The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-02-17
AT THE TABERNACLE
DR.. TALMAGE ON THE BESTIAL PRO-
PENSITIES or A SINFUL NATURE.

Science and Archaeology Have Given Us
New Light on the Story of Nebuchad-
nezzar and shown Its Agreement with
History and Natural Law.
Brooklyn. Feb. with a mighty
claim the long meter doxology rose at the
beginning of the service The inestimable
value OF Christianity as an elevating and
snnobling influence on the nature of man
formed the subject of DIR. Talmage's ser
mon this morning. The brilliant and origi-
nal preacher chose as his text the humilia-
ton OF the Babylonish king. who. being
destitute of religion, sank to the level of
the brute Daniel iv. % "AlI this came
upon the King NebuchadneZzar"
Colonel RawlinSon- the oriental traveller,
says that the exhumed bricks, not only of
Babylon but of hundred towns in an area
of one hundred miles in length and thirty in
breadth are Inscribed with the name of
observation-disclosures. He was great warrior,
and at the glance Of his sword nations pros
Erated themselves. He was great king
and built city reservoir ninety miles in
circumference and one hundred and TWEEN
" feet deep. and constructed hanging
garden four hundred feet square and
seyenty-6ve feet nigh, some say to please
AmuQlA MS WIG. WHO nau DGcn OOAA
among the Mills. and others say to get
pleasure ground free from mosquitoes
which afflict the levels
1 think from MS character. the latter
reason may nave impelled MIN as much
as the former When ne conquered King
Xedekiah so as TO have no more trouble
with him, he put his eyes Out--a most bar
0arous way of incapacitating an enemy.
But Babylon WAS a great place. the houses
surrounded by gardens and the hOuSetops
we're connected with each other by bridges
and one day Nebnchadnezzar walked out
On those suspension bridges and showed,
perhaps TO royal visitor the vastness OF
his realm as the sun kindles the domes
with glistenings almost lnsutferable, and
the great streets thunder up their pomp
into the ear of the monarch. and armed
towers stand around adorned with spoils
Of conquered empires,
NebuchadnezzaT waves his hand above
the stupendous scene and exclaims, rs not
this great Babylon that / have built for
the house OF the kingdom by the might of
my power amt for the honor of my mai
esty?' Ia other words What great
man am Babylon was not anything IN
til 1 adorned IL. See those water works.
see those gardens see those forts. / did
ali this | shall never be forgotten. Why
my name Is on every brick In all those
walls. Just look at me. ! am more than
& man"
But in an instant all that spleDdor is
gone from his vision, for voice falls from
the heavens. saying 20 King Nebuchad
nezzar tothee it IL spoken the kingdom is
departed from thee, and they shall drive
thee from men and thy dwelling shall be
with the beasts of the field they shall
make thee to eat grass as oxen, and seven
times shall. pass over thee, until thou know
that the Most High ruleth in the kingdom
of men and giveth il TO whomsoever he
will" One hour from the time he made
tie boast he Is on his way TO the fields
maLiac. ana rushing into the forests he be-
comes one OF the beasts and Is after
awhile covered with eagles feathers for
projection from the cold. and his nails
grow TO look like birds claws. in order
ihat he may dig the earth for roots and
shmb the trees for nuts.
NEBUCHADNEZZAR LYCANTHROPE
The mental disaster that seized him was
what the Greeks called lycanthropy. by
which man InIagInes himself beast
and prefers 10 20 out and mingle with
bTutes. He who had been eating pOme-
granates and apricoJs OF of plates of gold
irlaId with amethyst and diamond, and
drinking the richest wines from the royal
Fats now browsing on grass and struck
bv the horn OF the OK AZ ne contends for
better tuft OF the paSturage, and instead
OF an orchestra on benches of ivory playing
The uationai airs now listening to the
moan and below and grunt OF the beasts.
This Is not hard for ms to believe, for the
forms OF dementia are lnnumerable.
few years ago. arriving in city on a
SUMNER afternoon. while waiting for my
engagement IN the evening, 1 sauntered
forth into what seemed TO be park in
front Of large public building. the use of
which / knew not. / met gentleman
with whom fell into delightful converse
tiOn. and he seemed intelligent on all sub
1ects. After awhile / said. Let sit
down on this bench and rest awhile and
enjoy the scene OF verdure and fountains"
NO" said he You SIT down, but | can
not am made of glass. and If should
sit down 1 would break 70 pieces"
Then ! saw that be was insane and be-
longed to the large building just behind
After such an interview as that / can
easily believe this account of my text
Here IS Nebuchadnezzar on all tours. He
once prided himself of being more than
man, and now be turns out less than a man.
The courtiers look out of the windows upon
him as he moves among the royal herds
aud cry a beastP Seven years pass
when suddenly his reason returns and he
comes back TO Babylon a humble worship
eT of the God OF heaven.
What must have been the excitement in
the royal court as this restored maniac
emperor walks into the palace. What a
time they had in cutting his nails and his
hair which had grown for seven years
without being interfered with by any
shears. What a scrubbing down must
have taken place in the imperial baths.
What a transformation necessary in order
that he who had been herding with camels
and goats and swine may be made fit to
associate with princes. What a change
from sly 70 throne room.
While walking from this Babylonian
palace down 10 the pasture field and from
the pasture field back to the palace the
first thing that impresses me is what an
lncongruOus thing it Is for a king to be
eating grass Ii Is good for cattle. but not
fit for man. And then for one to prefer it
20 royal table toward whose bounty the
orchards and paddOcks and streams and
vineyards IN all the earth might contribute
what an amazementl And yet the scene
is as common rs the daylight.
HOW HUMANITY IS DEGRADED.
When | see man of regal nature made
to rule in realms of thought. capable Of
all moral elevation. besotting his facul-
ties. attempting ont of low sensualities to
satisfy his immoral energies, coming
down or MS throne Of power into brutali-
ties. sacrificing his higher nature to his