Sharp County record., 1890-11-06
THE JERICHO ROAD.
Fourth Discourse by Rev. T. Dewitt
Talmage on the Holy Land.
Scenes Recalled and Thoughts Suggested
by Journey from Jerusalem to
eJerlcho-The Modern Good
Samaritan.

founded on the text;
A certain man went down from Jerusalem
to Jerlcho.-Luke X, 3D.
1t is the morning of December 5, in
Jerusalem, and we take stirrups for the
road along which the wayfarer Of old
fell among thieves, who left him
wounded and half dead. With
the fresh memory of some recent
violence in their minds, Christ tells
the people of the good Samaritan who
came along that way and took care of a
poor fellow that had been set upon by
villainous Arabs and robbed and pound
ed and cut We encamped for lunch
that noon close by an old stone build
Ing, said TO be the tavern where the
scene spoken of in the Bible eliminated.
Tumbled in the dust and ghastly with
wounds, the victim of the highway rob-
berry lay in the middle Of the road-a
fact OF which | was certain, because the
Bible says the people passed by on
either side. There were twelve thou
sand priests living at Jericho, and they
had to go to Jerusalem to ofliciate at the
temple. And one of these ministers OF
religion, l suppose, was on his way
to the temple service, and he is
startled az ho sees this bleed
ing victim in the middle of tho road,
"Oh," he says, "here is man that has
been attacked OF thieves" "Why don't
you 60 home?" says the minister. The
man in comatose state makes no
answer Or with d half-dazed look, pats
his wounded hand to his gashed fore
head and drawls out "Wbat?" "Well, "
says the minister, 81 must hurry on
to my duties at Jerusalem. l have to
kill lamb and two pigeons in sacrifice
to-day. l can not spend any more time
with this unfortunate. Iguess some-
body else will take care of him. But
this is one of the things that can not
be helped anyhow. Besides that, my
business Is with souls and not with
bodies. Good morning! When you get
well enough to sit up, | will be glad to
see you at the temple"
And the minister curves his way out
toward the overhanging sides of the
road and passes. You hypocrite! One
of the chief offices of religion is to heal
wounds. You might have done here a
kindness that would have been more
acceptable to God than all the incense
thatwill smoke up from your censer
for the next three weeks and you missed
the chance. Go on your way! Exc
Grated by the centuries.
Soon afterward q .Levite came upon
the scene. The Levites looked aftey,the
the priests and provided the supplies of
the temple. This Levite, passing along
this road where we are to-day, took a
look at the mass Of bruises and laceya-
tion in the middle of the road. MY!
myw says the Levite, this man is
awfully hurt, and he ought to be helped
But my business is to sing in the choir
at the temple. If | am not there no
ono will carry my part Besides
that, there may not be enough
frankincense for the censers, and the
wine or oil may have given out
and what q fearful balk in the serv-
ice that would make. Then one of the
priests might get his breast-plate on
crooked. But it seems too bad to leave
this man in this condition. Perhaps |
had better try to stanch this bleeding
and give him little stimulant. But
no! The ceremony at Jerusalem is of
more Importance than taking care Of
the wounds of man who will probably
soon be dead anyhow. This highway
robbery ought to be stopped. for it
hinders us Levites on our way up to the
temple. Thore, have lost five min
utes already "Go along, you beast"
ho shouts, as he strikes his heels into
the sides of the animal carrying him,
and the dust rising from tho road soon
hides the hard-hearted official.
But third person is coming along
this road You can not expect him to
do any thing by way Of alleviation, be-
cause he and the wounded man belong
to different pations which have abom-
mated zach othor for centuries Tho
wounded m,n Is an 1sraclito, and the
stranger now coming on this scene OF
suffering is Samaritan They belong
to nations which hated each other with
an obiurgation and maledction diabolic,
They had opposition temples, one on
Mount Certain and tho other on
Mount MoriOh, and guess this
Samaritan whom ho comes up will
give tho fallen lsraelite another
clip and say 'Good for youl |
will Just finish the work these bandits
began, and give you ono more kick thaS
will put you out OF your misery, And
here Is rag OF your coat that thoy did
not steal and | will tako that What!
Do you daro TO appeal to mo for morcyp
Hush up' Why your ancestors wor-
SHIPPED NJ Jerusalem when they ought
TO havo worshiped az Gor2im, Now
take that And thatl And that" will
say tho Samaritan as no pounds tho
fallon lsraolitc,
MOI the Samaritan rides up to tho
sccnc OF suffering gets of tho beast
and stops down and looks into tho face
OF the wounded man and SAYS "rhis
poor follow docs not belong to my ma.
ton, and our ancestors worshipod in