Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1896 — TALMAGE’S SERMON. [ARTICLE]

TALMAGE’S SERMON.

THE -GOSPEL OF GOOD CHEER FOR THE SORROWING. * Mev. Dr. 'Talmage Draws Vivid Pictarcn of the Lengthening Shadows of Life—When Time Ends and literally Begina—The Light of Christ. At the Close of Day. Dr, Talmage’s subject this week lights aq> the sorrows of this life and sounds the gospel of good cheer for all who will receive it. His text was Luke xxiv., 29, “Abide with.jjs, for it is toward evening.” Two villagers, having concluded their errand in Jerusalem,' have started out at the city gate, and are on their way to Emmaus, the place of their residence. They go with a sad heart. Jesus, who 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 Yhein. They tell him their anxieties and bitterness of soul. He in turn talks to them, mightily expounding the Scriptures. He throws over them the fascination of intelligent conversation. They forgot the dime and notice not the objects they pass and befofe 'they are aware have come up in front of their house. They pause before the entrance and attempt to persuade the stranger tb tarry with tlffm. They press upon him their hospitalities. Night is coming on, and he may meet a prowling wild beast or be obliged to lie unsheltered from the dew. He cannot go.much farther now. Why not stop there and continue their pleasant conversation ? They take him by the arm aad they Insist upon Ms coming in, addressing him in the Words, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening.” The candies are lighted, the table is spread, pleasant socialities are enkindled. They rejoice in the presence of the stranger guest. Ho asks a blessing upon the bread they eaj. and he hands a piece of it to oath. Suddenly and with overwhelming power the thought flashes upon the astonished people—it is the Eord! And as they sit in breathless wonder, looking apon the resurrected body of Jesus; he vanished. The interview ended. He was gone. The Bright Day. M ith many of us it is a bright, sunshiny day of prosperity. There is not a cloud in a * e:lf rustling iu tlie forest, uo chid iu the air; But we camiot exjteet 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 1 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 them it is tow’ard the evening of old ago. They 1 have passed the meritlof life. They are sometimes startled to think hew old they arc. They do not, however, like to have others remark upon It. If others suggest their approxipiation toward venerable appearance, they say. “Why. I’m not so old after all.” They do, indeed, notice that they cannot liftquite so 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 «r any occasional ailment. They have lost their taste for merriment. They are .wiirpiised 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 hili. There 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 eyjiiing. r The great want of all such is jo have Jesus abide with them. It is a dismal thing to be getting old without the rejuvenating influence of religion. When we step on the down grade of life and see tint, it d’tis.lo lhe verge of the cold rteer 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 oar. 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 forestsof strength and beauty around us aud we are left in solitude, we need the dove of divine mercy to sing in our branches. When the shadows begin to fall and we feel that the day 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 Night. The request of the text is an approprt ate exclamation for all those who are approaches! in the gloomy hour of temptation. There is nothing easier than to be good-natured when everything pleases, or to be humble when there is nothing to oppose us. forgiving when we' have not been assailed, or houhst when we have no inducement to fraud. But you have felt the grapple of some temptation. Your nature at some time quaked and groaned, uiiiler the infernal force. You felt that the devil was after you. You saw your Christian graces retreating. You feared that you would fall iu the awful wrestle with sib mid bo 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, iu all the surging up of tumultuous passions and excitements, you felt with awfui®uipliasis that it was toward evening. In the tempted hour you need to ask Jesus to abide with you.. You can heat back the monster that would devour you. - You can unhorse the sin that would ride you dowu. You can sharpen the battleax with wtrffih you split tlic head of helmeted abomination. Who helped Paul shake the brazen gated heart of Felix? Who acted like a good sailor when all the crew howled in the Mediterranean shipwreck’? Who helped the martyrs to be firm when ohe word of recantation would have mi fastened the withes of the stake and put out the kindling fire’? When the night of the soul enmc on nnd all the denizens of darkness <«nie riding upon the winds of perdition, who gave strength to the soul? Who gave calmness to the heart? Who broke the spell of infernal enchantment? He who heard the request of the villagers. “Abide with us, for it is toward evening.” One of the forts of France was attacked, nnd the outworks were taken before night. The liesieging army Iny down, thiukiug there was but little to dp iu the morning, nnd that the stddiery in rhe fort could be easily made to surrender. But during the night, through a back stairs, they escaped into the country. In the morning the .besieging nrmy Sprang upon ♦he battlements, but found that their prey was gone. So, when we are assaulted in temptation, there is always some secret alair by which we might get off. God will not allow us to be tempted above what wo are nb!c„ but with every tempIntion wiU-Lring a way of escape that we may ba JWto hear It. The prayer of the text is appropriate for all wbo«re anticipating sorrow. The greatest folly tuat ever grew on this planet in to borrow trouble. B*it there are times when approaching sorrow is so evident that we need to .lie making - special preparation for its coining. Out of your children has lately become

a 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 check, in the eye nnd in the walk that makes you quite sure that the leaves of the flower are going to be scattered. The utmost nursing and medical attendance are ineffectual,* The pulse becomes feeble, the complexion lighter, the step weaker,, the laugh fainter. 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 the sun is going down. Night speeds on. It is toward evening. > You have long rejoiced in the care of a mother. Y'ou have done everything to make her last days happy. You have run With quick feet to wait upon her every want. Her presence has.been a perpetual blessing in the household. But the frit gatherers lire lookihg Wistfully at thfeij tree. Her soul is ripe for heaven. The gates arc ready to flash open for her entrance. But your soul sinks at the thought of separation. Yon cannot bear to think that soon yon will be called to take the Inst look at that sage which from the first' hour has looked upon you with affection unchangeable. But yoij s&e that life ifi ebbing and the grave will soon hide tier from your sight. You sit quiet. You feel heavy 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 on one fair balance sheet you could see just how you stood iu. the world. But there c-firne complications. Something that you imagined impossible happened. -The best friend you had proved a traitor to your interests. A sudden crash of national misfortunes prostrated your credit. You may to-day be going en in business, but you feel anxious 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. think of the anguish of telling your friends you are not worth a dollar; You Know not'how yop will ever, bring your children home from school. You wonder how you will stand the selling of your library or the moving into a plainer house. The misfortunes of life have accumulated. You wonder what makes the sky so dark. It is toward evening. Soothing the Soul. Trouble is an apothecary that mixes a great maijyTlfafts, bitter and spur-and "nauseous, and you mus t 'd ri n k so me one of them. Trouble puts up a great many packs, and you must carry some one of them. There is no sandal so thick and well adjusted but some thorn will strike 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.- Tile journey from Jerusalem to | Emmaus will soon be ended. Our, Bible, our commqn sense, our observation, reiterate ip tones that we cannot mistake and ought not to disregard. It is toward evening. »

Oh, then, for Jesus to abide with us. He sweetens the cup. He extracts the* thorn. He.wipes the.tear. He hushes the tempest He soothes the soul that flies to him for shelter. Let the night swoop and the enroclydon cross the, sea. Let the thunders roar. Soon all will be well. Christ in the ship to soothe his friends. Christ on the sea to stop its tumult. Christ in the grave to scatter the darkness. Christ in the.henvensßulcad the'way. Blessed nil-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,, he will lie 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 misfortune. Hark’ to mounting Latimer’S fire song. .Look at the glory that has rest the dungeon and filled the earth and heav7ms with the crash of~tirr~ftrHing'TiTiiiHielesof despotism. And then look at tho’se who have tried to cure themselves by human prescriptions, attempting to heal gangrene with a [>:itell of court plaster ami to stop the plague of dying empires wm the quackery of earthly wisdom. Nothing can spent peace to the soul, nothing can unstrap our crushing burdens, nothing can overcome our spiritual" foes;] nothing can open our eyes to see rhe surrounding horses and chariots of salvation that fill all the mountains, but the voice and command of him who stopped one night at Emniaiisr ~~ —~—

The words of the text are pertinent to its all, from the fact that we ate nearing the, cvenitig of death. I have heard it said that we ought to live as though eaca to be our last. 1 do not believe, that theory. As far as; preparation is concerned we ought always to be ready, but We cannot always be tliipking of death, for we have duties in lite that demand our attention. When a man is selling, goods, it is his business to think 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 column 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, "1 wish I might die before morning!” He became an infidel. Front Darkness to Lteht. 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, ’We must go through that one pass. There is no- roundabout way, no bypath, no circuitous route. Die we hiust, and it will bp to us a shameful occurrence or a time of admirable behavior.. Our friends may stretch out their hands to keep-us baek, 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 fhu eyes will close, and the heart will stop. You may hang tlte couch with gorgeotis tni>estry. but what does death care for beautiful curtains’? You may hang the room with the finest works of art, but whiit'-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. Who wants to live here forever? The world has always treated me well, and every day I feel less and less like scdlding nnd complaining. But yet I would not want to make this my eternal residence. J love to Watch the Clouds and bathe my soul iu the blue sea of heaven. But 1 expect When the firmament is roiled away >ns a scroll to see a new heaven, grander, higher and more glorious. Y’ou ought to lie willing to exchange your body that -has headncltew-ahd sideaches nnd weaknesses Inntuncrtfble, that limps with the stone bruise, or festers with the thorn, or flames on the funeral pyre of fevers, for an incorruptible body and an eye that bliaks not before the jasper gates and the great white throne. Bitt between that and this there is au hour about which no man should .be reekleis or foolhardy. I doubt not your cournge, but I tell you that you will want something better than a strong arm. a good aim and n-trusty sword when you come to your Inst battle. Yom will; need a better robe than ahy you have in your wardrobe to keep you warm iu that place. . "

Circumstances do not make so much difference. It may be a bright dayAvtien you push off from flip planet, or itjnay»be a dark night and w hile, the owl is hooting from the forest. It may be spring, and your soul may; go out among the. bios* soms. apple orchards swinging their censers in thb way. It may be winter and the earth in a snpw shroud. It nftiy oa, autumn, and thfrfo.rests set on tire by the retreating year, deal! nature laid orft in state. It mgy be with you'r wife's hand in your hand or yo’u may pe itra strange.' hotel wijh a Servant faithful to the last.' It may be in, the rail trniu, shot off the switch and tumbling in long reverberation down th; enibarikmcnt —crash, crash! I know not the time. I know not the mode. But the days' of our life are being subtracted away and we shall come down to the time when we have but ten days left, then nine days, then eight days,-then seven days, six days, five days, four days, three* days, two days, one day. Then 'Pours —three hours, two Injurs, one hour, ffilhen only minutes left —five minuses, four three minutes, two minutes, one minute. Then only seconds left —four seconds, three seconds, two seconds, one second. Gone! The chapter of life ended! The book closed I 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 undisheveled 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 and 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! ’ r Sunset. So rloirth eomt v s-tiy-tpe-disel[>!e. jYha.L ,if the sun of life is about to set? JesiTS 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 hbuse -does crumble? Jesus has prepared a house of jinany-nransions, Jesuit is the anchor that always holds. Jesus is the light that is never eclipsed. Jesus is the fountain that is never exhausted. J.esus is the evening star, hung up amid t’w gloom of jhe gathering night! « Y-ou are-silmost through with the abuse ami blackbiting of enemies. They Vrill" call you no more by evil names. Your good deeds will no longer be misir.terpn-t----ed nor your honor filched. The troubles of earth will end in the felicities! Toward evening! The bereavements of soon be lifted. You will not niuch longer stand pouring your grief til the tomb; like Rachel weeping for her children or David morning for Absalom. Broken, hearts bound up. YYou'nds healed. 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, as full rations to a starving soldier, as evening hour to the exhsfusted workman. The sky will take on its sunset glow, every clotid a tire =psiriwt- every lake a glassy mi the. forests trans.figured.;delieate^mists"climb-, ing the air. Your friends will gnnourice .it; your pulses will beat it; your joys will ring it; your lips will whisper it, "Toward evening!” i