The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1886-09-10

Auc HShls Vi tnouRHt ana mIrth and elo-
quence are being extinguished. The orr
lands are snatched from the brow. tn,
vision is gone. Death at the BANQUET,
We saw the same thing on larger seal.
illustrated at the last war in this country
Our whole Nation had been sitting ar
National banquat-North, South. East ana
West. What grain was there but we rr.v
it on our hills? What invention was tba-.
but our rivers must turn the new vhsal
and rattle the strange shuttle: What warm
furs but our traders must bring them from
the Arctic? What fish but our nets INNS,
sweep them for the markets? What mus;e
but it must sing in our halls? What elo,
quence but it must speak in our senates,
Ho! to the National banquet, reachin,
from mountain to mountain and from 50.
to sea! To prepare that banquet the sheen.
folds and the aviaries of the country sent
their best treasures. The orchard,
piled up on the table the sweetest
fruits. The presses burst out with new
wines. To sit at that table came the yeo-
many of New Hampshire, and the lum.
bermen of Maine, and the tanned Caro-
linian from the rice swamps, and the har-
vesters of Wisconsin, and the Western
emigrant from the pines of Oregon. and
we were all brothers-brothers at a ban
quet. Suddenly the feast ended. What
meant those mounds thrown up at Chicka-
hominy Shiloh. Atlanta, Getty sburg, South
Mountain? What meant those golden
grain fields turned into pasturinc
ground for cavalry horses? What meant
the corn fields guile with the wheels Of
the heavy supply trains: Why those
rivers of tears, those lakes of blood? God
was angry. Justice mus. come. A hand
writing on the wall! The Nation had been
weighed and found wanting. DarknessI
Darkness. Woe to the North! Woe to
the South! Woe to the East! Woe to the
West! Death at the banquet!
4. / 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 despiss God end defy the
laws of men. How was it at the Deluge?
Do you suppose it came through long
northeast storm, so that people for days
before were sure it was coming, No;
suppose the morning was bright; that
calmnes; brooded on the waters; that
beauty sat enthroued on the hills, when
suddenly the Heavens burst, and tine
mountains sank like anchors into the sea,
that dashed clear over the Andes and the
Himalayas.
The Red Sea was divided. The Egyp-
tians tried to cross it. There could be no
danger. The Israelites had just gone
through. Where they had gone why not
the Egyptians? Oh, it was such beauti-
full walking place. A pavement of Hinged
shells and pearls, and on either side two
great walls of water-solid- There can
be no danger. Forward, great host OF tbs
Egyptians! Clap the cymbals and blow
the trumpets Of victory! After them! We
win catch them yet, and they shall be de-
But the walls of soiidified water
begin to tremble. They rock! They fall!
The rushing waters! The shrek Of
drowning mem! The swimming of the
sses-haReas- inzsin- for the shore, Ths
Of the sea, or pitched by the angry waves
on the beacn-a battered, bruised and
loathscms wreck! Suddenly destruction
came. One-haif hour before they could
not have believed it. Destroyed, and
without remedy.
lam just setting forth . fact which yos
have noticed as well asI. Ananias comes
10 the apostle. The apostle says:
ibid you sell the land for 30 muchr Z
He says, "Yes."
It was . lie.
Deadl As quick as that!
Sapphira, his wife, comes in.
ibid you sell the land for so muchm
aYes.n
It was q lie, and quick as that she was
dead! Gods judgments are upon those
who despise and defy him. They come
suddenly.
The destroying angel went through
Egypt Do you suppose that any OF tho
people knew that he was coming? Did
they hear the flap of his great wingi No,
no. Suddenly, unexpected he came
Skilled sportsmen do not like to shoot .
bird standing on a sprig near by. Ii they
are skilled they pride themselves on TAX
ing Il on the wing, and they viii wait I'LL
it starts. Death Is an old sportsman, and
he loves to take men flying under the
very sun. He loves to take them on the
wing.
Are there any here who are unprepared
for the eternal world? Are there any here
who have been living without God and
without hope? Let me say to you that
you had better accept of the Lord Jesus
Christ, lest suddenly your last chance Dc
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 VIII
be left but death, and judgment, and
eternity. Oh. fee to God this hour! II there
be one in this presence who has wandered
far away from Christ, though he may mos
have heard the call of the gospel for many
. year, invite him now to come and b
saved. Flee from thy sin! Flee to the
stronghold Of the gospel!
To-day invite you to a grander ban.
quet than any have mentioned. My Lord
the King, is the banqueter. Angels ars
the cup-bearers. All the redeemed are the
guests. The halls of eternal life,
frescoed with light AMI paved with
Joy, and curtained with unfading beauty,
ara the hannuetinO MACE The h6r.