Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-02-13

DRooKLYN, February 3.-A jnbiee SER
ID mon was preached th S morning by the
Rev It. Dewitt Talmage, DID,, at an
especial communion for the reception of $40
persons, making The present communcant
membership of the Brooklyn Tabernacle A.
40S. This is also moving day in this
church. The annual rental of pews has
just occurred aud today many of the con-
gregation occupy new places. The pews
brought higher premiums this year than
ever before and the income of the church
this year will be S33. o04 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 18th chap
ter of Luke 23d verse: ''Bring hither the
fatted calf and kill it." DR.. Talmage said:
Joy Joy joy We banquet to day
over this accession of multitude of souls.
In all ages of the world it has been Gus
tomary to celebrate joyful events by festiv,
ity-the signing of treaties, the proclama-
ton of peace, the Christmas, the marriage.
However much on other days of the year
our tables may have stinted supply, on
Thanksgiving Day there must be something
bounteous. And all the comfortable homes
Of Christendom have Of some time celebrat-
ed joyful events by banquet and festivity.
Something has happened in the old home
stead greater than anything that has ever
happened before. A favorite son whom the
world supposed would become a vagabond
and outlaw forever has get tired of sight.
seeing and has returned to his fathers
house. The world said he never would
come back. The old msn always said his
son would corne. He hsG been looking for
him day after day and year after year. He
knew he would come back. Now, having
returned to his fathers house, the father
proclaims celebration.
There is calf in the paddock that has
been kept up and fed to utmost capacity SO
as to be ready for some occasion of joy that
might come along. All! there never will
be q grander day on the old homestead than
this day. Let the butchers do their work,
and the housekeepers bring in to tho 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 eer-
wants. The father presides at the table, and
says grace, and thanks God that his long
absent boy is home again. Oh! how they
missed him, how glad they are to have him
back. One brother indeed stands pouting
at the back door aud says: ''fhis is great
ado about nothing; this bad boy should
have been chastened instead of greeted;
veal is too good for him p But the father
says: ''Nothing is too good, nothing is
good enough" There sits the young
man. glad at the hearty reception, but a
shadow of sorrow fitting across his brow at
the remembrance of the trouble he had
seen. All ready now, Let the covers lift.
Music. He was dead, and he is alive
III L..
such bold imagery does the Bible SCI
forth the merry-makiDg when soul comes
home to God.
l. First of all, there is the new converts
ljoy. 1t is no tame thing to become Chris
tian. The most tremendous moment in 8
mans life ia when he surrepders himself to
God. The grandesG time on the fathers
homestead is when the boy comes back
Among the great throng wha in the parlors
Of this church pyofessed Christ one night
was young man, who next morning rang
my door bell and said: ''Sir, I cannot con
tain myself with the joy feel; came here
this morning to express it. | have found
more Joy i'll five minutes 10 serving God
than in all the years of my prodigality, and
| came to say so."
You have seen, perhaps, a man running
for his physical liberty and the officers OF
the law after him, and you saw him escape.
or afterward you heard the judge had par.
doned him, and how great was the glee OF
| ,.hat rescued man; but it is very tame
thing that, compared with the running for
ones everlasting life-the terrors of the law
after hi.o, but Christ coming in to pardon
and bless apd rescue aud save. You re-
member John Bunyan in his great story
tells how the Pilgrim put bis fingers in his
ears, and ran, crying: Life, life, eternal
life ~ A poor car driver in this city some
wears ago, after having had struggle to
support bis family, suddenly was informed
that large Inheritance was his. and there
was Joy amounting to bswilderment; but
that is a small thing compared with the ex-
psrience of one when he has put in his hands
the title-deed to the joys, the raptures, the
splendors OF heaven, aud he can truly say
siIts mansions are mine, its temples are
! mine, its songs are mine, its God is nlnel
. Oh, it is no tame thing to become a Chris
tian, 1t is a merry making. 1t is the kill
ing of the fatted calf. It is jubilee. You
know the Bible never compares it to fu
neral, but always compares it to something
, bright. 1t is more apt to be compared to
= banquet than anything else. II Is compar
t cd il the Bible to the water, bright, flash
ing water; TO the morning, roseate. lire
worked, mountain transagnred morning.
b wish could to day take all the Bible ex
pressions about pardon and peace aud lif
and comfort and hope end heaven and tWis
them into one garland. snd put it on tn
brow of the humblest child of God in thi
!, ,a,.o,bIaoa opd oru. HWaar IT. WAR