Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-01-31
REV. DR. TALMAGE.
The Eminent Brooklyn Divine's Sun
day Sermon.


Subject, aWonders of Babylon"
TEXT: f" In that night tcas Belstazzar,
the king OF the Chatdeans, slain. Daniel
", 30.
After the. sight of Babylon had been Sc
lected, two million of men were EMPLOYED
for the construction of the wall and princi-
pal works. The walls of the city were sixty
miles in circumference. They were sur
rounded by trench out of which had been
dug the material for the construction of the
city. There were twenty-five gates of solid
brass on zach side of the square city. Be
tween every two gates a great tower sprang
up into the heavens From each of the TWEEN
ty-fve gates on either side street ran
straight through to the gate on the other side,
SO that there were fifty streets, each fifteen
miles long, which gave to the city an APP
pearance of wonderful regularity.
The houses did lot join each other on the
ground, and between them were gardens and
shrubsery. From housetop to housetop
bridges swung, over which the inhabitants
were accustomed 10 pass A branch of the
Euphrates went through the city, over which
a bridge of marvellous structure was thrown.
and under which a tunnel ran. To keep the
river from overaowing the city in time of
ireshet, great lake was arranged to catch
the surplus. i'll which the water was kept as
in reservoir until times OF drought, when
It was sent streaming down over the thirsty
land. A paiace stood at each end of the
Euphrates bridge; one palace mile and
three-quarterS in compass and the other
palace seven aud half miles in circumfer-
ence. The wife of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, having
been brought up among the mountains OF
Media, could not stand it in this fat country
OF Babylon, and so TO please her Nebuchad-
nezzar had a mountain four hundred feet
high built in the midst of the city.
This mountain wss surrounded by ter
races, for the support of which great arches
were lifted. On the top of these arches fiat
stones were laid; then layer of reeds and
bitumen; then two rows of bricks, closely
cemented; then thick sheets of lead, upon
which the soil was placed. The earth here
deposited was SO deep that the largest trees
had room to anchor their roots. All the
glory Of the flowery tropics was spread out
at that tremendous height, until it must havs
seemed to one below as though the clouds
were all in blossom. and the very sky leaned
on the shoulder of the cedar. At the top an
engine was constructed which drew the water
from the Euphrates. far below, and made it
spout up amid this garden of the skies All
this to please his wife! think she must have
been pleased.
In the midst of this city stood also ths
eighth of a mile high, and On the top OF it an
observatory. which gave the astronomers
great advantage, as, being at so great a
height. one coul easily talk with the stars :.
This temple was full of CUPS and statues and
censers, all of gold. One image weighed
thousand Babylonish talents, which would
be equal to flfty-two million dollars. All this
by day. but now night was cbout to come
down on Babylon. The shadows OF her two
hundred and fifty towers began to lengthen.
The Euphrates rolled on, touched by the
fiery sp.endors of the setting sun, and gates
of brass FURNISHED aud glitteriug, opened
and shut like doors nj fianIe. The hanging
gardens of Babylon, wet with the heavy
| dew, began to pour from starlit flowers and
dripping leaf fragrance for many miles
around. tbs streets and squares were
lighted for dance and fToic ami promenade
The theatres and galleries of art invited the
wealth and pomp and grandeur of the city to
rare entertainments. Scenes of riot and
wassaii were mingled in every street, goddess
mirth. end outrages excess and splendid
wlcke mess came to the kings palace to do
their mightiest deeds of darkness.
royal feast tonight at the kings palacei
Rushing up TO the gates ara chariots, up
holstered with precious cloths from Dedan
and drawn by fire eyed horses from Togar-
NAH, that rear and neigh in the grasp of the
characters, while a thousand Lords dismount,
and women dressed in all the splendors of
Syrian emerald, and the color blending of
agate, and the chasteness of coral and the
somber glory OF Syrian purple, and the
princeiy embroideries brought from afar by
camels across the desert, and by ships from
| Tarshish acrossthe sea.
Open wide the gates and let the guests come
in. The chamber;ains and cup bearers are
all ready. Hsrk to the rustic of the robes,
| and to the carol of the musicl See the blaze
Of ha Tift tho baupars E,ll 4ba
cups. Clap the cymbals. Blow the trumpets.
Let the night 90 by with song and dance and
ovation; and let the Babyonish tongue be
palsied that vii! not say, '0b, King Bel
shazzar, live forever"
All my friends, it was not any common
banquet to which these great people came.
All parts of the earth had sent their richest
viands to that table. Brackets and chande-
liers flashed their light upon tankards OF
FURNISHED gold. Fruits, ripe and luscious in
/ baskets of silver, entwined with leaves,
plucked from royal conservatories. Vases,
inlaid with emerald and ridged with exquis-
ito traceries, filled with nuts that were
! thrashed from forests of distant lands
! Wine brought from the royal watts, foaminG
in the decanters and bubbling in the chal-
Ices. Tufts of cassia AMI frankincenss
waiting their sweetness from wall and table.
Gorgeous banners unfolding in the breeze
that came through the opened window, be-
witcded with the perfume of hanging gar
dens. Fountains rising up from Enclosures
of ivory in jets of crystal, to fall in clatter-
| ing rain of Diamonds and pearls. Statues OF
mighty men looking down from inches in the
wall upon crowns aud shields brought from
subdued empires. Idols of wonderful work,
standing ca pedestals of precious stones
| Embroideres dropping about the windows
and wrapping pillars of cedar. and drifting
on floor maid with ivory aud agate, Music,
minEling the thrum of harps, and the clash
of cymbals, and the blast of trumpets in ons
wave of transport that went ripping along
the wall, and breathing among the garlands,
and pouring down the corridors, and thrill
ing the souls of Thousand banqueters.
The signal Is given. and the lords end
ladies, the mighty men and women Of the
land, come around the table. Pour out the
wine. Let foam and bubble kiss the rim.
Hoist every one his cup, and drink to the
sentiment; 'Oh, King Belshazzar, live for
eyerm Bestarred headband and carcauet Of
royal beauty CLEAN to the upifted chalices,
as again and again and again they are emp
tied. Away with care from the palace Tear
royal dignity to tatters Pour out more wine |
Give us more light wilder music, sweeter
perfume. Lord shouts TO lord, caDtain ogles
to captain. Goblets clash, decauters rattle
There comes i'll the vile song, ard the drunken
hiccough, and the slavering lip, ard the guf-
faw Of idiotic laughter, bursting from the
lips of princes flushed, reeing, bloodshot;
while mingling with it all l hear; "Huzza /
huzza for great Belshazzar"
What is that on the plasterng of the WALTZ
Is it spirits Is it phantom? Is it Gods
Out OF the black sleeve of the darkness a
finger of fiery terror trembles through the
cir and comes to the wall, circling about
as though it would write and then, with
sharp p of fame, enSraves on tho plsstering
the COON Of the king, The music stops. The
goblet falls from the nerveless grasp. There
is thrill, There is 4 start. There is
thousand voiced shriel of horror. Let Daniel
be brought in toread that writing. He comes
in. He reads it, weighed in the balance
and found wanting"
Meanwhile the Assyrians, who for two
years had been laying siege to that city,
took advantage of that carousal and came
in. / hear the feet OF the conquerors on
the palace stairs. Massacre rushed in with
a Thousand cleaning knives. Death bursts
upon the scene and | shut the door of that
bsnqueting hail. for do not want to look.
There Is nothing there but torn banners,
and broken wreaths. and the slush Of upset
tankards, and the blood of murdered women,
and the kicked and tumbled carcass of a
dead king. For in that night was Bel
shazzar, the king of the Chaldeans, slain.9
go on to learn that when God writes any,
thing on the wall, man had better read it
as " Is; Daniel did not misinterpret or moii-
~ the handwriting on the wall It is all
robustness to expect minister of the Cos
pei TO preach Always things that the people
NE or the people choose. Young men, what
saaii preach to you to-night9 Shall tell
you Oh the dignity of human nature2 Shall
! tell you of the wonders that our race has
accomplished "Oh, nor you say: tell me
the message that came from Godn / will.
II there is any handwriting on the wall. 1t is
this lesson, Accept of Christ and be savedY'