Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1891-02-13
REV. DIR. TALMAGE.
THE BROOKLYN DIVINE'S sun.
DAY SERMON.
Subject Wonders Of BabyIon.

", 80.
After the sight of Babylon had been Sc
Iected, 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 a trench, out of which had been
dug the material for the construction of the
city. There were twenty-five gates of solid
brass on each side Of the square CITY Be-
tween every two gates a great tower sprang
up into the heavens. From each Of the twen-
ty-fve gates on either side d 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 ap-
pearance of wonderful regularity
The houses did not join each other on the
ground, and between them were gardens and
shruboery. From housetop to housetop
bridges swung, over which the inhabitants
were accustomed to pass a branch OF the
Euphrates went through the city, over which
bridge OF marvellous structure was thrown,
ana under which a tuunel ran. To keep the
river from Overlooking the CITY in time of
freshet, great lake was arranged to catch
the surplus, in which the water was kept as
In a reservoir until times OF drought when
it was sent streaming down over the thirsty
land. A palace stood at each end of the
EUphrates bridge; one palace mile and
Chree-quarterS in compass and the other
palace seven and a halt miles in circunlfer-
ence. The wife Of acknowledgements, having
been brought 10 among the mountains Of
or Babylon. and so to please her Nabuchad-
nezzar had a mountain four hundred feet
high built in the midst OF the city.
This mountain surrounded bv ter
races, Tor the support Of which great arches
were lifted. On the top of these arches fat
stones were laid; then layer of reeds and
bltumen; then two rows Of bricks closely
cemented; then thick sheets Of lead, upon
which the soil was placed. The earth here
deposited was deep that the largest trees
had room to anchor their roots. All the
glory OF the fowery tropics was spread out
at that tremendous height, until it must have
seemed to one below as though the clouds
We're 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 Ais
this to please his wife! l think she must have |
been pleased
In the midst Of this city stood also the
temple of Belus. Ore of it's towers was one |
eighth of mile high, and on the top of it an
observatory, which gave the astronomers |
great advantage, as being at so great q
height, one could easily talk with the stars.
This temple was full of cups and statues and
censers all of gold One image weighed a
thousand Babylonish talents. which would
be equal to fifty-two million dollars All this
Dy day; but now night was about to come
down on Babylon. The shadows of her two
hundred and fifty towers began to lengthen.
Inc Euphrates rolled on, touched by the
y III.
OF brass FURNISHED and g1ttering, opened
and shut like doors of flame The hanging
gardens of Babylon, wet with the heayH
dew, began to pour from starlit flowers and
gripping Leaf a fragrance for many miles
around. The streets lad squares were
lighted for dance and frolc and promenade
The theatres and galleries Of art invited the
wealth and pomp and grandeur of the CITY to
rare entertainments. Scenes of riot and
wassall were mingled in every street: goddess
oy1S
Wlckedness came to the kings palace to do
their mightiest deeds of darkness
royal feast tonight at the kings palace!
Rushlng up to the gates are chariots uD-
hOlstered with precious cloths from Dedan I ,
and drawn by fire eyed horses from Togar-
mah that rear and neigh in the grasp of the
charloteers while thousand lords dismount
and women dressed in all the splendcrs of :
Syrian emerald, and the color blending of
agate, and the chasteness Of coral and the
somber glory of Syrian purple and the
prlncely enbroideries brought from afar by l
cameis across the desert, and by ships from
Iarshlsh across the sea. |
Open wide the gates and let the puests coma |
In The chamberlains and cup bearers are }
all ready. Hark to the rustic of the robes,
and to the carol Of the music! See the blaze
OF the Jewels! Lift the banners Fill the
cups. Clap the cymbals. Blow the trumpets S
Let the night CODY with song and dance and 1
ovation; and let the Babylonish tongue be c
pIalsled that will not say, ooh, King Bel
oudLLdI, I1F0 1OT0V0F!
All my friends, it was not anv common
banquet to which these great people came I
All parts of the earth had sent their richest
viands to that table. Brackets and chande- {
hers flashed their light upon tankards of a
FURNISHED gold. Fruits, ripe and luscious in Il
baskets of silver, entwined with leaves v
plucked from royal Conservatives. Vases S
lnlald with emerald and ridged with exouis- ?
tie traceries, filed with nuts that were v
thrashed from forests of distant lands. 7
W me brought from the royal watts foar0incr L
in the decanters and bubbling in the chaI- a
ces. TUFTS OF casSia and frankincenss S
waiting their sweetness from wall and table o
gorgeous banners unfolding in the breeze e
mat came through the opened window, be- p
Nltcned with the perfume of hanging gar
lens Fountains rising up from Enclosures t.
d IVORY IN Jets of crystal, to fall in clatter- II
ng ram OF diamonds and pearls. Statues of. W
lnShty men looking down from inches in the IL
val upon crowns and shields brought from Il
Subdued empires. Idols of wonderful work, -
standing on pedestals of precious stones. Il
hmor0derleS dropping about the windows "
ana wrapping pillars Of cedar and drifting D
On floor maid with ivory and agate. Music, j
nlnglng the thrum of harps and the clash -
II cymbalS. and the blast of trumDets in one ! d'
wave OF transport that went ripping along IL
he wall, ard breathing among the parlondS
md pouring down the corridors, and thrill sc
ng the souls of a thousand banqueters. 81
The signal is given, aud the lords anil /
adleS, the mighty men and women of the III
and, come around the table Pour ont the w
ylne Let foam and bubble kiss the rim h.
1olst every one his cup and drink to the pc
entlment: ooh, King Belshazzar, live forl Is
yer: 6eStarred headband and carcanet OF In
oyaI beauty gleam to the uplifted chalicesi So
IS again ana again and again they are emDI Ju
NJ. SRNr,o +bo TX TT 4