Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-01-30
REV. DR.. TALMAGE.
The Eminent BROOKLYN Divme'5 SUI
day Sermon.
subject; awonaers of Babylon"

TEXT: In that night tCdS Belshdzzdr,
The king Of the ChaldcanS, 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 each side Of the square city. Be
tween every two gates great tower sprang
up into the heavens. From each OF the twen-
ty-five yates on either side a 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
shrubtery. 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,
and under which tunnel ran. To keep the
river from overlooking the city in time OF
freshet, a great lake was arranged to catch
the surplus, in which the water was kept as
in a reservoir until times OF drought, when
II was sent streaming down over the thirsty
land A palace stood at each end of the
Euphrates bridge; one palace a mile and
three-quarters in compass, and the other
palace seven and half miles in circumfer-
ence. The wife of Nebuchadnezzar, having
been brought UP among the mountains Of
Media, could not stand it in this fat country
OF Babylon. and 50 to please her Nebuchad-
nezzar had a mountain four Hundred feet
high built in the midst of the city
This mountain was surrounded by ter
races for the support of which great arches
were lifted. On the top of these arches fat
stones were laid; then layer Of reeds and
bitument 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 10 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
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 the
temple of Beus OAe of its towers was one
eighth of a mile high, and on tue top Of it an
observatory, which gave the astronomers
great advantage, as. being at so great a
height, one coul1 easily talk with the stars.
This temple was full OF cup and statues and
censers, all OF gold One image weighed a
thousand BahyloniSh talents, which would
be equal to fifty-two million dollars All this
by day but now night was about to come
down on Babylon. The shadows Of her 80
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 and ghttering, opened
and SHUT like doors of hame. The hanging
gardens of Babylon. wet with the heavy
dew, began to pour from starlit flowers and
dripping leaf a fragrance for many miles
around The streets and squares were
lighted for dance and frOhc am promenade.
The theatres AMI galleries OF art invited the
wealth and pomp and grandeur of the city to
rare entertainments. Scenes OF riot and
wassail were mingled in every street; goddess
mirth. and Outrages excess. and splendid
wicke mess came TO the kings palace to do
their mightiest deeds Of darkness.
royal feast tonight at the kings palace
Rushing up to the gates are chariots, up
holstered with precious cloths from Dedan
and drawn by fire eyed horses from 1ogar-
NAH. that rear and neigh in the grasp Of the
characters, while thousand lorIs dismOuut,
and womeu dressed in all the splcndors Of
Syrian emerald, and the color blending Of
agate. and the chasteness Of coral, and the
somber glory of Syrian purple, and the
prince.y cmbroideries brought from atar by
came's across the desert, and by ships from
TarShish across the sea.
Open wide the gates and let the guests come
in. The chamberlaius and cup bearer; are
all ready. Hark 20 the rustic of the robes,
and to the carol Of the music! See the blaze
Of the Jewels Lift the banners. FIJI the
cups. Clap the cymbals. Blow the trumpets.
Let the night go by with song and dance AMI
ovation: and let the Babyionish tongue be
pasied that will not say, On. 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 ch6n1e-
liers flashed their light upon tankards OF
FURNISHED gold Fruits ripe and lusciousin
baskets Of silver, entwined with leaves,
pucked from royal Conservatives. Vases,
inlaid with emerald and rilged with exquis-
tie traceries. filed with mats tlat were
thrashed from forests Of distant lands.
Wine brought from the royal watts, ioamins
in the decanters and bubbling in the chal-
ices Tufts Of cassia AMI trankincenss
waiting their sweetness from wall and table.
Gorgeous banners unfolding in the breeze
that came through the opened window, be-
witched with the perfume OF hanging gar
dens Fountains rising up from Enclosures
OF ivory in Jets of crystal, to fall In clatiei'-
ing rain OF diamonds and pearls Statues OF
mighty men looking down from inches III the
wall upon crowns and slields brought from
-. ! fIl.le of uropnarfuI tyOrLs
standing on pedestals of precious stones.
Embroderies dropping about the windows
and wrapping pillars Of cedar, and drifting
on floor inlaid with ivory and agate Music,
mingling the thrum Of harps, and'the clash
of cvmbals and the blast Of trumDets in one
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 and
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: ooh, King Belshazzar live for
everm Bestarred headband and carcanet Of
royal beauty CLEAN to the uplifted chalices,
as again and again and again they are emp
tied. Away with care from the palacel Tear
ROYAL dignity to tatters Pour out more wine J..
Give us more light, wilder music, sweeter
perfume. Lord shouts to lord. caDtain Ogles
to captain Goblets clash, decanters rattle.
There comes in the vile song, and the drunken
hiccough, and the slavering lip, and the GUT
faw Of idiotic laughter, bursting from the
lips of princes flushed, reeing, bloodshot,
while mingling with it all hear; 'Huzza
huzza for great Belshazzar
What is that on the plastering OF the wall?
Is it a spiritg Is it phantom? Is 1t Godz
Out of the black sleeve of the darkness
finger Of fiery terror trembles through the
rir and comes to the wall circling about
ds though it would write, and then, with
sharp of flame, engravss on the plasterlng
the doom of the kim. The music stops The
goblet falls from the nervelsss grasp. Thers
Is q thrill There is a start. There Is
thousand voiced shrek OF horror. Let Daniel
be brought in tOre&d that writing, He comes
in. He reads il, 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. 1 hear the feet of the cOnquerors ON
the palace stairs. Mass acre rushed in with
q thousand cleaning knives Death bursts
upon the scene, and ] smut the door of that
bandueting hall, for / do not want to look.
There Is nothing there but torn banners,
and broken wreaths and the slush of upset
tankards and the boo Of murdered women
and the kicked AMI tum6led carcass of a
dead king. For ''in that night was Bel
shazzar, the king Of the Chaldeans slain"
| 90 on TO learn that when God writes any