

The Amalekites — Saul's Success — Agag's Life Spared — Wrath ot God — Samuel not Deceived — The Hypocrisy of Saul— Hypocrisy Always Exposed — Hypocrites in the Church — The Venom of Ecclesiastical Courts — Ottocar and Randolphus I — Hypocrisy not Confined to the Church — Putting off Sin on Others — Extermination Necessary — Mere Profession Amounts to Nothing — Value of a Church Certificate in Wall Street— The Church up with the Times — What we Need 81

Chapter VII. The Eye

An Imperial Organ — The Marvels of the Human Eye — Eyes ot Animals and Reptiles — The Window of the Soul — God's Preparation

CONTENTS.

IX for its Reception — Its Residence — The Contrivances of the Eve — Its Elaborate Gearing— The Retina— The Tear Gland— Wonderful Hydraulic Apparatus — Anecdotes — Bell's Treatise on the Human Hand — The Recoil of the Question — The Great Searching, Overwhelming Eye of God 89

Chapter VIII. The Ear

Architecture of Nations — The Human Ear — Its Overmastering Architecture— Scientists— The External Ear— The Middle Ear— The Internal Ear — The Hidden Machinery of the Ear — Defies Human Inspection — Vibrations per Second— A Life Long Study — The Musical Composers — Its Attempted Conquest — Its Wonders Planned by

iehovah — The Sacred Touch — Look for God in the Infinitesimal — J" earness of God — The Phonograph — The Ear of God 97

Chapter IX. Your Pedigree

A Mighty Question — Blue Blood — Characteristics from Generation to Generation — The Blood of Nationalities — Law of Heredity — Personal Responsibility — Christian Ancestry — Early Association — The Unwritten Will of the Christian Parent — Vast Responsibility Imposed— A Trustee— The Unwritten Will of the Wicked— Evil Parentage — Overcoming its Stigma — An Heir of Immortality.. . 109

Chapter X. Home

Piety at Home — Faithfulness in an Insignificant Sphere — The Definition of Home by Different Persons — The Contented Home — The Wretched Home — Pirvate Character — Reputation — Bad Temper at Home — Affable in Public — Home a Refuge — A Political Safe- Guard — Christian Hearth-Stone — Home a School — Words and Deeds — Brightest Place on Earth — Cheerfulness — Decorations of the Home — Good Cheer 121

Chapter XI. Is Life Worth Living?

The Evolutionist's Guess — Ask the Young Man — A.sk the Man of Forty — How to Decide the Question — Mere Money Getting a Failure — The Disease of Accumulation — Worldly Approval — Intelligence— Social Position — High Social Life — A Life that is Worth- Living — Opportunities and Responsibilities — Peter Cooper — Grace Darling — The Reward 131

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CONTENTS.

Chapter XII. Solicitude

Cause of Parental Solicitude — Parental Imperfection — Conscious Insufficiency — The Result of too Strict Discipline — Too Great Severity — Too Lenient — Childish Sinfulness — Nagging at Children — Temptations — A Farewell to Innocence — Traps set for the Young — Sin Invades the Sacred Precincts of Home — No Statistics Compiled of Ruined Homes — The Alleviations — Immediate Correction — Innocent Hilarity , . . 140

Chapter XIII. Ananias And Sapphira

Various Ways of Lying— Acquired and Natural — The Tendency in Rural Districts — The Producer — Plotting of Speculators — God Help the Merchants — Fortunes Made by Dishonesty — Large Fortunes Made Honestly — Dishonesties of Speech — The Merchants — Customers — Artisans — Insincerity of Society — False Statements of Denominations — Misrepresentations of Individual Churches — No such Thing as a Small Sin 15c*

Chapter XIV. The Balance Sheet

Short Allowances — Taking Stock — Christian Liabilities — A Title Deed — Refinement of Life — Sweet Sounds of the World — The Vicissitudes of Life — All Things for our Good — The Christian's Assets in this World and the Next — Death, a Black Messenger — Not a Ruffian —No Tears— "All are Yours"— The Invalid's Reward— That Glorious Consummation 159

Chapter XV. The Noontide Of Life

The Best Part of Life's Journey — Tranquility and Repose — Youth — Manhood — Old Age — Wholesale Slander — Looking Backward — Do Your Best — All Events are Connected — The Picture Galleries of the Past — Satan's Appetite — The Home Gallery — Looking Forward — Going Through — A Look Beyond — Faith's Strength 166

Chapter XVI. A Scroll Of Heroes

Merits Acknowledged — Historical Heroes — Heroes of Common, Everyday Life— The Sick-Room Heroes— The Heroes of Toil — The Slain by the Needle — Heroes who have Endured Domestic In-

CONTENTS.

XI justices — Social Wrecks — A Perpetual Martyrdom — The Drunkard's Wife — Heroes of Christian Charity — Melrose Abbey — The-Righteous Never Forsaken — The Great Chaplain's Cheer 174

Chapter XVII. The Burdens Lifted

Wells of Water — Dr. Talmage Leaving Home — A Practical Religion Necessary — Business Burdens — A World of Burden Bearing — Toiling for Others the Incentive — Grip, Gouge & Co. — God's Interest in one's Business — The Story of a Young Accountant — God's Sympathy — A Weight of Persecution and Abuse — High and Holy Enterprise Always Abused — The Treachery of the Befriended — A Cynic — The Ill-Treated in Good Company 182

Chapter XVIII. The Day We Live In

What this Age Expects of Every One- An Aggressive Christian — The Prince of Wales' Visit — Piety too Exclusive — The Cactus of North Carolina — Self-Examination — A Stalwart Christian Character — The Century Plant — Average of Human Life — The Years Required in Earning a Livelihood — The Years Spent in Sleep and Recreation — The Years Spent in Childhood and Sickness — The Time Left for Exclusive Service of God — Responsibilities not Discharged by Liberal Giving — Avoid Reckless Iconoclasm — Scoffing — Storm the Fortress of Sin— Work for All— Unbounded Faith— Fall of Tyranny — The March of the Hosts of the Living God 189

Chapter XIX. The Old Folks' Visit

The Blessings of a Parental Visit — Poor Relations — Father of Large Wealth Should Retain Possession — The Undutiful Son — Share Success with Parents — The Praises of the Unmarried Sisterhood—A Queen of Self- Sacrifice— The Maiden Aunt— The Bible Narratives of Unfilial Conduct — Ruth and Naomi 200

Chapter XX. Ordinary People

A Religion for Ordinary People — The Vast Majority — The Women at the Head of Households — Food Providers Decide the Health of the World — The Martyrs of Kitchen and Nursery — Ordinary Business Men — Gray Hairs at Thirty — Ages Rapidly — Divine Grace Wanted — Possess the Friendship of Christ — Ordinary Farmers — Christ's Best Parables Drawn from the Farmer's Life — The Stone Mason — The Carpenters — The Physicians — If Ordinary, Thank God xii

CONTENTS.

You are not Extraordinary — Abuse and Slander of the Extraordinary — Be Content with Things we Have 205

Chapter XXI. The Lachrymal

The Lachrymals of the Ancients— The Story of Paradise and the Peri— The Return of the Lost Sheep— The Wanderer— The Falling Tear Unreported — The City Missionary — The Parents' Solicitude — The Training of Children — The Heavenly Record — Sanctified Sorrows — Gems of Light — Bright Jewels of Heaven — God's Bottle.. 218

Chapter XXII. Sunset

A Dismal Thing — The Gloom y Hour of Temptation — The Strong Beneficent Influence of Jesus Necessary — "Abide with Us" — The Greatest Folly— The Cry of a Child— The Mother's Care— The Sudden Loss of Earthly Estate — A Friend's Treachery — The Accumulation of Misfortunes — Trouble must be Met and Borne — The Comforting Influence of a Christian's Belief. 227

Chapter XXIII. The Ferry Boat Over The Jordan

Trying to Extemporize a Way to Heaven — The Miserable Work of Such — The Ferry Boat to Come from the Other Side — Thomas Walsh — A Delusion Broken— The Journey to Heaven is not Alone — Last Testimony of the Faithful— Only a Ferry — No Great and Perilous Enterprise — A Solid Landing — A Real Place — John's Materialistic Heaven Satisfactory — The Welcome of Friends — The Recognition of All — The Romance in the Life of Judson 232

Section II. Coals For The Church Militant. 241 Chapter XXIV

DOWNFALL OF CHRISTIANITY.

The Rising Sun of Our Time— The World without the Sun— Infidelity and Atheism — The World without Christianity — Degradation of Womanhood — What Christianity has done for Woman — What Infidelity Would Do— The Death Bed of the Wicked— The Mightiest Restraints of To-day— The Grand March of Infidelity- Will Infidelity Succeed? 243

CONTENTS.

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Chapter XXV. Evolution

No Contest Between Science and Revelation — Witnesses Pro and Con — Herbert Spencer — Huxley — Darwin — The Bible on Evolution — A Question Propounded — Theory of Evolution is Infidel — Agassiz — Boast of Evolutionists —Their Theories Shattered — Their Wanderings — Testimony Against Evolution — A Magnificent Theory — Survival of the Fittest — Spontaneous Generation — No Natural Progress — Natural Evolution Downward — Develops Dishonesty — Theory of Evolution Older than Christianity 252

Chapter XXVI. The Missing Link

The Ancestral Line— The Brute— Man— The Brain of the Gorilla —The Brain of the Hottentot— Blood Globule— A Different Creation — Darwin's System — Species Unchanged and Unchangeable — Your Predecessors — Evolution a Mystery - Brutalizing in its Tendency — Annihilation — The Bible Narration — Divine Evolution — Monarchs of Earth — Evolution from Contestant to Conqueror 267

Chapter XXVII. Evangelism Vindicated

A Roman Evangelist — Eating the Book — The Creeds of the People — Evangelical Religion — The Belief of the Different Denominations — How they are Slandered — A Charmed Key — Two Destinies Demanded by One's Common Sense — The Trinity — Justification by Faith — Regeneration — Reconstruction Easily Understood 276

Chapter XXVIII. Splendors Of Orthodoxy

An Inspired Bible — No Element of Weakness — Stood the Assaults of Time — Errors in Transcribing — Advanced Thinkers — Freedom in Religious Thought and Discussion — Change of Theories — The Political Parties— What I Believe to be Right — What Orthodoxy Has Done — The Influence of the Entire Bible — Splendors of Character — The Certitudes — Palace and Penitentiary — Advancements of Our Time 284

Chapter XXIX. Mending The Bible

A Risky Business — The Book of Genesis — Disbelief of Portions of the Bible — Liberty of Discussion — The Heinousness of Fault Finding — The Old Gospel Ship Opposes Expurgation — Implicit Belief — Bible Miraculously Preserved— A Matter of History — The Cata-

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logue Unchanged for Ages— All Attempts to Detract or Add to —Failures— The Bible Liked As It Is— A Division— Critics Severely Handled 292

Chapter XXX. The Glorious March

The Glory of the Church— The Church Ahead of the World— Her Possessions— The Blessings of the Poor— The Church Compared to the Moon — The Only Institution That Gives Light to the World— Weathered all Storms— Light for all Classes and Conditions of People — Compared to the Sun — The Great Missions of Christ — The Church Triumphant — Religious Enthusiasm — Christ as a Leader , 301

Chapter XXXI. Shams In Religion

The Religion the. World Wants — A Practical Religion— What Such a Religion Will Do — Adulteration of Articles of Commerce — The Remedy— Philanthropy Does Not Atone For Sin — Mechanism Rectified — Religion in Agriculture — Religion in the Learned Professions—Religion and Good Society — Missionary Work Among the Upper Classes — The Marriage Relation — A New Departure — A Beautiful Theory — Witnesses of Practical Religion 310

Chapter XXXII. The Beauty Of Religion

The Crystal — No Happen-So's in Theology — Not a Slipshod Universe — A House of Sorrow — Superior in Transparency — A Transparent Bible — Surpasses in its Beauty — Cross and Crown — Beautiful in its Symmetry — Not a State Religion — Superior in its Transformations — Minerals — Early Dissipation — Chief Transforming Power not of this World— Kill Sin or it will Kill You. 322

Chapter XXXIII. Religion An Antiseptic

Grace Like Salt— Beyond Human Skill — Beautiful and Beautifying—A Healthy Religion— What the Grace of God Will Do— A Necessity of Life— Must Have More Faith— The Preservative of Governments — The Trouble with Modern Philosophy — The Morning Star of Jesus ; , 335

Chapter XXXIV. The Spicery Of Religion

Theologians Agree — Religion Compared — A Glorious Inspiration — Necessary to the Housekeeper— An Inspired Religion — Lugubri-

CONTENTS.

XV ous Christians a Damage to Christianity — More Sunshine and Fresh Air Necessary — Cheer the Sick and Poor — The Two Ways of Meeting the Poor — Church Music — A New Crusade — A Present and an Everlasting Redolence — Chasing the Dead— Comfort and Satisfaction 341

Chapter XXXV. Live Churches

Financial Engagements Promptly Met — Half Starved Pastors — The Niggardliness of Many Churches — Punctuality — A Grand Delusion — Congregational Singing — The Methodist Church Encircles the World — A Flourishing Sunday School — Vast Multitudes Outside — Those Little Feet— That Spark of Iniquity— Now a Great Army — Only a Child — Commodious and Appropriate Architecture — A Soul Saving Church — All Must do their Best 346

Chapter XXXVI. Music In Worship

The Best Music — The Scotch Covenanters — The Animalculse have their Music — The Music of the Bible — The First Organist — The White Robed Levites — What is Appropriate Music — Adaptiveness to Devotion — A Distinction— Church- Psalmody — Correctness — Spirit and Life — Drawling and Stupidity — Congregational — Our Duty — " Gloria in Excelsis." 359

Chapter XXXVII. Abolition Of Sunday

The Sabbath's Sanctity — A Seventh Day Rest Necessary for Man and Beast — Interesting Testimony — Secular Amusements — The Grog Shops — The People's Rights — Opposed to all Infractions — A Paris Incident — A French Sabbath Compared to an American — The May Flower — When it will be Destroyed 365

Chapter Xxxviii. The Blood

Conscience — A Personal Knowledge When Sin is Committed — The Moral Man Not Exempt from Sin — Astray in Many Directions —The Bible's Charge— The "Rider on the White Horse."— Died for their Faith— Different Kinds of Hands— At the Sea Beach— The Password at the Gate of Heaven 372

Chapter XXXIX. Can The Unpardonable Sin Be Committed In Our Time?

The Sin Against the Holy Ghost — Not Possible to Commit that Sin Now — An Irrevocable Sin — Impossible to Correct Mistakes — xvi

CONTENTS.

God Forgives but Nature Never — Correcting Bad Habits in Children — Incidents and Anecdotes — Lost Opportunities— Getting Good — Usefulness — Now is Your Time . 378

Chapter XL. Intolerance

Difference in Pronunciation — Differences in Denominations — Liberty of Conscience — Agitation Tends to Purification and Moral Health — Truth will Conquer — Bigotry a Child of Ignorance — Causes of Bigotry — An Especial Mission — People Disgusted — Sectarianism — How to Build — Astor Library — English Law Against the Jew — Gospel Platforms — How to Overthrow Intolerance — Christian Charity 3 8 S

Chapter XLI. The Witness Stand

Science against Inventions — Science against the Resurrection of Christ — A Play with the Skeptic — Testimony versus Argument — The Weapon Used* in -this Conflict — We Are Witnesses — What It Has Done for Us — Conversion Alone Conquers Appetite — Power of the Comforter — The World Powerless to Comfort — Power to Give Composure — The Deathbed of the Christian — Their Testimony and Triumphs . . .396

Chapter XLII. The Gospel Looking-glass

The Gospel — The Tabernacle— The Laver — The Looking-glasses — Different Mirrors — Ourselves Seen as We Are — God's Mercies Thanklessly Received — Pride — Why so Few Conversions — A Laver Necessary — Fresh Testimony Required — Where the Trouble Lies — Pervades Man's Whole Nature — Washing Imperative, not Optional — Comfort 405

Chapter XLIII. Religion In Dress

The First Wardrobe— The Goddess of Fashion— The Victims of Fashion — Fashion with Men — Animated Checker Boards — Corsets — Destroying and Deathful Influences — Fraud — Expensive Wardrobes Cause of Defaultings — Country Dressed to Death — The Tragedy of Clothes — The Foe of all Alms Giving — Greatest Obstacles to Charity — "A Love of a Bonnet" — Public Worship Distracted — Belittles the Intellect — No Seat in Heaven for the Devotee of Fashion 415

CONTENTS.

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Chapter XLIV. The Coming Sermon

The Sermon of To-Day— What Is the Matter— Un suited to the Age — Convert the Sermon — Full of a Living Christ — A Loving Christ— A Short Sermon— Where the Trouble Lies— Europe Thrilled — A Popular Sermon— Theological Professors— Churches Thronged — An Awakening Sermon — An Everyday Sermon 425

Chapter XLV. The Gates Of Hell

The Gates Described — The Tuilleries — Impure Literature — Scientific and Medical Novelette Literature — The Leprous Booksellers — Family Libraries Should be Explored — The Dissolute Dance — Indiscreet Apparel — The Fashion Plates of any Age — Alcoholic Beverage — The Chief Abetter of Sin — Gates Swing In — Never Outward — The Ways of Escape — The Christian Press — No Soft Sentimentalists Wanted — The Return of the Wanderer 435

Chapter XLVI. Influence Of Clubs

Men Gregarious — Herbs and Flowers — Secret Soceities — Two Specimens of Clubs — Profitable or Baleful Influences — The Test — The Home — Moral Bigamy — Domestic Shipwrecks — The Clubs Substituted for the Home — Obituary Easily Written — Scions of Aristocracy — Influence a Man's Commercial Credit — Its Influence on One's Sense of Moral and Spiritual Obligation — Two Highways — Attacks the Best Men — The Large Admission Fee — Influence of Fathers Upon Their Sons — Sacrifice your Money Rather than your Soul. .446

Chapter XLVII. Health Resorts

Watering Places — Piety Left at Home — Little Piety at Health Resorts — Hard to be Good — Elders and Deacons — Temptations — Baleful Influence of Horse Racing — The Habitues of Races — Dishonor and Ruin — Statement of a Leading Sportsman — A Sacrifice of Physical Strength — A Poor Rule — Hasty and Life-long Alliances — Responsible for Many Domestic Infelicities — The Soft-headed Dude xviii

CONTENTS.

— The Frothy Young Woman— Baneful Literature — Intoxicating Beverages — Arm Yourself Against Temptation 458

Chapter XLVIII. The Roller Skating Craze

The Lever — Balance Wheel— Other Wheels — Looking for a Healthful Amusement— The World's Temptations — The Theater- Does the Roller Skate Recreation Afford Healthful Amusement? — Yes, with Restrictions — Proper Precautions — One Hour's Exercise Daily — Great Possibilities — Vulgarity of Immodesty — A Chaperone — Well Dressed Men Flirts — Avoid Senseless Prolongation — Let the Law of the Parlor Dominate — A Craze Deplorable — Remember One's Youth — A Good Time — Solon's Law — Recreation an Augmentation o o 470

Chapter XLIX. Tobacco -and Opium

The Herb— Yucatan its Birth Place— Nearly all Use It — A Poison — Truths Uttered Against the Evil — Terrific Unhealth — Depresses the Nervous System — Creates an Unnatural Thirst — The Drunkard's Grave Strewed with Tobacco Leaves — Witnesses — Incidents Related — Killed by Tobacco — The Ministry Use It — Unnecessary Expense — Both Sexes — A Brilliant Man — White Poppy — Its Age — The Opium Eater — God Does not Hear the Prayer of Such— Chloral — Extirpation 484

Chapter L. Social Dissipation

Dancing — The Round Dance — Dancing Universal — Ancient Dancing — Present Custom — God Bless the Young — An Abetter of Pride — Physical Ruin — From Ball Room to Grave Yard — Usefulness Spoiled — A Belittling Process — An Incident — Earnest Work — A Vast Multitude Destroyed 497

Chapter LI. Spiritualism An Imposture

Mystery — Communications Between This and the Next World — — Fingers of Superstition— Modern Spiritualism, an Old Doctrine — Necromancers of Old — God's Condemnation of Such — Undue Advantage Taken — Remarkable Scholarship of Spirits — An Affair of Darkness — Ruin Physical Health — A Marital and Social Curse — The World with Spiritualism at the Head — Produces Insanity — Falsehoods — Ruins Disciples and Mediums — Ruins the Soul 506

CONTENTS. XIX

CHAPTER LIE

BOOKS.

The Mighty Agency of the Printing Press — Its Chief Agency — Good Journalism — An Absorbing Question — Keep Aloof from Iniquitous — A List of Good Books — Three-fourths of Novels Published are Pernicious — False Pictures of Human Life — Indiscriminate Readers — How to Stem the Tide — Books that Corrupt the Imagination — George Sand — The Criminals of the Country — Apologetic for Crime — The Penalty — The Midnight Reader of Romances — Iniquitous Pictorials — A Plague Spot — The Power of a Bad Book — Examine Your Libraries — Charge! Charge!! 516

Chapter LIII. Are Theaters 1 Improving?

Progression of the World — Great Actors — Secular Newspapers' Criticism — Depraved Advertisements — Importation of Bad Morals — Degenerate Players — An Awful Decadence — East Lynne— No Moral Elevation in the Modern Play — The Drama — An Echo of the Human Soul — Advice to Young Men — Freshen up your Work — Avoid Being Led into Sin 531

Chapter LIV. Romance Of Crime

Halo Around Iniquity — The Fascinations Thrown around Crime — Fraud — Jim Fiske, the Peddler — An Irresistible Impression — Geting One's Hand In — The Dishonesties of Commercial Life — Gain Obtained by Iniquity Easily Lost — Trust Funds — Libertinism — Unfair Treatment of Female Sex — The Pulpit Must Awake — Assassination — Murder — Capital Punishment — Stand Independent of Evil Influences 541

Chapter LV. Abuse Of Trust Funds

The Dead Treasurer — Accounts Squared — The Dishonest Failures — An Appalling Fact— Responsibility of Officials — The Inefficient Bank Director — An Orthodox Swindler — Loss of Public Confidence — Banks — National Blessings — An Epidemic — Borrowing — Wall Street Speculation — Sound the Alarm — Religion not a Church Delectation 552

Chapter LVI. Wall Street Defalcation

The Great Wall of 1685— Birthplace of the U. S. Government- Coronation and Burial of Fortunes — Extravagance — Elegances and

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CONTENTS.

Refinements— No Iron Rule— Honest Failures Rare— Pay as You Go— Superfluities— Expenditures for Tobacco and Liquor— Cause of Pauperism— My Text at the Grave of a Swindler— Swindling the Physician and Undertaker— Cause of God Impoverished— Keep Your Credit Good 563

Chapter LVII. National Ruin

Tomb of a Dead Empire— Destruction of Babylon— Mortality among Nations — A Call of the Roll — Political Bribery — Legitimate Expenses— Purchase of Suffrage — Solidifying of Sections — Low State of Public Morals— The Millionaires of California — Son of Cresus — How to Save the Nation — Who Shall Possess this- Nation? Christ or Satan?— Who Shall Decide It? 575

Chapter LVIII. Easy Divorce

Infelicitous Homes — Divorce — Free Love Advocates — Mormonis"m — A Positive Law Now on the Statute Books — A Pustulous Literature — The Laws of the States — The Record by States — Easy Divorce and Dissoluteness Twin Brothers — What we Want — Dissatisfaction no Cause for Divorce — Constitutional Amendment — Make Divorce Difficult — Rigorous Laws — A Divine Rage Against all Enemies of the Marriage State — Paradise Regained 587

Chapter LIX. The Arch Fiend Of The Nations

Noah Introduced the Deluge of Drunkenness — Uhhealthful Stimulants — The Arch-Fiend's Cauldron of Temptation — Greatest Evil of this Nation — Statistics — Born with a Thirst for Strong Drink — The Last Will of the Drunkard — Bitters — Circulars of a Brewers' Association — A National Evil — Suffering Mothers and Children — Death's Hand — The Drunkard's Home — The Boast of Protagoras— Political Parties Afraid — The Church — Teetotalism coo

CONTENTS.

xxi

Chapter LX. The Demand Of God And Civilization

Political Parties — Mormonism — A Great Evil — Necessity of Immediate Settlement of the Question — Bigamy Punished — Polygamy Unpunished — A Plank Anti-Mormonistic Wanted — Immigration of Mormons — Intermarriage of Nationalities — What Are We Doing — What Is Demanded—The Platforms of Political Parties— God's Country — Prayer Answered — Four Doxologies 613

Chapter LXI. Bossism

The Village Boss — Slavery of American Politics — Official Patronage — No Peril— No Crisis— The Old Lion — Party Independence Advocated — Good Example — Cry Partisanship — Malediction of Public Men — Public Life — A Respector of the Christian Religion — Christianity in Politics — The Gospel to Be Dominant — The Brightest Day in our History , 624

CHAPTER LXIL

THE CHRISTIANIZED VOTE.

The Sacred Chest — Holds the Fate of the Nation — Ancient Forms of Voting — First Introduction of Ballot-Boxes — The American Ark of the Covenant — Its Curses — Ignorance— Spurious Voting — Intimidation — Bribery — Defamation of Character— Opinions of Political Opponents — The Rowdy and Drunken Caucus — Low Politics — The Remedy — Property Qualification — Thorough Moralization and Chrislianization 635

Chapter LXIII. Capital And Labor

Greatest War of the World — Strikes — Pacification a Failure — Folly of Crying Out against the Rich — Or by Cynical and Unsympathetic Treatment of the Laboring Classes — Violence — The Golden Rule Applied to Both — The Sermon Olivetic— Anecdote of Washington — Supply and Demand — Henry Clay — The Greatest Friend to Capital and Labor 647

Chapter LXIV. The Moral Character Of Candidates

Wreck of Arabia Petrsea — The Decalogue — The Christly Rule — Statements of Red-Hot Partisanship — No Especial Liberty Conferred — Unchastity — A Moral Leper — One Sin Followed by Others — All Are Imperfect — The Man to Select as a Candidate 660

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CONTENTS.

Chapter LXV. Rulers

Morals of a Nation Seldom Higher than the Virtue of the Rulers — American Rulers Superior to all other Nations — Public Wickedness — Incompetency for Office — Intemperance — Defeats Legislation — Defeated our Armies — Bribery — Not Wholly American — Rascality Among Legislatures — Revolution Ahead— Bonus — Stand Aloof— Faithfulness at the Ballot-Box — Evangelize the People — Personal Responsibility 667

Chapter LXVI. Dedicatory Prayer

Delivered at the Opening of the New Orleans Exposition, December 16, 1884 678

T. DE WITT TALMAGE, D. D.

Thomas De Witt Talmage was born on the 7th of January, 1832, in the village of Bound Brook, Somerset County, N. J. His father was a farmer,

and a man of much vigor and consistency of character ; his mother a woman of energy, hopefulness and equanimity.

Both parents were marked in their characteristics, and their differences blended in a common life rendered their home one of harmony, consecration, benignance and cheerfulness. The father won the confidence and the honors a rigid, common-sense, truly American community had to yield. The mother was the counseling, quietly provident force which made her a helpmeet indeed, and her home the center and sanctuary of the sweetest influences. The family was a deeply religious one.

The now far-famed De Witt said on August 12, 1885, a t the " Faith Cure " Rooms, Bethshan, London : —

" I tell you that I believe in prayer because there is something in the ancestral line that makes me believe. My grandfather and grandmother went to a great revival meeting in Baskingridge, New Jersey, and they were so impressed with the religious service that they went home and said, If we could only have our children converted, if we could only have this great influence in our family ! That night all the young folks were to go off to a very gay party. Grandmother said, ' Now, when you are all ready for the party come into my room, as I have a word to say to you.' She was somewhat of an invalid, not able to get about much. The children came into the - room where she sat, and she said, ' Now you are going to the party, going to have a very gay time. I want you to know that all the time you are there your mother is praying for you, and that we will kneel and pray for you until you come back.' They all went to the gay party, and, as may be well supposed, did not have a very good time. They knew their mother was praying for them. Grandmother went to bed, and the next morning very early she heard crying and sobbing in the room below. It was one of her little party crying to God for mercy, seeking a new heart, wanting to act on the Christian life. My Aunt Phcebe said to grandfather, ' Go down and find what is the matter ; go and hunt up Samuel — he is gone to the barn ; he feels worse than I do/ Grandfather went to the barn and found Samuel there kneeling and crying to God for mercy. He told him the way of salvation, so that he became a minister of Jesus Christ, and there was no man more useful in America during the century than he. Then

Samuel said, 4 Go to the wagon-house ; David is there.' Grandfather went to the wagon-house. There was David, afterward my own father. He told David the way to the cross. David became a Christian. David, then a young man, had some one to whom he was affianced at the foot of the lane, not far off — Catherine Van Nest, afterward my mother. He told the story of the cross to her, and she became a Christian. A great awakening resulted as this story went round the neighborhood, and people heard what things were going on in Mr. Talmage's family. Why, they were all getting converted, and the whole family were converted to God. And finally, as many as two hundred and eighty from that neighborhood stood up in one church to profess Christ. That story lingered in my mother's mind until she made a covenant, after her children were born, with five of her neighbors, to meet and pray one afternoon of each week for the salvation of her household. These five mothers met. I did not hear this story till after my mother's death. Nobody knew why these five persons met, there was a sort of mystery about it. Sometimes the question was put, 1 Mother, where are you going?' She used to answer, ' I am just going off a little while.' They met to pray for their children ; they prayed until they were all converted, myself the last. Oh ! I believe in prayer. I believe you can get just what you ask of God if it is good for you. This story has no end,"