Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 August 1896 — TALMAGE’S SERMON. [ARTICLE]

TALMAGE’S SERMON.

THE GOSPEL OF GOOD CHEER FOR THE SORROWING. fiev. Dr. Tnlmage Vivid Pictures of the Lengthening Shadows of Life—When Time Ends and Eternity Begins—The Light of Christ. At the Close of Day. Dr. Talmage’s subject this week lights •p the sorrows of this life ami sounds the gospel of good cheer for all who will receive it. His text was Luke xsiv., 2V, “Abide with ds, for it is toward evening.” Two villagers, having concluded their •rrand iu Jerusalem, have started out at the city gate and are on their way to Eknmaus, the place of their residence. They go with a sad heart. Jesus, wh* had been their admiration and their joy, had been basely massacred and entombed. As'with sad face and broken heart they pass on their way, a stranger accosts them. They tell him their am ietles and bitterness of soul. He in turn talks to them, mightily expounding the Scriptures. He throws over them the fascination of '■fetApiligent conversation. They forget the tiSc and notice not the objects they pass ■fid before they are,a ware have come up fro#t of their house. Thiqr pause before We entrance and attempt to persuade the stranger to tarry with thertl. press upon him their hospitalities. Nifcht* is coming on, and he may meet a prowling wild beast or be obliged to He unsheltered from the dew. He ennnot go much farther now. Why not stop there and contffiiie their pleasant conversation'/ They take him by the arm and they issist upon his coming in, addressing him in the words, “Abide with us, for it is "toward evening.” The candles are lighted, the table is spread, pleasant socialities are enkindled. They rejoice in the presence of the stranger guest. He asks a blessing upon the bread they eat, and he hands a piece of it to each. Suddenly and with overwhelming power the thought flashes upon the astonished people—it is the Lord! And as they sit in breathless wonder, looking upon the resurrected body of Jesus, he vanished. The interview ended. He was gone. The Bright Pav. W ith many of us it is a bright, sunshiny day of prosperity, There is not a cloud in the sky, not a leaf rustling in the forest, no chi.l in the air. But we cannot expect all this to last. He is not an intelligent man who expects perpetual daylight of joy. The sun will set after awhile near the horizon. The shadows will lengthen. While I speak, many of us stand in the very hour described in the text, ‘‘for it is toward evening.” The request , of, the text is appropriate for some before me. For with fljeni it is toward the evening of old age.'They have passed the meridian of life, (They are sometimes startled to think how old they are. They do not, however, like to have others remark upon •h If others suggest their approximation toward" venerable- appearance, they say, ‘‘Why. I'ni -not.jw. old after.nll.” They do, iudeed»#atofice that- they cannot lift quite y go much as once. They cannot walk quite so fast. They cannot read quite so well without spectacles. They cannot so easily recover from a cough or any occasional ailment. They have lost their taste for merriment. They are surprised at the quick passage of the year. They say that it only seems a little while ago that they were boys. They are going a little down hill. Tncre is something in their health, something in their vision, something in their walk, something in their changing associations, something above, something beneath, something within, to remind them that it is toward evening.

The great want of nil such is to have Jesus abide with them. It is a dismal thing to Ik* getting old without the rejuvenating influence of religion. When we step on the down grade of life and see that it dips to the verge of the cold river, we want to behold some one near who Will help us across it. /When the sight loses its power to glance and gather up we need the faith that can illumine. When we feel the failure of the ear, we need the clear tones of that voice which in olden times broke -up the silence of the deaf with cadence of mercy. When the axmen of death hew down whole forests of strength and beauty'around us and we are left in solitude, we need the dove of divine mercy to sing in oiir branches, when the shadows begin to fall and we feel that the driy is far spent, we need most of all to supplicate the strong beneficent Jesus in the prayer of the villagers, Abide with us, for it is" toward evening." ■* The Dark 1 Night. The request of the text is an appropriate exclamation for all those wlio are approached in the gloomy hour of ternptatipn. There is nothing easier than to be gtosd-naturetf When everything pleases, or be 'humble when then* is nothing to, oppose us, forgiving when we have not* been assailed, o? honest when we have no inducement to fra H d. But you havefelt the grapple of some temptation. Your nature at some time quaked and groaned under the infernal force. You felt that the devil was after you. You saw your Christian graces retreating. You feared that you would fall in the awful wrestle with sin and be thrown into the dust The gloom thickened. The first indications of the night were seen in all the trembling of your soul. In all the infernal suggestions of satan, in all the surging up of tumultuous passions and excitements, you felt with awful emphasis that it was toward evening. In the tempted hour you need to ask Jesus to abide with you. You eau beat back the monster that would devour you. You can unhorse the sin that would ride you down. You can sharpen the battleax with which you split the head,of lielmeted abomination. Who helped Paul shako the brazen gated heart of .FelixV Who acted like a good saildr when all the crew howled in the Mediterranean shipwreck? Who helped the martyrs to be firm when one word of recantation Would have uufastened the withes of the stake and jnit out the kindling fire? When the flight of the soul came on and all the denizens of darkness came riding upon thejVwinds of perdition, w.hp gave strength to the soul? Who giive calmness to the heart? Who broke the. (Spell of infernal enchantment? He wlwneard the request of the villagers, “Abide with us, for it is toward evening.” One of the forts of France was attacked, and the outworks were taken before night. The besieging army lay down, thinking there was but little to do in the morning, and that the soldiery in the, fort could be easily made to surrender. But duriug the night, through a back stairs, they escaped into the country. In the morning the besieging army sprang upon tlmir prey was go*no.' Yjo', when we ate assaulted in r tew-ptation, thpre*. is always some secret, stair by which we might get off. God will not allow us to be tempted above what we are able, but with every temptation will bring a way of escape that we may be able to bear it. The prayer of the text is appropriate for all who are anticipating sorrow. The greatest folly that ever grew on this planet is the tendency to borrow trouble. But .there are times when approaching htorypw Is *« £vjjlent that we need ,to pe. 'Snaking fa^ifglcoftP On* of /our children has lately become

• favorite. The cry of that child strikes deeper into the heart than the cry of all the others. You think more about it. You give it more attention, not because it is any more of a treasure than the others, but because it is becoming frail. There is something in the cheek, in the eye and io the walk that makes you quite sure that the leaves of the flower are goiag'to be scattered. The utmost nursing aud medi"cal attendance are ineffectual. The pulse becomes feeble, the complexion lighter, the step weaker, the laugh faiuter. No more romping for that one through hall and parlor. The nursery is darkened by an approaching calamity. The heart feels with mournful anticipation that ihe sun is going down. Night speeds oa. It is toward eveniug. You have lop# rejoiced in the care of a mother. done everything to make her lnstAßfs happy.*'You have rui\ w|th quirtc shpt to wait., upon her every want. Her 1 presence hat been a perpetual blessing in the household. But the fruit gatherers axe ‘looking wistfully* at that tree. Her ebofls ripe for heaTen. The gates are ready to flash open for her entrance. But.. your r aoul sinks at the thought of separation. ' You cannot bear to tbinjjt-that soon you will be called to take thp look at that face which from the tirstAour.has looked upon you with affection unchangeable. But you se« that life Is ebbing and the grave will soon hide her from your sight. You sit quiet. You feel beayy hearted. The light is fading from the sky. The air is chill. It is toward evening. - You had a considerable estate and felt independent. In five minutes ou oue fair balance sheet you could see just how you stood in the world. But there came complications. Something that yon imagined impossible happened. The best friend you had proved a traitor to yflnr interests. A sudden crash of national misfortunes prostrated your credit. You may to-day be going ou in business, but you feel anxioifs about where you are standing and fear that the next turning of the wheel will bring you prostrate. You foresee what you consider certain defalcation. Y'ou think of the anguish of telling your friends you are not worth a dollar. You know not how you will ever bring your children home from school. Yog wonder how you will stand the selling of your library or the moving into a plainer house. The misfortunes of life have accumulated. Y'ou wonder what makes the sky so dark. It is toward eveniug. Bootbing the Son], Trouble is an apothecary that mixes a great many drafts, bitter aud sour and nauseous, and you must driuk some one of them. Trouble puts up a great many packs, and you must carry some oue of them. There is no sandal so thick and well adjusted but some thorn will strike 1 through it. There is no sound so sweet but the undertaker's screwdriver grates through it. In this swift shuttle of the human heart some of the threads must break. The journey from Jerusalem to Emmsus Will soori be hnded. Our our conugpn sense, our observation,"reiterate Intones that we cannot mistake, find ought not to disregard. 'lt is towafiPbrfeaiug. My* Oh, thenjffor Jesus to abide with us. He sweetens the cup. He extracts the thorn. He wipes the tear. He Rushes the tempest. He soothes the soul that flies to him for shelter. Let the night swoop and the euroclydou cross- the sen. Let the thunders roar. Soon all will be welL Christ in the ship to soothe his friends. Christ ou the sea to stop its tumult. Christ iu the grave to scatter the darkness. Christ in the heavens to lead the way. Blessed all such. His arms will inclose them, his grace comfort them, his light cheer them, his sacrifice free them, his glory enchant them. If earthly estate takes wings, ho will be an incorruptible treasure. If friends die, he 'will be their resurrection. Standing with us in the morning of our joy and in the noonday of our prosperity, he will not forsake us when the luster has faded and it is toward evening. Listen to Paul's battle shout with J»Ufortune. Hark to mounting Latimer'sfire song. Look at the glory that bn* rest the dungeon and filled the earth and heavens with the crash of the falling manqeles of despotism. And then look at those who have tried to cure themselves by human prescriptions, attempting to houl gangrene with a patch of court plaster and to stop the plngue of dying empires with' the quackery of earthly wisdom. Nothing can speak pence to the soul, nothing can unstrap our crushing burdens, nothing can overcome onir spiritual foes, nothing cam open our-eyes to see the surrounding horses and chariots of salvation that fill all the mountains, but the voice and command of him who stopped oue Hight at Emma us.

The words of the text are pertinent to us all, from the fact that we are nearing the evening of death. I havo heard it said that wo ought to live ns though eacn moment) were to be our last. Ido not believe that theory. As far as preparation is concerned wo ought always to be ready, • but we cannot always be,,thinking of death, for we have duties in life that demand our attention. When a man is selling goo(14, it is his business to thiuk of the bargain he is making. When a man is pleading in the courts, it is'his duty to think of the interests of his clients. When a clerk is adding up his accounts, it is his duty to keep his mind upon the colhmn of figures. He who fills up his life with thoughts of death is far from being the highest style of Christian. I knew a man who used often to say at night, "[ wish I might die before morning!” He became an infidel. From Darkness to Lliht. But there are times when we can and ought to give ourselves to the contemplation of that solemn moment when to the soul time enas and eternity begins. Wo must go through that one pass. There is no roundabout way, no bypath, no circuitous route. D|c we musty mod it will be to us a shameful occurrence or a time of admirable behavior. Our friends may stretch out their hands to keep us back, but no imploration on their part can hinder us. They might offer large retainers, but death would not take the fee. The breath will fail, and the eyes will close, and the heart will stop. You may hang the couch with gorgeous tapestry, but what does death care for beautiful curtains? You may hang the room with the finest works of art, but what does death care for pictures? You may fill the house with the wailings of widowhood and orphanage—does death mind weeping? This ought not to be a depressing theme. Wiro wants to live here forever? Thp world has always treated me well, and every day I feel less ana less like scolding" and complaining. But yet J wßjuid not want tp make this my eternal res?d<?qce. 1 love^tq,watch the clouds and bathe niy soul in the blue sea of heaven” 'Bjif-I expect when the firmament is rolleifwway ns a enroll to see a new heaven, grander, higher and more glorious, 'fou ought to be willing to exchange your body that has headaches and sideaches and weaknesses innumerable, that limps with the stone .bruise, or festers with the thorn, or flames on the funeral pyre of fevers, for ata incorruptible body and an eye that'blinks not before the jasper gates and the great white throne. Bat between that and this there is an hour about which no man should be reckless or foolhardy. I doubt not your courage, but 1 tell you that you Will want something better than a strong arm, a good aim. and a trusty a word when you comk tp.yqgjr las.t .butfie.. You .frill fifed a.b«ter rpfie t|wk ‘you hare in yi>irc%a,rarobe ro keep you warm fa that place.

Circumstances do not make so much difference. It may be a bright' day when you push off from the planet, ok it may be a dark night and while the owl la hooting from the forest. It may tie spring, and your soul may go out among the blossoms, apple orchards swinging their ekal- - ip the way! !ft be wlhtt-f and ths earth tn 'a shroud. It may ue autuhin, and the forests set on lire by the retreatjng 'year, dead 'nature laid out in state, ~ !I j f may i 't>tf"with ■yoar-wife's hand in' ynnt'hand or'jtin may be'id-a Strange hofel with a servant faithful to the last. It may be in the rail train, shot off the switch and fumbling ill long reverbe**tion down th? embankment—crash, trash! I know not the time. I > know not the mode. But the days of our life are being subtracted gwiqr gprne down to the time when we have but ten days left, then nine ijuys, tbep eight days, then seven days, sis Jays, five days, four days, three days, two days, one day. Then hours—three hours, two hours, one hour. Then only minutes left—five minutes, four minutes, three minutes, two minutes, one minute. Then only seconds left —four seconds, throe seconds, two seconds, one second. Gone!, The chapter of life ended! Thejbook closed! The pulses at rest! The feet through with the journey! ’the hands closed from all work. No word on the lips. No breath in the nostrils. Hair combed back to lie by any human hands. The muscles still. The nerves still. The lungs still. The tongue still. All still. You might put the stethoscope to the breast aud hear no sound. You might put a speaking trumpet to the ear, but you could not wake the deafness. No motion. No throb. No life. Still, still! Sunset. So death comes to the disciple. What If the sun of life Is about to set? Jesus is the dayspring from on high; the perpetual morning of every ransomed spirit. What If the darkness comes? Jesus is the light of the world and of heaven. What though this earthly house does crumbly? Jesus has prepared n house of many mansions. Jesus is the anchor that always holds. Jesus is the light that is never eclipsed. Jesus is the fouutain that is never exhausted. Jesus is the evening star, hung up amid the gloom of the gathering night! You nre almost through with the abuse and blackbitlug of enemies. They will call you no more by evil names. Your good deeds will no longer be misinterpreted nor your honor filched. The troubles of earth will end in the felicities! Toward eveuing! The bereavements of earth will soon be. lifted. You will not much longer stand pouring your grief in the tomb, like Rachel weeping for her children or David morning for Absalom. Broken hearts bound up. Wounds henled. Tears wiped away. Sorrows terminated. No more sounding of the dead march. Toward evening! Death will come, sweet as slumber to the eyelids of the babe, ns full rations to a starving soldier, as evening hour to the exhausted workman. The sky will take on Its sunset glow, every cloud a fire pßnlm, every lake a glassy nilfroc, the forests transfigured, delicate mists climbing the air. Your friends wjll announce it; your jmlscs will beat It; your joys will ring it: your lips will whisper it. “Toward evening!”