The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-12-18

"
wealth, behold his wretchedness and let
him pass on. Did any other city ever be-
hold so wonderful a man? o Jerusalem,
Jerusalem
But there passes through these streets,
as in imagination see him, quite as won
derful and far better man-David, the
conquorer, the king, the poet. Can it be
that l am in the very city where he lived
and reigned? David, great for power and
great for grief. He was wrapped up in his
boy Absalom. He was splendid boy,
Judged by the rules of worldly criticism.
From the crown of his head to the sole of
his foot there was not a single blemish.
The bible says that he had such luxuri-
ant shock OF hair that, when once year
1T was shorn, what was cut off weighed
over three pounds. But, Notwithstanding
all his brilliancy of appearance, he was a
bad boy and broke his fathers heart He
was plotting to get the throne OF Israel.
lie had marshaled an army TO overthrow
his father S government The day of bat
tie had come. The conflict was begun.
David, the father, sat between the gates of
the palace waiting for the tidings OF the
conflict. On, how rapidly his heart beat
with emotionl Two great questions were
to be decided-the safety OF his boy and
the continuance of the throne of Israel.
After while a notwithstanding on the top
OF the house looks off and he sees some
one running. He is comming with great
speed and the man on TOP of the house
announces the coming of the messenger,
and the father watches and waits, and as
soon as the messenger from the field of
battle comes within hailing distance the
father cries out Is it a question in regard
to the establishment of his throne?
Does he say: Have the ar
mics of Israel been victorious? Am
! to continue in my imperial authority?
Have ] overthrow my enemies?' Oh, no.
There is one question that springs from his
heart to the lip and springs from the lip
into the ear OF the besweated
and bedusted messenger flying from
the battlefield - the question: as
the young man Absalom safe? ?"
When it was told to David, the king, that
though his armies had been victorious his
son had been slain the father turned his
back upon the congratulations of the ma
ton and went up the stairs of his palace,
his heart breaking as he went, wringing
his hands sometimes and then again press
ing them against his temples as though he
would press them in. crying: 80 Absalom
my son! my sonl Would God l had died
Tor thee, o Absalom nv son nv son !"
Stupendous grief of David resounding
through all succeeding ages. This was the
city that heard the woe. 0 Jerusalem!
Jerusalem
1 am also thrilled and overpowered
with the remembrance that yonder, where
stands a Mohammedan mosque, stood the
temple, the very one that Christ visited.
SOlomOns temple had stood there, but
Nebuchadnezzar had Numbered it down;
ZerubbabePs temple had stood there, but
that had been Frustrated. Then Herdd
built temple, because he was fond of
great architecture, and he wanted the pre-
ceding temples to seem Insignificant. Put
eight or ten modern cathedrals together.
and they would not equal that structure.
1t covered nineteen acres. There were
marble pillars supporting roofs of cedar,
and silver tables on which stood golden
cups, and there were carvings exquisite
and inscriptions respondent, glittering
balustrades and ornament gateways. The
building of this temple kept 10000 work
men busy fortv-six years. Stupendous
pile of pomp and magnificencel But the
material and architectural grandeur of the
building we're very tame compared with
the spiritual meaning of its affairs and holy
of holies,, and the overwhelming signif-
canoe of its ceremonies o Jerusalem,
| Jerusalem
But standing in this old city all other
facts are eclipsed when we think that near
here our blessed Lord was born; that up
and down the streets of this city He
walked, and that in the outskirts of it He
died Here was His only day of triumph
and His assassination. One day this old
Jerusalem is at the tip-top Of excitement.
Christ has been doing some remarkable
works and asserting very high authority.
The police court has issued papers for His
arrest, for this thing must be stopped, as
the government is imperiled. News comes
that last night this stranger arrived at a
suburban village, and that He is stopping
at the house of a man whom He had resus-
citated after four days sculpture. Well,
the people rush out into the streets, some
with the idea of helping in the arrest
of this stranger when He ar
rives, and others expecting that on
the morrow He will come into the town,
and by some supernatural force, Gust the
municipal and royal authorities and take
everything in His own hands. They pour
out of the city gates until the procession
reaches the village. They come all around
about the house where the stranger is stop
ping, and peer into the doors and windows,
that they may get one glimpse of Him or
hear the hum of His voice. The police
dare not make the arrest because, some
how, He has won the affections of the
people. Oh, it is lively night in yonder
Bethany The heretofore quiet village
is filed with uproar, and cutlery, and loud
discussion about the strange acting coun-
trymen. | do not think there was any
sleep in that house that night where the
stranger was stopping. Although He came
in weary, He finds no rest, though,
for once in His lifetime, He had pillow.
But the morning davns, the olive
gardens wave in the light, and all along
yonder road, reaching over the top OF
0liyet toward this city, there is vast,
swaving crowd of wondering people. The
excitement around the door of the cottage
is wild as the stranger steps out beside an
unbroken colt that had never been
mounted, and after his friends had strewn
their garments on the beast for a saddle
the Savior mounts it and the populace,
excited, and shouting and feverish, push
on back toward this city of Jerusalem. Let
none ieer now or scoff at this rider or the
popul zee will trample him under foot in
an instant. There is one long shout of
two miles, and as far as the eye can
reach YOU see wavings of demonstra-
tons and approval. There was some
thing in the riders visage, something
in His majestic brow, something in His
princey behavior, that stirs mp the
enthusiasm OF the people. They run up
against the beest and try to pull the rider
~ ;nto tbo;r orns and carry on their