Psalm 68:13 Though you have lien among the pots, yet shall you be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. Before our conversion Satan is our task-master, and he is worse than Pharaoh. It is drudge, drudge, drudge. But after a while Christ appears, and says, "Let my people go," and then we come out into the largest blessing. We wash off the dust of sin's brick-kilns, and God makes us fairer than doves' wings covered with silver. Now, we maintain — I. THAT THE GRANDEST ADORNMENT THAT ANY YOUNG MAN CAN HAVE IS THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION. But many would say, when they heard of some young man being converted, "Oh, what a pity! he was the merriest of all of us and the most gladsome. What a pity!" And here is a young woman, the pride of her home circle. She becomes a Christian, and people talk of the pity of such a bright light being extinguished. But we maintain that the peace, the comfort, the adornment of such a young person just then begins. The religion of Jesus Christ beautifies the heart, and instead of depressing it lifts up to a higher platform of cheerfulness. Oh the joys and comforts of Christ's religion! What a poor, shallow stream is worldly enjoyment compared with that! It is not the people who seem to be the merriest that really are so. See that roystering, drinking, scoffing young man; how loud he laughs. But is he really happy? Follow him home. See him when he is alone and conscience speaks. He is wretched, as the Christian young man never is and never can be. "I have been trying these three years to serve God," said a man at a great meeting at which I was present, "and I am here to-night to tell you that in these three years I have had more delight than in all the years of my abomination." And that is the universal experience. II. RELIGION FREQUENTLY ADORNS A MAN BY PLACING HIM IN SPHERES OF USEFULNESS. Look at the fashionable fop — how fine he thinks himself! he never thinks of anybody but himself. Here is another young man who has set himself to try and do good to others. He loves Christ and wants others to love Him. He will try to uplift the fallen, to cheer the sad, to do all the good he can. Which is the most beautiful to look upon? Compare Napoleon and Voltaire with Paul. It is a grand thing to be a Christian hero. And what will it be in heaven? If I have persuaded any of you to start on the road to heaven I would like to stand beside him there. Many there are waiting for such to join them. (T. De Witt Talmage.) Parallel Verses KJV: Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. |
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