Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-08-12
REV. DIR. TALMAGB.
The Eminent Brooklyn Diyins's Sun
day Sermon.
Subject: "Ths nlot.ou. March :"

Il lEAis run 10 tNb NUM- -tfUf W ds
sun and terrible as an army 10Th ban
ners. "-Solomon's Song vi, TO-
The fragrance of spikenard the fash oil
| jewels, the fTuitfuluess OF orchards, the
hxuriance OF gardens, the beauty OF Hesh-
bon fish pools the dew Of the night and the
splendor Of the morning-all contribute TO
the richness Of Solonon's style when he
comes to speak OF the glory Of the church.
In contrast with his oyium OF the church,
ook at the denunciatory things that are
said in our day in regard TO it. IL one stock
holder becomes cheat does that destroy the
Whole company? IL one soldier be acowarj,
does that condemn the whole army Aud
yet there are many in this day 30 unphilVso-
phic, so illogical, so dishonest and so unfair
rs to denounce the entire church OF Col be-
cause there are here and there bad men be-
longing e. it.
There are those who say that the church
Of God is not up to he spirit of the day in
which we I've; but | have to tell you that,
Notwithstanding all the swift wheels aud the
flying shuttles and the lightning communi-
cations, the world has never yet been able
to keep up with the Church. As high as Col
is above man, so hlgh is phe church OF Col
higher than all hunan institutions. From
her lamp the best discoveries Of the world
nave been lightel. The best OF our inventors
nave tetieNel IN the 0nFlSIian Religion -tno
Fultons, the Morses, the Whitneys, tho
Perrys and the Livngstones. She has owned
he best of the telescopes and Lsyden jars,
and while infi1elity an | atheism have gone
blindfolded among tho most startling dis
coveries th9t were about 10 be developed the
earth, and the air. and the sea have made
quick and magnificent responses to Christian
philosophers
The world will not he ZIP to the Church Of
Christ until the day when all -nerchau-
disc has lecome honest merchandise,
and all governments have become fres
governments, and all nations evangelical
nations, and the last deaf ear OF spiritual
death shalt be broken open by the million
voiced shout OF nations born in a day. The
church that Nebuchodnezzsr tried to burn
IN the furnace, and Darius to tear to pieces.
with the lions, aud Lord Claverhouse to cut
with the sword, has gone on, wading the
hoo1s and enduring the fire, until the deep
est barbarism, and the fiercest cruelties,
and the blnckest superstitions have been
compelled to look to the east crying, "Who
8 she that looketh forth as the morning,
fair rs the moon, clear as the sun and terri
bic as an army with banners"
Yet there are people WHO are ashamed to
belong to the church OF Christ, aud il you
ask them whether they arc in such astoria.
lions they say, YES. | sometimes attend
the church." instead of realizing the fact
that there is no honor compared with the
honor Of being a member of the church Of
God. look back with joy to the most
houored moment Of my life, when in the old
country meeting houss thu minister OF
Christ announced my mama az follower OF
the Lord
You who are floating about in the world,
f,,- tv,r do r-att
not Join yourself to some Ut the churches
An old sea captain was riding in the cars
toward Philadelphia, an young man sat
down beside him. He slid Young man,
where are you going'' 81 am going to Pnila-
delphia 10 live" replied the young man.
"Havo you letters Of introduction" asked
the old captain. "Ies, said the young man,
and he pulc sons OF them out. well"
said the cid sea captain, Haven't you a
church cartifcatey "Oh, yes" repiel the
young man, II didn't suppose you would
want to look at that" "Yes, said the sea
captain, 81 want to sec that As soon as you
get to Philadelphia present 1t to some Chris
tian church. | AMI an old sailor and have
been up and down in the world, and it's my
rule as soon as / get INTO port to fasten my
ship fore and aft TO the wharf, although It
may cost little wharfage, rather than nave
my snip ont IN the stream uOatlnS nituei dui
thither with tho tide
Oh, men and women, by the tides Of friv-
olity and worldlness swept this way and
swept that way, seeking for associations and
for satisfactions for the immortal soul. como
into the church OF Jesus Christ. Lash fast
to her. She is the pillar and the ground OF
truth. propose to speak OF the thre fold
glory of the church as it is described in the
text:
First-"Fair as the moon COL WAC
has determined that everything snail BE-
beautiful in rs season. hns not left the night
without charm. The moon rules ths night.
The stars are only set as gems in her tiara.
Sometimes, before the sun has gone down,
the moon mounts her throne but 1t is attef
nigbtfall that she sways her un1isputel
sceptre over island IN continent, river an !
sea. Unler her shining the plainest mapl'
leaves become shivering silver, the laIe'
from shore to shore LOOK like shining mir
rors. and the ocean. under her glance, wit
great tides come mp painting upon the beach,
mingling, as it were, foam aud fire.
Under the wtchary OF the moon tue awfu
sfeeps lose their rugge lness and the chasm
their terror. The poor man blesses God fol
throwing so cheap light through the broke,
window pane Of his cabin. aud to the sicS u
seems like a light from the other shore th9l
hounds this great deep OF human pain ant
woe. II the sun be like a song, full and lou'
and noured forth from brazsn instru neHt
that fill heaven and earth vita harmony
the moon is plaintve and sad, standing he.
meath the throne Of God, sending up her soft,
sweet voice of praise. while the stars listen
and the sea No mother ever more lovingly
watched a sick cradle than this pale watcher
OF the sky bends over thu weary. helrtsick
s'umbering earth. singing to IL a silvery
music, while it is rocked in the cradle OF the
spheres
Now. says my text. "Who is she. fair as
the moony Our answer is the church.
Like the moon, she is a borrowed light Sac
gathers up the glory OF a Sayiours suffer
ingS a Saviour's death, a Saviours resurrec-
ton, Saviour's ascension, au1 pours that
light on palacs and dungeon, on squlli
heathenism and elaborate skepticism, on
widow tears and martyrs robe of fame, on
weeping penitence AMI loud mouthsI scorn.
She is the only institution to-day that
gives any light to our world Into her por-
tails the poor come AMI get the sympathy Of
a once pillowless Christ tn bereaved come
and see the bottle in which Col saves all our
tears and the captives come. AMI on the
sharp corners OF her affairs dash off their
chains, and thu thirsty come and put their
cup uuuci lue ItOCA " AStat MulCd pOllo
forth from its smitten side living whter
sparkling water, crystalline water from
under tho throne OF Col and the Lamb.
Blessed tho bell that calls her worshipers 70
prayer. Blessed thu water in which her
mombers are baptiz ID. BlesSei be the wine
that CLOVIS in her sacramental cups. Blessed
the songs on which her devotions travel up
and the angels Of God travel down.
: As tee moon goes through the midst Of th3
roaring storm clou1s unfushei AMI uu-
harmed AMI comes out calm AMI beautiful
on the other side, 50 tls church OF Col has
gone through all the storms OF this worlds
persecution AMI coma OUT uniniuro1, NJ
worse for the fact that RObe5pierrs cursst
it, and VOltaire clricatursi it. All Tom
Paine sneerel at it. and all tds forces OF
darkness have bombirdsi it. Not like some
baleful comet shooting across the sky.
scattering terror and disnay among tae
nations, but above tbs long howling night
OF the worlds wretcheiness the Christian
church has made her mild way. Fair as
the moon.'
/ take a step further in my subject
clear as ths sun" After a season ~ storm
or fog how you ara thrilled whsn this sun
comes out at noon1ay The mists travel ~
hill above hill, mountain ab)vs mou1tliu,
until they are sky lost. Ths forests ars full
of chirp AMI buzz and song; honey makers
on the long, birds beak poundins thu bark,
the chatter OF the sq1rrsl on the riil. the
call Of n hawk out OF clslr SKY makes you
thankful for the sunshine watch makes all
the world so busy aud 50 glad. The same