Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1891-04-03
THOUGHTS FOR EASTER.
DIR. TALMAGES SERMON ON THE
GREAT CHURCH FESTIVAL.

lowers.
NEW YORK, March 29.-Dr. TaJnage
preached an Easter sermon TO his audiences
today. Both at the morning service in
Brooklyn and at New York in the evening
the Academies of Music were bright with a
profusion of flowers, Easter lilies being
conspicuous. A selection OF music appro-
pirate to the festival was beautifully rem
dered at each service. The text of the
preachers discourse was Matthew $3.50,
"Come, see the place where the Lord lay"
Visiting any great city we are not salts
fed until we have also looked at its ceme-
terry. We examine all the styles of ceno-
taph, mausoleum, sarcophagus, crypt and
sculpture Here lies buried statesman,
yonder an orator, here poet, out there an
inventor, in some other place great phil
anthropist. But with how much greater
interest and with more depth of emotion
we look upon our family plot in the GENE.
terry. In the one case, it is a matter Of
public interest; in the other, it is matter
of private aud heartfelt affection. But
around the grave at which we halt this
morning, there are gathered all kinds Of
stupenduous interest. At this sepulchre,
have to tell you, in this sepulchre there
was buried King, Conquerer, an Eman-
cipator, Friend, Brother, a Christ.
Monarch of the universe. but bone of our
bone, and flesh of our flesh, and sorrow of
our sorrow, and heart of our heart. Come,
see the place where the Lord lay"
1t has for surroundings, the manor in
the suburbs of Jerusalem, manor owned
by wealthy gentleman by the name Of
Joseph. He was one of the court of
seventy who had condemned Christ, but
l think he had voted in tho negative, or,
being timid man, had been absent at the
time of the casting of the vote. He had
laid out the parterre at great expense. 1t
was hot climate and suppose there were
broad-branched trees and winding paths
underneath them, while here the waters
rippled over the rocks into a fshpool, and
yonder the vines and the flowers cambered
over the wall, and all around there were
the beauties of kiosk and arboriculture
After the fatigues of the Jerusalem court
room, how refreshing to come out in these
suburbs botanical and genealogical.
i walk little further on in the parterre
and come across a cluster of rocks, and l
see on them the marks OF a sculptor's
ShAoNA. COlllt Sllll ClOStI anu uUu IuuJ
there is a subterranean recess and l walk
down the marble stairs, and come TO a
portico, over the doorway-an architecture
Of fruits and flowers cbiseled by the hand
Of the sculptor. go into the portico and
on either side there are rooms, two, four
or six rooms Of rock. IN the walls are
inches, each niche large enough TO hold d
dead body. One of these rooms of rock is
aanonia1lx t.rao1tht. 4.
beautiful and charming spot. Why all
this? The fact was that Joseph, the
owner OF the parterre of that wealthy
manor, had recognized the fact that he
could not always walk those gardens, and
he sought this as his own last resting
place. What beautiful plot in which to
wait for the resurrection!
Mark well the mausoleum in the rock.
1t is to be the most celebrated tomb in all
the ages; Catacombs Of Egypt. tomb Of
Napoleon, Mahal Tai of India, nothing
compared with il. Christ had Just been
murdered and his body must be thrown
out TO the dogs and the ravens as was
customary with crucifed bodies, unless
there be prompt and effective hsndrance.
Joseph, the owner Of the mausoleum. begs
for the body of Christ, and he takes and
the blood and the dust, and shrouds II and
perfumes 1t,
l think embalmment was omitted.
When in olden times they wished TO
embalm dead body, the priest with some
pretension of medical skill would show the
point between the ribs where the incision
was TO be made. Then the operator would
come and make the incis!on, and then run
for his life else he would be slain for
violating the dead body. Then the other
priests would come with salt nitro and
cassia, and wine Of palm tree, and complete
the embalmment. But think in this case
embalmment was omitted lest there be
more excitement and another riot The
funeral advances. Present: Joseph, the
owner of the mausoleum; Nicodemus, who
brought the flowers, and the two Marys.
Heavy burden on the shoulders of two
men as they carry the body OF Christ down
the marble stairs and into the portico and
lift the dead weight to the level of the
niche in the rock, and push the body of
Christ into the only pleasant resting place
it ever had. These men coming forth
close the door of rock against tho recess.
The government, afraid that the disciples
would steal the body of Christ and play
resurrection, put upon the door the seal OF
the Sanhedrim, the violation of that seal,
like the violation of the United States
government, or of the British government
always followed with severe penalties.
A regiment Of soldiers from the Tower
of Antonio is detailed to guard that mauso-
leum. At the door Of that tomb fight took
place which decided the question for all
grave-yards and cemeteries. Sword of
lightning against sword of steel. Angel of
God against the military. The body in the
crypt begins to move in its shroud Of
fine linen and slides down upon the pave
ment moves through the portico, appears
in the doorway, comes up the marble steps.
Christ having left his mortuary attire be-
hind him, comes forth in the garb of
workman as l take IL, from the fact that
the women mistook him for the gardener.
There and then was shattered the tomb
so that it can never be rebuilt. All the
trowels of earthly masonry cannot mend IL.
Forever and forever it is q broken tomb.
Death that day taking the side of the mill
tary received horrible cut under the
angels spear of fame, and must himself go
down at the last-the King of Terrors dis
appearing before the King Of Grace. "The
Lord is risen" Hosannal Hosannal
weep no more, your comforts slain,
The Lord is risen, he lives again.