Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-15
CHRIST'S CRUCIFIXION.
TALMAGE PICTURES THE Or
CHARD OF G ,LVARY,

Learned from the Three Crosses.
BROOKLYN, n. Y, Nov. 14.-In the
Tabernacle this morning the Rev. T.. De-
witt TaImage, D. D., pastor, after ex-
pounding some passages of scripture re-
cording scenes in the life OF Christ, gave
out the hymn beginning:
"Rock OF ages cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee"
The subject Of the sermon was: 1.-THE
Orchard on the HILL" and the text, Luke
xiii, SO: "And when they were come to
the place, which is called Calvary, there
they crucified Him, and the malefactors,
one on the right hand, and the other on
the left" Following is Or. Talmsge's
discourse in full:
just outside of Jerusalem is a swell of
ground, toward which crowd are as
cendlng; Tor 1t is the day of execution.
What mighty sssemblage! Some for Gu
rlosity to hear what the malefactors will
say and to see how they will act. The
three persons to be executed are already
there. Some OF the spectators are vile OF
lip and bloated of cheek. Some look up
with revenge, hardly able to keep their
hands on the sufferers. Some tear their
own hair in frenzy of grief Some stand
in silent horror. Some break out into un-
contrOllable weeping. Some slap their
hands in delight that the offenders are to
be published at last. The soldiers with
drawn swords, drive back the mob, which
presses on so hard. There is fear at the
proceedings may be interrupted. Let the
German Legion, now stationed at Jeru-
salem, on horseback dash along the line,
and force back the surging multitude.
Back with yOu," is the cry. Have YOU
never seen man die betoreY'
Three crosses in O row. An upright
piece and two transverse pieces-one on
a6e top, on which the hands are nailed,
and one at the middle, on which the victim
vat, Tnree trees just planted, yet bear
ing truIt-the one at the right bearing
poison, and the one at the left bitter
alOes; the one in the middle apples of
love. Norway pine, and tropical orange.
and Lebanon cedar would not make so
strange grove as this orchard of Calvary.
Stand and give look at the three crosses.
Just look at the one on the right. Its
victim dies scOtfing. More tremendous
than his physical anguish is his scorn and
hatred of Him on the middle cross. This
one on the right turns half around on the
spikes to hiss at the One in the middle.
II the scotfer could get one hand loose,
and de were within reach, he would smite
the middle sufferer in the face. He bates
Him with perfect hatred. / think he
wishes he were down on the ground
tnat he might spear Him. He
enVies the mechanics who, with their
nails, have nailed Him fast. Amid the
settling darkness, and louder than the
crash OF the rocks. hear him iaer out
these words, "Ahl abl you poor wretch,
knew you were an impost0rl You pre-
tended to be God, and yet you let these
fnp
such hate that VOltaire, in bis death hour.
because he thought be saw Christ in his
bedroom, got up ON his elbow and cried
out. "Crush that wretch" What had the
middle cross done to arouse up this right
hand cross. Nothing. D, the enmity of
the natural heart against Christi The
world likes sentimental Christ. or
philanthropic Christ, but a Christ
who comes to snatch men away
from their sins-away with Him
On this Tight-hand cross today l sea
typitied the unbellef of the world. Men
say: "Back with Him from the heart, |
will not let Him take my sins. If He will
die, let Him die for Himself, not for me-"
There has always been q war between
this right hand cross and the middle cross,
and wherever there is an unbeievIng
heart, thus the fight goes on. q, if, when
that dying maletactor perished the faith
essness of man lad perished, then that
tree which Yields poison would have
budded and blOssOmed With life for all the
worldl LOOK up into that disturbed
countenance of the sufferer and see what
a gbastly thing it is to reject Christ. Be-
hold in that awful face, in that pitiful
look, in that unblessed death hour, the
stings OF the sinners de- arturo. What
a plunge into darknessl Standing
high upon the cross on the top Of the hill,
so that all the world may look at him, he
says: Here i go out of a miserable life
into wretched eternityF' One. two,
threel Listen to the crash Of the tall, all
We agesl SO Hobbies, dying alter he
had seventy years in which to prepare for
eternity, said: "Were 1 master of all the
world / would give it all to live one day
longer" Sir Francis Newport. lowering
over the brink, cried out: "WretCh that
am, whittier snail fly from this 5reastY
What will become OF meI On, that | were
10 lie upon the fire that never is quenched
a thousand years TO purchase the favor OF
GOD and to be recOnclled to Him again!
On eternItyi Oh heternityl VINO can di--
cover the abyss of eternity? VINO can
paraphl ase upon these words: Forever
and iUreverP"
That right-hand cross--thOusands have
peTished on ii in worse agOnies. For w1at
Is physical pain compared 10 remOrse at
the last. that life has been wasted and
only tleeting moment stands between
the soul and It's everlasting overthrow? (?
On God! let me die anywhere rather
than at the foot of that right
hand cross. Let not one drop OF that
blood fall upon my cheek. Rend not my
ear witp that cry. / see it now as never
beiore-the lOaths0mness and horror OF
my unbehGf. That dying maleiactor was
not 50 much to blame as |. Christianity
was not established, and perhaps not un-
til that day mad that man heard the Christ,
But after Christ had stood almost nine
teen centuries, WORKING the wonders Of
His grace, you reject Him. That right.
hand cross, with its long beau, over
shadows ali the earth. IL Ia planted In
the heart OF the race. When will the
timr come when The spirit Of God shall,
with its ak, hew down that rIght.hand
cross, until it shall fail al the foot
OF that middle cross, and unbe-
lief, tbe railing malefactor OF
the world, shall perish from all our
hearts? Away from me. thou spirit Of
unbeliefl / hate theel With this sword
of GOD thrust thee back and thrust thee
through. Down 10 he'll; down, most ac-
cursed monster OF the earth, and talk 10
the millions tnOu hast alreaLy damned.
Talk no longer 70 these sons OF God, these
heirs OF heaven.
III thou be tue SON Of God" Was there
any "iW about ~ Tell me, thou star.
that in robe Of light did run 70 point out
His birthplace. Toll me, thou sea, tnat