Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-05-29
DIR. TALMAGE's SERMON SUNDAY MAY 18th

DRooKLYN, May 19.-The Rev. T. De
DWitt Talmage, DID,, preached to-day
on "New Springs of JOY" The text
was, "Thou hast given me south land
give me also springs of water. And he gave
her the upper springs. and the neither
springs. ."-Joshu9 xv., 10.
The ciGy of Debir was the Boston of an-
tiquity-a great place for brain a0d books.
Caleb wanted it, and lie offered his daugh-
ter Achsah as a prize TO any one who would
capture that city. 1t was a strange thing
for Caleb to do; and yet the man that could
take the city would have, at any rate, two
elements of manhood-bravery and patriot
ism. With Caleb's daughter as a prize to
fight for, General Othniel rode into the bat
tie. The gates Of Debir were thundered
into the dust, and the city Of books lay at
the feet of the conquerors. The work done,
Othnel comes back to claim his bride.
Having conquered the city, it is no great
lob for him to conquer the girls heart; for
however fainthearted woman herself may
be, she always loves courage in man. |
never saw an exception to that. The we'd
ding festivity having gone by, Othpiel and
Achsah are about to 60 to their new home.
However loudly the cymbals may clash and
the laughter ring, parents are always sad
to stay and Achsah, the daughter of Caleb,
knows that now is the time to ask almost
ANYTHING she wants of her father. 1t seems
that Caleb, the good old man, had given as
wedding present to his daughter a piece
of land that was mountainous, and sloping
southwark toward the desert of Arabia,
swept with some very hot winds. 1t was
called "a south land" But Achsah wants
an addition of property; she wants piece
of land that is well watered and fertile.
Now it is no wonder that Caleb standing
amidst the bridal party, his eyes so full OF
tears because she was goiug away that be
could hardly see her at all, gives her more
than che asks. She said to him: "Thou
hast given me 3 south land; give me also
springs of water. And he gave her the up
per springs, and the neither springs,
What a suggestive passage! The fact is,
that as Caleb, the father, gave Achsah, the
daughter, a south land SO God gives to us
His world. ] am very thankful He has
given it to US. But am like Achsah in the
fact that I want larger portion. Trees.
and flowers, and grass. and blue skies are
very we'll in their places; but he who has
nothing but this world for portion has nc
portion at all. It is mountainous land,
sloping off toward the desert Of sorrow,
swept by fiery siroccos: it is "south land,
q poor portion for any man that tries to put
his trust in it. What has been your expert
ence? What has been the experience of eV
cry man, of every woman that has tried
this world for a portion? Queen Elizabeth
amidst the surroundings of pomp, is unhap
pv because the painter sketches too minute
lly the wrinkles on her face, and she in
dignantly cries out: "You must strike of
Hogarth, at the very height of bis artistic
triumph, is stung almost to death witt
chagrin because the painting he had dedi
Gated to the King does not seem to be &C
ceptable; for George II, cries out: "Who il
this Hogarth? Take his trumrery cut o
nv presence" Brinsley Sheridan thrilled
the earth with his eloquence, but had fol
his last words, 81 am absolutely undone. .
Walter Scott, fumbliog around the inkstand
irving to write, says to his daughter: ooh
take me back to my room; there is no rest
for Sir Walter but in the grave" Stepher
Girard, the wealthiest man in his day, or,
at any rate, only second in wealth, says
81 live the life Of a galley slave; when
arise in the morning my one effort is tG
work so hard that can sleep when it gets
to be night" Charles Lamb, applauded o
all the world, in the very amidst of hi
literary triumph, says: "Do you remember
Bridget, when we used to laugh from the
shilling gallery at the play? There are
now no good plays to laugh at from the
boxes" But why 90 so far as that?
used to go no further than your street tc
find an illustration of what am saying.
Pick me ont ten successful weddings
without any religion, and you know wha
mean by successful worldiings. pick MI
out ten successful worldlings, and you can
not find more than cpe that locks happy
Care drags him across the bridge; car
drags him back. Take your stand at
o'clock at the corner of Nassau and Wal
streets, or at the corner of Canal street an
Broadway, aud SEQ the agouized physio9
2 Monies. Your bankers, your insuranc
men, your importers, your wholesalers, an
your retailers, as a elass-as class, ar
they happy? No. Care dogs their steps
and making no appeal to God for help
comfort, they are tossed everywhere. Ho