The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1891-05-21

deemed. tho Quests; and the Angels, the
Cup-Bearers. ,
BROOKLYN, May l0.--Thc subject Of
DR.. Talmage's sermon to-day was "1n-
vitation to a Wedding" and the text
Luke xiv, II: "Come for all things are ,
now ready"
Holy festivities to-day. We gather
other sheavcs INTO the spiritual garner.
Our lov is like the joy of Heaven.
Spread the banquet, spread all the chall-
ces. We are not to-day at the funeral
of a dead Christ; we are celebrating the
marriage Of the Kings son.
1t vas an exciting time in English
history when Queen Elizabeth visited
Lord Leicester at Kenilworth castle.
The clocks in all the towers and through
out the castle were stopped at the mo-
ment Of her arrival, SO continuing to
point to that moment as the one surpass-
inc all others in interest. The doors OF
the great banqueting hall were opened.
The queen marched in to the sound OF
the trumpets. -Four hundred servants |
waited upon the guests. 1t was scene
that astonished all nations wheu they
heard of it. Five thousands dollars Il
day did the banquet cost as it went on
day after day. She was greeted to the
palace uatcs with floating islands, and
torches and the thunder of cannons, and
fireworks that set the night ablaZc, and
a burst OF music that lifted the whole
sce1 c into cnchantmcnt. Beginning III
that way, il went on from 10Y 10 JOY.
and from excitement to excitement, aad
from rapture to rapture. That was the
great banquet that Lord Leicester spread
IN KenllwOrth castle.
Cardinal Wolsey entertained the
French ambassadors in Hampton court
The best cooks Of all the land provided
for the table. The guests were kept
hunting in the parks all the day, so that
their appctites might be keen, and then
in the evening hour they were shown
into the banqucting hall, with table
aglt,er with imp ?rial plate, and ahlush
with the very cOstliest wines, and the
second course of the feast was made OF
food in all shapes, of men and birds and
beasts, and dancing groups, and ioustm&
Oarties riding III. on each other with up
lifted lanccs. Lords and princes anl
ambassadors, their cups cleaning 10 th'
brim, drank first to the health OF tht
king of England, and then to The healtl
orthc emperor Of France. That was TN
BANQUET that Cardinal WOlsey spread il
Hampton court.
But to-day, my brothers and sisters,
invite you to a "randcr entertainment
NV Lord. the King, is the banquctcl
Angels of God are the cup-bcarcrs, a
the redeemed are the guests; the halls {
eternal love irescocd with light, an
paved with Joy, and curtancd with ul
fading beauty are the banquetlng place
the harmonies of eternity are the music
the chalices Of God are the plate, and
am one of the servants come ouJ wit
invitations to all the people, and OF
that YOU might break the seal OF the Il
yltatiOn snd read III ink OF blood, an
with the tremulous hand OF dyln
Christ: "COmc, come, for all things al
now ready" :.
Sometimes there have been great di
onpointmcnts at a banquet. The vii
has Given out, or the servants have bee
rebellious. or the lights have tailed; b1
walk all around the banquctng tab
of my l., I'd to-day, and find everythll
complete, and l swing open the door
this banqueting house and say: "A
things are now ready"
Illustrating my text, L 60 on and
the first place say that the LORD Jes
Christ is ready. Cardinal WOlscy d
not come into the banquctlng hall un
the second course Of the feast, and VIII
he entered booted and spurrcd, all t
quests arose and chccrcd him; but ha
10 tell YOU that our banqucter, the l.o
Jesus Christ comes in at the bcglnni
ofthe feast. Ay, he has been waitl
for his guests, waiting Tor some OF the
1891 years, waiting with manglcd le
waiting with hand on the punctnrcd sid
waiting with hand on the laceratcd te
pies, waiting, waiting! Wonder 1t
that the banquetcr did not get we;
and say: "Shut the door and let
laggards stay out" No, he has b'
waiting. How much he is in earne
shall / show you? | gather up all
tears that flooded his cheek in sympat
all the blood that channellcd his Di
and back and hand and foot, to purch
our redemption. | gather up al
groans coming from midnight chill
mountain hunger and desert lonclin'
and mt them into one bitter cry
gather up all the pangs that shot II
cross and spike and spear, into one gr
i take one drop of sweat on his br
and I nut il under the glass OF The !
pel, and it cnlarCcs to lakes OF SOFT
TO oceans ofagony. That Christ too
cmaciatcd and worn and weary, co
here, and with a pathos in which c'
word is q hcartbrcak and every scnt'
martyrdom, lie says to you and say
me: Come, come, for all things
now ready.
Ahasurus made feast that LASTED
DAYS. This lasts forever. Lords
princes were invited to that. You
| arc invited to this. Yes. he has
waiting, he is waiting now. Other
wrap themselves in robes of beauty
powcr before they come into ban'
So does Christ. Oh, he is the larc
the lair. In his land is the omnp(
surgery that opened blind eyes
strengthened crook limbs and no
The pillars OF heavens, and swun:
twelve gates which are twelve pc
Oh. what a Chrst-a Christ Of beat
Christ of power. There are not en-
cups on earth to dip up this ocei