Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1889-12-12

Ssu and ChristIan-An Eloquent Sermon
- the Famous Preacher.
Al large meeting of Christian peo
ole in the city of Jerusalem on Sunday
The ah of December, the Rev. I. ID,
Witt Talmage, d. D., of Brooklyn, wal
the preacher. His text was Matt. xiii
81: Jerusalem! Jerusalemp A repor
Of his eloquent sermon is appended.
This exclamation burst from Christ'i
lips rs He came in sight of this great
city, and, although things have marvel
oasly changed, who can visit Jerusalem
to-day without having its mighty past
roll over on him, and ordinary utterance
must giye'place for the explanatory as
We cry, o Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Disap-
pointed with the Holy Land many have
been, and ! have heard good friends say
that their ador about sacred places had
beenso dampened that they were sorry
they ever visited Jerusalem. But with
me the city and its surroundings are a
rapture, solemnity, an overwhelming G
emotion. o Jerusalem, Jerusalem! The
procession of kings, conquerors, poets,
and immortal men and women pass be-
fore me as stand here. Among the throng
are Solomon, David, and Christ. Yes,
through these streets and amid these
surroundings rode Solomon, that won
der of splendor and wretchedness. 1t
seemed as If the world exhausted itself
On that man. 1t wove its brightest flow
ers into his garland. 1t set its richest
gems into his coronet. 1t pressed the
rarest wine to his lips. 1t robed him in
the pnrest purple and embroidery. 1t
seh xuit = h Koct,,
that land of harps. 1t greeted him with
Che gladdest laughter that ever leaped
from mirth's lips. 1t sprinkled his
cheek with spray from the brightest
fountains. Royalty had no dominion,
wealth no luxury, gold no glitter, flow
Ars no sweetness, song no melody, light
no radiance, upholstry no gorgeousness,
water no CLEAN, birds no plumag3,
prancing coulR.rs no mettle, architect
Ure no grandeur but it was all his.
Across the thick grass of the lawn, fra
grant with tufts of campfire from En-
gedi fell the long shadows of trees
brought from distant forests.
Fish pools, fed by artificial channels
ahst brought the streams from hills far
away, were perpetually ruffied with fins,
and golden scales shot from water cave
TO water cave with endless dive and
swirl, attracting the gaze of foreign
pOtentates. Birds that had been brought
from foreign aviaries glanced and fut-
tered among the foliage, and called to
their mates for beyond the sea. From
she royal stables there came up the
nelghlng of twelve thousand horses,
standing in blankets of Tyrian purple,
chewing their bits over troughs of gold,
waiting for the Kings order to be
brought out in front of the palace when
the official dignitaries would leap into
the snddle for some grand parade, or,
harnessed to some of the fourteen hun
dred chnriots of the King, the fiery
chargers with Haunting name and throb-
bing nostril would make the earth jar
with the tramp of hoofs and the thunder
OF wheels. While within and without
She palace you could not think of sim
gle luxury that could be added, or of
single splendor that could be kindled,
down on the banks of the sea the dry
docks of Ezion- geber rang with the
hammers of the shipwrights who were
constructing large vessels for O still
wider commerce., for all lands and climes
were TO be robbed to make up Solomon's
glory. No rest till his keels shall cut
every sea, his aXmen hew every forest,
his archers strike every rare wing, his
fishermen whip every stream, his mer-
Shants trade in every bazaar, his name
be hOnored by every tribe; and royalty
shall have no dominion, wealth no lux
ury, gold no glitter, song no melody,
light no radiance, waters no CLEAN,
birds no plumage, prancing coursers no
mettle. upholstery no gorgeousness,
arehi lecture no grandeur, but it was all !
his.
We'll, you say, IF there is any man
happy, ne ought to be-" But hear him
eoming out through the palace, and see |
his robes actually incrusted with Jewels, |
as he stands in the front and looks out |
apOn the vast domain. What does he
say3 King Solomon, great is your do
minion, great is your honor, great is !
your joy? No. While standing here
amidst oil the splendor, the tears start,
and his heart breaks and he exclaims: |
Vanity of vanities; all is vanity" What! |
Solomon not happy yet? No, not happy.
The honors and the emoluments of this |
world bring so many cares with them !
Chat they bring also torture and dis
qpietude. Pharaoh sits on one of the |
highest earthly eminences, yet he is
miserable because there are some peo-
pie in his realm that do not want any
longer to make bricks. The head Of /
Edward I aches under his crown because |
ahe people will not pay the taxes, and !
Laowellyn, Prince of Wales, will not do
aim homage, and Wallace will be hero.
Frederick William iii, of Prussia, is
miserable because France wants to take
She Prussian provinces. The world is
Mot large enough for Louis XIV and
William III. The ghastliest suffering,
&hs most shriveling fear, the most rend-
lng jealousies, the most gigantic dis
quietude, have walked amidst obseuui-
0us eOurtiers, and been clothed in royal
apparel, and sat on judgment seats of
power.
Honor and truth and justice cannot
60 30 high up iu authority as to be be-
YOnd the range of human assault. The
pare and the good in all ages have been
sKecrated by the mob who cry out: Not
this man, but Barabbas. Now, Barrabas
vas robber. By honesty, by Chris
Gian principle, I would have you seek
Tor the favor and the confidence of your
fellow men; but do not look upon some
high position as though that were al
ways sunshine. The mountains of
0arthly honor are like the mountains of
Switzerland, covered with perpetual ice
and snow. Having obtained the conf
dence and love of your associates, be
content with such things as you have.
You brought nothing into the world,
and it is very certain you can carry
nothing out. cease ye from man,
whose breath is in his nostrils." There
is an honor that is worth possessing,
n ic l, I - e.a n | /