Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1886-09-04
DR. TALMAGE'S SERMON
THE MIDNIGHT REvEL.
Preached at Monons, wis.l

80. ed
Feasting has been known in all ages II
was one OF the most exciting times in Eng
lsh history when Queen Elizabeth visited
Lord Leicester at Kenilworth Castle The
moment OF her arrival was considered so i'm
portantt that all the clocks of the castle were
stopped, SO that the hands might point to
That one moment as being the most signif-
cant OF all She was greeted to the gate
with floating islands and torches and the
thunder OF cannon and fireworks that set the
night ablaze, and great burst of music that
lifted tho whole scene into perfect enchant-
ment Then she was introduced in dining
nall, the luxuries of which astonished the
world; 400 servants waited upon the guests;
the entertainment cost 5000 each day.
Lord Leicester made that great supper in
Renilworth Castle
Cardinal Wolsey entertained the French
ambassadors at Hampton Court The best
cooks in all the land prepared for the ban
queG; purveyors went out and travelled all
the Kingdom over to find spoils for the table.
Inc time came The guests were kept during
che day hunting in the Kings park, so that
their appetites might be keen; and then. in
the evening, to the sound of the trumpeters.
they were introduced into hall hung with
SIX and cloth OF gold, and there were tables
aghtter with imperial plate and laden with
the rarest of meats and a-blush with the cost
lest OF wines; and when the second course
cleS OF food had been fashioned into the
shape OF men, birds and beasts, and groups
danclng and lousting parties riding against
can other with lauces Lords and Princes
ana Ambassadors, out of cups filled to
tne prlm, drank the health, first of the
king OF England and next to the
King, Of France. Cardinal Wolsey pre-
parcel mat great supper in Hampton Court
But my text takes us to more exciting
banquet. Night was about to come down
upon Babylon. The shadows of her $50 tow
ers began to lengthen. The Euphrates rolled
on, touched by the fiery splendors of the set
tlng sun and gates of brass, FURNISHED and
gltterlng, opened and shut like doors of
hame The hanging gardens of Babylon, wet
with heavy dew, began to pour from starlit
flowers and dripping leaf fragrance for
many miles around The streets and squares
were llghted for dance and frolic and prom
enede. The theatres and galleries of art in
vited the wealth, aud pomp and grandeur of
tne city to rare entertainments Scenes of
lot and was;ail were mingled in every
street, and goddess mirth and outrageous ex-
6ess and splendid wickedness came to the
Sings palace to do their mightiest deeds of
darkness. royal feast tonight at the
Kings Talace! Rushing up to the gates
are cnariots upholstered with pre-
cious cloths from Dedan and drawn
by fire eyed horses from Togarmah,
that rear aud neigh in the grasp of the
and women dressed in all the splendor of
Syrian emerald, and the color blending of
agate, and the chasteness of coral. and the
sombre glory of Tyrian purple, and princely
embroideries brought from afar by cameis
across the desert and by ships of Tarshish
across the sea- Open wide the gates and let
The guests come in! The chamberlains and
cup,bearers are all ready. Hank to the rustic
OF the silks and to the carol of the musicl
zee the blaze of the Jewels Lift the ban
ners! Fill the cups Clap the cymbalsl
Blow the trumI cts. Let the night go by
with song and dance aud ovation, and let
that Babylonish tongue be palsied, that will
not say: 80 king Belshazzar, live for ever!'
Alb, my friends! it was not any common
banquet to which these great people came.
All parts of the earth had sent their richest
vlands to that table. Brackets and chande-
liers flashed their light upon tankards of bur-
nished gold. Fruits, ripe and luscious, in
baskets of silver, entwined with leaves.
plncked from. royal Conservatives. Vases
lnlald with emerald and ridged with exquis-
Ito tra6 eries, filled with nuts that were
threshed from forests of distant lands, Wine
brought from the royal watts, foaming in the
decantsrs and bubbling in the chalices. Tufts
OF cassia and fFankincense waiting their
sweetness from wall and table, Gorgeous
banners unfolding in the breeze that came
through the opened window, bewitched with
che perfume Of hanging gardens. Fountains
rising up from Enclosures Of ivory in Jets of
crystal, to fall in gathering rain of diamonds
ana pearls. Statues of mighty men looking
down from inches in the wall upon crowns
and shields brought from subduei empires
Idols OF wonderful work standing on
peiessals of precious stones. Embroid-
cries dropping about the windows and
wrapping pillars of cedar, and drift
ing on floors inlaid with ivory and agate
Music, mingling the thrum of harps, aud the
clash OF cymba s, and the blast of trumpets
IN one wave of transport that went ripDlinn
along the wall and breathing among the Gan.
lands, and touring down the corridors, and
thrilling the souls of thousand banqueters.
Inc signal is given and the lords and ladies,
the mighty men and women of the land come
around the table. Pour out the wine! Let
foam and bubble kiss the rim! Hoist every
one his cup, and drink to the sentiment: "Oh,
King Belshaz2ar, live for ever!' Hestarred
headband and carcanet of royal beauty
ellam to the uplifted chalices, as again and
again and again they are emptied AWAY
with care from the palacel Tear royal Dig
nifty 20 tattersl Pour out more winel Give
US more light, wilder music, sweeter perfrme
LORD shouts to lord, captain oeles to can
tam, goblcts clash, decanters rattle There
comes IN the obscene song aud the drunken
elccous.h ond the slaverin@ lin and the outlaw
OF idiotic laughter bursting from the lips of
frlnces, flushed, reeling, bloodshot; while
mingling with it all hear: "Huzza, huzza,
for great Belshazzarln
What is that on the plastering of the wall2
L. it spirit! Is it phantom. Is it God!
The music stops. The gobets fail from the
nerveless grasp. There is a thrill There is
a start There is a thousand-voiced shrek of
horror. Let Daniel be brought in to read
that writing. He comes in. He reads IL;
weighed in the balances, and art found
wanting Meanwhile the Assyrians who
FOR two years had been laying a siege to that
city. took advantage of that carousaJ. and
came in. hear the feet of the conuuerors
on the palace stairsa Massacre rushes in
with thousand cleaning knives. Death
bursts upon the scene; and shut the door of
frat banqueting hall, for do not want to
'ook. There is smoothing there but torn banners
aud broken wreaths, and the slush of upset
taDkards, and the blood of murdered women,
and the kicked and tumbled carcass of n dead
King. For in that night was Belshazzar
slain.
!. learn from this, that, when God writes
anything on the wall, man had better read
~ as II Is. Daniel did not misinterDret or
monty the handwriting on the wall. II is
al robustness to expecta minister of the Cos
PEI To preach always things that the peonIe
lnxe or the people choose What shall I
preach to you to-day! Shall tell you Of the
dignity OF human naturet Shall tell Won of
we wonders that our race has accomplished.
IN, noP you say, ''tell me the message that
came from God" | will. IL there IL anv
handwriting on the wall il in this lassor.