Sermons from the sign-boards, or Lessons from every-day life

Table Of Contents

Page

How Did It Happen ? . - - - - 127

Speed, Comfort, Beauty, - - - - 144

Foreword

This book is a bridge. One end of the arch rests upon the pulpit, the other upon the counter.

It spans the gulf which men have digged between what they are pleased to call the "sacred" and the "secular" — though neither of those words appear anywhere in the Bible.

These "Sermons from the vSign-boards" were originally prepared for and delivered to the vSunday evening congregations of Century Methodist Episcopal Church, in East St. Louis, 111. These congregations consist chiefly of young people from the shops, stores, and offices of this industrial city.

The business men, from whose slogans these lessons are drawn, are in no wise responsible for the author's views. The themes were used without their knowledge or consent, so they must not be held accountable for our statements.

Care has been taken, however, not to thus give prominence to any unworthy or irresponsible firm, but to present only those whom we believe to be honest and honorable.

The author makes no idle boast of originality of thought, but seeks simply to follow the example of the Great Teacher, who pointed His truths with "Lessons from every-day life."

FOREWORD

Not only did the lilies of the field, the fruits of the vine and fig tree, and the sower sowing the seed, afford Him suitable object lessons, but the fishermen casting their nets, the children playing in the market-place, and the merchantman seeking goodly pearls were to Him suitable objects from which to draw lessons of immortal worth.

If we, like Shakespeare, can find

"Tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones, and good in everything,"

happy shall we be.

If these sermons teach our young people to keep their eyes open, and train their minds to perceive moral and spiritual lessons in the every-day things of our prosy lives, we shall be satisfied.

It is needless to say that this is not a book for the critics, but for common, every-day folks. The writer has had in mind the entreaty of the ''Good Shepherd," who said, ''Feed My lambs, feed My sheep." He has left the job of feeding the girafifes to more pretentious authors. He would gently remind you, however, that even a girafife may find some very wholesome food in the manger of the sheep — if he be but willing to bend his long neck to reach it.

We realize vividly that this volume is very incomplete. We trust, however, that it will prove suggestive. We have no doubt that it will be

FOREWORD

read by all classes of people. Professional and business men have already ordered it. Patients in the hospital, lingering upon beds of pain, with the dark shadows hovering near, await its coming. The rich and poor will read it. Copies of it will lie upon the ofBce-desks of the city's busiest men. Other copies will reach the fireside of the quiet country home, and the family will gather around the home circle and listen while one reads aloud the message of these pages. Preachers will pass it around at our next Annual Conference and discuss its teachings.

White-haired saints in happy homes will praise God for its precious truths; while sinstained souls, in dens of vice, will eagerly grasp the hope held out to the penitent. Tempted souls will stop and ponder, and turn from sin's alluring charms.

How does the author know all this? He has witnessed these scenes so often.

May the Spirit of God bear home to each heart the lessons which that one should learn !

Fraternally,

N. D. Sweeny.

''Their children . remember their altars and their groves, bv the green trees, upon the high hills."

"Lord, who shall abide in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart."

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart : who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity nor sworn deceitfully."

"Thou shalt come to the hill of God ; . . . and the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man."

All the world is debtor to the author of "Home, Sweet Home."

He has rendered to the race a service which can never be fully estimated nor repaid. Methinks all heaven must honor him. Other men likewise have exalted the home, but none too highly. The dearest, sweetest spot on earth is home. If this is not true of your home, then your home is a perversion. It has failed for some reason to fulfill its highest and holiest mission.