The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-01-19
Consolation in RELIGION.
DR.. TALMAGE's FIRST SERMON AFTER THE
BURIAL OF HIS ELDEST SON

BURIAL OF HIS ELDEST SON
MIR. Morgan touched his bank of KEYS softly
as Or. Ialmage entered the Brooklyn Taber-
nacle, and from far up in the recesses of the
great organ Pleyel's hymn hoated down over a
sympathising congregation as the bereayed mas
tor assembled to his platform Then when the
hve thousand joined in the long metre doxologv
that always prefaces the morning services the
song went up with a tenderness that bespoke a
common sorrow. There was unaffected patbos
In the pastors reading of the grand old hymn
Hod moves In his mysterious way" and all the
verses were sung with deep emotion DR.. Tai
mage prayed that wherever there was a desc
lated home in which all things brought bacl,
the memory of the departed, God might support
the etiicted, so that there might be no murlnur-
ing and no complaint, but that all might be
able to believe that what they know not now
they shall know hereafter in heaven, where so
many shining ones are awaiting our arrival and
singing Home, sweet home"
Taking his text from Genesis xxi %" Let
me go, tor the day breaketh'-Dr Talmage set
before his hearers the midnight scene in which
Jacob wrestled at the ford of Jabbok with a man
whom he supposed to be fierce enemy but who
proved to be an angel of the Lord, who. ON de
Partlng' bestowed upon tie patriarch blessing,
and from this the preacher went on to show that
struggles and trials are often blessings in disguise
and here he instanced the crucial trials through
which the great and the good OF Scriptural and
protane history passed ere they came out pure
and true lngots. But our trials leave their mark
on us as the wrestle with the angel left its mark
on the patriarch of Israel, sending him forth to
limp through the world all the rest of his life.
1 What made your hair prematurely gray?
Whence those wrinkles in YOUR brow? What
hushed the hllarlty in your homer" DIR. Talmage
demanded, and then he continued Are we
stolcs that we can see our cradle rihed of
the bright eyes and sweet lips? Must we
stand unmoved and see the gardens of our
earthly delight uprooted? Will Jesus. who
wept himself, be angry with us if we weep over
the grave that swallows what we loved best
Oh, no. We must weep. You shall not drive
back the tears that scald the heart Thank God
Tor the strange and mysterious relief that comes
In tears. Or. Ialmage went on to say that the
olgotries OF the earth are giving way before the
doctrine OF Christian brotherhood and that in
the nguage of the text, 1.-THE day is breaking"
Then, after pause, in which there was an ex.
pectant hush throughout the house, he said =
Since last stood here the waves have gone
over u.s. Have you lost child? Then Won
understand the grief. Have you not lost one
You cannot understand it, | would not dare
trust myself very far in this reference or stu
alton. L only make reference to it that I
may thank you for your deep. wide magnif-
cent sympathy. First of ALL God helped us
next you. And when, last Sabbath after.
noon, we were riding to Greenwood, | said. I
cannot understand this composure which I feel
and this strange peace and it was suggested
then and there, There's vast multitude of
people praying for us! That solved it, thank
you God bless you in your persons and your
homes. L gave that one to God in holy BAPTISM
Just after his birth and God has only taken that
which was His own. l stand here today to
TESTIFY OF the comforting grace of God"