The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-10-22


you very largely" and then we offered
her five times that which would ordi-
narily be offered, hoping by the excess
OF pay to secure for him great kindness
The woman replied: II will not take
care OF him for the money you offer.
do not want your money. But leave him
here, and will take care OF him for the
sake of the love OF God" Mr.. Gladstone
turned TO me and said "Dr. Talmage,
don't you think that though she be-
longed to race Of savages, that was
pure religion?" And answered: II do;
/ do" May God multiply all the world
over the number Of good Samaritans!
In Philadelphia young woman was
dying. She was wreck. Sunken into
the depths Of deprayity there was no
lower depth for her to reach. Word
came to the midnight mission that she
was dying in haunt Of iniquity near
by. Who would 60 to tell her of the
Christ OF Mary Magdalen? This one re-
fused, and that one refused, saying, IL
dare not go there" A Christian woman,
her white locks typical OF her pnrity OF
soul, said, II will 20, and will go now"
She went and sat down by the dying
girl and told Of the Christ who came to
seek and save that which was lost First
to the forlorn one came the tears Of re-
pentance, and then the smile as though
she had begun to hope for the pardon OF
Him who came to save to the uttermost.
Then, just before she breathed her last,
she said to the angel Of mercy bending
over her pillow: "Would you kiss me?'
IT WILL" said the Christian woman, as
she put upon her cheek the last saluta-
ton before in the Heavenly world, /
think, God gave her tho welcoming kiss.
That was religion. Yes, that was re-
ligion. Good Samaritans along every
street, and along every road, as we'll as
this one on the road to Jericho. .t
But our procession Of sight-seers Is
again in line, and here we pass through
deep ravine, and l cry to the drago-
man: David, what place do you call
thisP" and he replied: This is the
Brook Cherith, where Elijah was fed by
the ravens" And in that answer he
overthrow my notions Of the place where
Elijah was waited on by the black serv-
ants OF the sky. A brook to me had
meant a slight depression Of ground,
and a stream fordable, and perhaps If
teen feet wide. But here was a chasm
that an earthquake must have scooped
out with its biggest shovel or split
with its mighiest battle-axe. Six
hundred feet deep is 1t, and the
brook Cherith is river, which, when in
full force, is a silver wedge, splitting
the mountains into precipices. The
feathered descendants OF Elijahs ravens
still wing their way across this ravine,
but are not like the crows we supposed
them to be be. They are as large as
eagles, and one Of them could carry In
its beak and clinched claw at once
enough food for half dozen Elijahs'
No thanks to the ravens; they are car
nivorous, and would rather have picked
out the eyes OF Elijah, whom they found
at the mouth OF his cave on the side Of
Cherith, waiting for his breakfast hav-
ing drunk his morning beverage from
the rushing stream beneath, than have
been his buffers and purveyors. But
God compelled them, as he always has
compelled and always will compel black,
and cruel, and overshadowing provi-
dences to carry help to his children II
they only have faith enough 10 catch
the blessing as IL drops from the SEEM
ing adversely; the greatest blessing al
ways coming not with white wings, but
black wings. Black wings of conviction
bringing pardon to the sinner. Black
wings OF crucifixion over Calvary, bring
ing redemption for the world. Black
wings OF American revolution, bringing
free institutions to q continent Black
wings OF American civil war, bring
ing uniHcation and solidarity 10
the republic. Black wings Of the
Judgment day, bringing resurrection
TO an entombed human race. And
In tho last day, when all your life and
mine will be summed up, we will find
that the greatest blessing we ever re-
ceived came on the wings Of the black
|
Bless God for sicknessl Bless God for
persecution Bless God for povertyl You
never heard OF any man or woman OF
great use to the world who had not had
lots Of trouble. The diamond must be cut
The wheat must be threshed. 1he black
ravens must fly. Who are these nearest
the throne? These are they who come
out OF great tribulation and had their
robes washed and made white in the
blood Of the Lamb"
But look! Look what at four o'clock
in the afternoon bursts upon our vision:
The plain OF Jericho and the Valley Of
Jordan, and the Dead Sea- We have
come 10 place where the horses not SO
much walk ss slide upon their launches,
and We all dismount, for the steep de-
scent Ia simply terrific, though
princess Of wallachia, who fell here
and was dangerously injured, after
recovery. spent largo amountof money
In trying 10 mako tho road passable.
Down and downi till We saw the white
tents pitched for us by our mulesters
amid the ruins Of ancient Jericho,
which fell at the sound Of poor music
played on rams horn," that ancient
instrument which taken from the head
Of the leader OF the flock Of sheep 10 por-
forated and prepared 10 be fingered BY
tho musical performer and blown upon
when pressed 10 tho lips. As In another
sermon have fully described that soene
I will only say that ovory day for seven
days the ministers Of religion went
round the city OF Jericho blowing upon