The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-02-08
A JUBILEE SERMON.
DR.. TALMAGE breaches or RE.
TURNED PRoDleALs.

Y
He Says They Should Not DO Received
Coidly and Looked Upon Askance. but
with Open Arms and Cheering Men.
Some New Conclusions About Time:
BROOKLYN, Feb. ga jubilee SER
mon was preached this morning by
the Rev. 7. De Witt Talmage, D. D., at
an especial communion for the recep-
ton Of 240 persons, making the pres
ent communicate membership of the
Brooklyn Tabernacle 4,50S. This is
also moving day in this church. The
annual rental Of pews has just occur
red, and today many Of the congrega-
ton occupy new places The pews
brought higher premiums this year
than ever before and the income OF
the church this year will be $33, 8o4
But both plans are observed in this
church. A vast space is kept free
from all expense and only part OF
the building is mapped off for rent.
DR.. Talmage took his text from the
fifteenth chapter of Luke, twenty,
third verse: bring hither the fatted
calf and kill it." Dr.. Talmage said:
Joyl Joyl Joyl We banquet today
over this accession Of 240 persons to
whom have given the right hand OF
Fellowship, making our present COM
municant membership four thousand
Ave hundred and eight. Is it not APP
propriate that we spread the banquets
In all ages Of the world it has been
customary to celebrate joyful events
by festivity-the signing of treaties,
the proclamation of peace, the Christ
mas, the marriage. However much
on other days of the year our table
may have stinted supply, on Thanks
giving day there must be something
bounteous. And all the comfortable
homes of Christendom have at some
time celebrated joyful events by ban
quet and festivity.
Something has happened in the old
homestead greater than anything that
has ever happened before. A favor
tie son whom the world supposed
would become a vagabond and out
law forever has got tired Of sight
seeing and has returned to his fathers
house. The world said he never
would come back. The old man al
ways said his son would come He
had been looking for him day after
day and year after year. He knew he
would come back Now, having re-
turned to his fathers house, the
father proclaims celebration
WHEN LOST SOUL COMES HOME TO
GOD.
There is calf in the paddock that
has been kept and fed to utmost capa-
city so as to be ready for some occasion
of joy that might come along. All!
there never will be grander day on
the old homestead than this day. Let
the butchers do their work, and the
housekeepers bring into the table the
smoking meat. The musicians will
take their places, and the gay groups
will move up and down the floor. All
the friends and neighbors are gathered
in, and extra supply is sent out to the
table of the servants. The father pre-
sides at the table, and says grace, and
thanks God that his long absent boy
is home slgain. Oh! how they missed
him; how glad they are to have him
back. One brother indeed stands
pouting at the back door and
says: ''This is great ado about
this bad boy should
have been chastened instead of
greeted; veal is too good for him"
But the father says: Nothing is too
good, nothing is good enough"
There sits the young man, glad at the
hearty reception, but shadow of sor-
row fitting across his brow at the re-
Of the trouble he has seen.
All ready now. Let the covers lift.
Music. He was dead and he is alive
again! He was lost and he is found
By such bold imagery does the Bible
set forth the merry making when a
soul comes home to God.
/. First of all there is the new con-
vert's Joy. It is no tame thing to be-
come Christian The most tremen-
dous moment in mans life is when
he surrenders himself to God. The
grandest time on the fathers home
stead is when the boy comes back.
Among the great throng who in the
parlors of this church professed Christ
one night was young man who next
morning rang my door bell and said:
"Sir, cannot contain myself with the
Joy / feel; came here this morning
to express it. have found more joy
in FIVE minutes in serving God than in
all the years Of my prodigality, and
came to say So"
You have seen, perhaps, aman run
ming for his physical liberty and the
officers of the law after him, and you
saw him escape, or afterward you
heard the judge had pardoned him,
and how great was the glee of that
rescued man; but it is very tame
thing that compared with the running
for ones everlasting life-the terrors
of the law after him, but Christ COM
ing in to pardon and bless and rescue
and save. You remember John Bun
yam in his great story tells how the
Pilgrim put his fingers in his ears and
ran, crying: Life, life, eternal lifel"
A poor car driver in this city
some years ago, after having had
q struggle to support his family,
suddenly was informed that large in
heritance was his, and there was joy
amounting to bewilderment; but that
is a small thing compared with the ex
perience of one when he has put in his
hands the title deed to the joys, the
yant,,res the splendors of heaven and