The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-08-20

uAu80o "a NJ W. 1o0S VIZ IN tuIS CO0uUy "
Our whole Nation had been sitting ct I
National banquet-North,S South, East and
West What grain was there bat we grew
It on our hills? What invention was their
but our rivers must turn the new whee
and rattle the strange shuttle? What warn
furs but our traders must bring them from
the Arctic? What fish but our nets mus
sweep them for the markets: What music
but II must sing In our halls? What elo-
quence but II must speak In our senatesl
Ho! to the National banquet, reaching
from mountain to mountain and from ses
to seal To prepare that banquet the sheep
folds and the aviaries Of the country seni
their best treasures. The orchards
piled up on the table the sweetest
fruita The presses burst out with new
wines. To sit at that table came the yeo-
many of New Hampshi-e, and the lum-
bermen of Maine, and the tanned Caro-
linian from the rice swsmps, and the har-
vesters Of Wisconsin, and the Western
emigrant from the pines Of Oregon, and
we were all brothers-brothers at . bon-
quet. Suddenly the feast ended. What
meant those mounds thrown up at Chicka-
homiuy Shiloh. Atlanta, Gettysburg, South
Mountain! What meant those golde.
grain fields turned into . posturins
ground for cavalry horses! What meant
the corn fields quilted with the wheels Of
the heavy supply trains! Why .aose
rivers Of tears. those lakes Of blood?. Col
was angry. Justice must come. A hand
writing on the WALT The Nation had been
weighed and found wanting. Darkness!
Darkness! Woe to the North! Woe t.
the Soulful Woe to the East! Woe 70 tbs
West! Death at the banquet!
1. I have also to learn from the subject
that the destruction Of the vicious and OF
those who despise God will be very sud.
den. The wave Of mirth had dashed to
the highest point when that Assyrian
army broke through. 1t was unexpected.
Suddenly, almost always. COMES the doom
Of those who despise God and defy the
laws OF men. How was 1t at the Delugef
Do you suppose It came through a long
northeast storm, SO that people for days
before were sure it was corning? No;
suppose the morning was bright; that
eelmness Lrocded on the waters; that
beauty sat enthroued on the hills. when
suddenly the Heavens burst, and the
mountains sank like anchors into the sea,
that dashed clear over the Andes and the
Himalsyas.
The Red Sea was divided. The Egyr.
tians tried to cross it. There could be 10
danger. The Israelites had just gone
through. Where they had gone why not
the Egyptians! oh, it was such a beauti-
full walking place! A pavement of Hinged
shells and pearls. and on either side two
great walls Of water-solid. There can
lie no danger. Forward, great host Of the
Egyptians! Clap the cymbals and blow
the trumpets Of victory! After them! We
will catch them yet, and they shall be de-
stroyed! But the walls Of solidified water
begin to tremble. They rock! They fall!
The rushing waters! The shrek OF
drowning men. The swimming of the
warehouses in vain for the shore! The
strewing of the great host on the bottom
of the sea, CT pitched by the angry waves
on the beacI-a battered, bruised and
loathsoms wreck! Suddenly destruction
came. One-haif hour before they could
not have believed it. Destroyed, AMI
without remedy.
I am just setting forth fact which you
have noticed as we'll as I. Ananias comes
to the apostle. The apostle says:
"Dii You sell the lau1 Fer so much!"
He says, "Yes."
II ws~ lie.
Dead! A. quick as that!
Sapphira. his wife, comes in.
ibid you sell the land for so rnuch?"
"Yes.n
1t was a lie, and quick as that she was
dead! Gods judgments are upon those
who despise AMI defy him. They come
sud ,enly.
The destroying angel went through
Egypt. Do you suppose that any OF til,
people knew that lie was coming: Did
they hear the flap Of hi, great wia-.s No,
no. Suddenly. unexpected he came.
Skilled sportsnen do no. like 20 shoot a
bird tcndirg on sp.is n,arly. If they
a-e SIX He'd they prize themselves On tcS-
ing it on the wing. AMI they viii wait till
it starts. Death is an oil sportsman. AMI
be loves to take men flying unier the
very sun. He loves t. take them On the
wing.
Are there any here VINO are unprerared
for the eternal world: Are there any here
who have been living without God ant
without hope: Let me say to you that
you had better accept Of the Lord Jcsus
Christ, lest suddenly your last chance be
gone. The lungs will cease to breathe,
the heart will stop. The time will come
when you shall go no more to the office, or
to the store, or to the shop. Nothing will
be left but death, arl Judgment. and
Ct rnity. Oh, Ace to God this hour! II there
be one in this presence who has wandered
far away from Christ. though he may not
have heard the call of the gospel for many
a year, I invite him now to come and be
saved. Flee from thy sin! Flee 10 the
Of the gospel!
To-day invite you to a grander ban.
que. than any I have mentioned. Ny Lord,
the King, is the banqUeter. Angels are
the cup-bearers. All the redeemed are the
guests. The halls of eternal lie,
frescoed with light AMI paved with
JOY, and curtained with unfadinS beauty,
are the banqueting place. The har-
monies Of eternity are the music.
The chalices of Heaven are the plate: and
l am one of the servants coming out with
both hands filed with invitations, scat.
tering them every where; and OF that, for
Y yourselves, you might break the seal Of
the invitation and read the words written
in red ink of blood by the tremuious hand
of . dy ing Christ: "Come now, for all
things are ready"
After this day has rolled by and the
night has come may you have rosy sleep
guarded by him who never slumbsrs. May
you awake in the morning strong and
well.
But, oh, art thou despiser Of God? Il