7 January 1832 A.D. Rev. Thomas Dewitt
Talmadge Born—Central Presbyterian, Brooklyn, NYC; Overcoming Slander & Libel; “What was meant for harm turned out good…”
Archivist. “January 7: Rev.
Thomas Dewitt Talmage [sic throughout].”
This Day in Presbyterian History. 7
Jan 2012. http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/2012/01/january-7/. Accessed 6 Jan 2015.
January 7: Rev. Thomas Dewitt Talmage
What was Meant for Harm Turned Out for Good
Reared
into a family of twelve children on a farm in New Jersey, Thomas Dewitt Talmage
had the blessings of Christian parents. Four of the children in this
family, as a result, would become ministers and missionaries of the
gospel, including Thomas, who was born on this day on January
7, 1832. Graduating from what is present day New York
University, Thomas at first studied law, but eventually received the calling
in becoming a minister of the gospel. Graduating from a Dutch Reformed
seminary, he pastored three churches in what is now the Reformed Church in
America.
In
1869 however, he transferred into the Presbyterian Church and was called to
serve as pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn, New York.
[» Dutch
Reform Church, Philadelphia. This picture shows the church where
Dr. Talmage was pastor previous to his call to Brooklyn »]
Preaching
without notes, without a pulpit to hold him in place, with the fervor of a
George Whitefield, and the rhetoric of Shakespeare and Milton, the church
congregation began to grow with the faithful preaching of the Bible,
with the result that many were turned away. Building
a larger building brought them masses of additional people, which only
caused more to be turned away because of lack of space. Eventually, area
ministers in Brooklyn, jealous at his success, began to spread rumors, which
were in turn picked up by the news media. These sinful slurs upon his
ministry and person became hot news for the reading public.
The
following Sunday after the slanderous remarks hit the front pages, reporters
showed up for the worship service, expecting Rev. Talmage to respond publicly
to the personal attacks. That hope would make great news copy. But
Talmage didn’t respond at all to the verbal attacks. In fact, he didn’t say one
word about the newsy stories of the previous week. He chose instead
to proclaim the unadulterated gospel. That one sermon was printed word
for word in countless newspapers in New York. and even around the
world. In fact, this policy of printing his sermons by the
public media became the standard practice, as some 3000 newspapers
eventually came to be used by the Lord in this way to deliver the good news of
eternal life.
It is
estimated that twenty five million people read his biblical sermons around the
world, with thirty thousand souls won to Christ as a result. He was
faithful in word and practice to the calling of Christ to be an ambassador,
representing King Jesus to the world of lost men and women.
Words to Live By: “Do
not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21 NIV
)
It is always easier to respond in kind to those who attack by their words and
actions, but God demands of us a different response. In fact, it is often
that “softer word” which is used by the Lord to convict both the one who
attacks our character, as well as a tremendous example to those outside the
immediate situation. Jesus told us to bless those who say all kinds of
evil against you. Let us be faithful to do that, and leave the outcome to
God.
)
It is always easier to respond in kind to those who attack by their words and
actions, but God demands of us a different response. In fact, it is often
that “softer word” which is used by the Lord to convict both the one who
attacks our character, as well as a tremendous example to those outside the
immediate situation. Jesus told us to bless those who say all kinds of
evil against you. Let us be faithful to do that, and leave the outcome to
God.
Through the Scriptures: Genesis 20 – 22
Through the Standards: Three
witnesses to Scripture
WCF 1:5
“We
may be moved and induced by the testimony of the Church to an high and reverend
esteem of the Holy Scripture. And the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy
of the doctrine, the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the
scope of the whole (which is, to give all glory to God), the full discovery it
makes of the only way of man’s salvation, the many other incomparable
excellencies, and the entire perfection thereof, are arguments whereby it doth
abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet, notwithstanding, our
full persuasion and assurance of the infallible true and divine authority
thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with
the Word in our hearts.”
WLC 4 “How doth it appear
that the scriptures are of the word of God?
A. The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of God, by their majesty and purity; by the consent of all the parts, and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation: but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very word of God.
A. The Scriptures manifest themselves to be the word of God, by their majesty and purity; by the consent of all the parts, and the scope of the whole, which is to give all glory to God; by their light and power to convince and convert sinners, to comfort and build up believers unto salvation: but the Spirit of God bearing witness by and with the scriptures in the heart of man, is alone able fully to persuade it that they are the very word of God.
All of
the above images are taken from a saleman’s display copy of The Authentic
Life of T. De Witt Talmage (1902); all scans by the staff of the
PCA Historical Center.
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