Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-08-08
FAIR AS THE MOON
Clear as the Sua ard Terrible
as an Army
NTH BANNERS is THE CHURCH
d chTist-Talmags Ts. OF It's Wonder
fl March n HIS EiOqusnf Sermon :
TOD the Week.

LoNDos, Aug. The week, ike
,thss that have preceded IL since the
beginning Of Rev. DR.. Taimage's foreign
preaching tour, has been a very busy
one. indeed since July "A. when he
preached la the English and American
church IN Berlin, while en- route from
Russia To Scotland. DIR. Talmage can
scarcely be said 20 have had moments
leisure. Services have been held at
Edinburgh, Inverness, Aberdeen, Dun
dee. Glasgow. Newcastle and Sunder-
land The sermon for this week is en-
titled Tho Glorious March" the text
being from 5olomon's Song vi, 10, Fair
- the moon. clear - the sun and terrible
- an army with banners
The fragrance Of spikenard. the fash
of jewels. the fruitfulness Of orchards.
the luxnriance Of gardens. the beauty of
Heshbon ash pools, the dew Of the night
and the splendor of the morning-all
contribute 10 the richness of Solomon's
style when ne comes 10 speak OF the
glory OF the church In contrast with
has eaiogiam Of tho church, look at the
dennnclaJory things that are said IN our
day IN regard To it. Ii one stakeholder
become cheat, does that destroy the
whole company? II one soldier be a
coward. does that condemn the whole
army2 And yet there are many in this
day so unphilosophic, SO illogical. so
dishonest and so unfair as To denounce
the entire church Of God because there
are here and there bad men belonging
to it.
There are those who say that the
church Of God is not up TO the spirit of
the day in which We live, but have to
tell you that. notwithstanding all the
swift wheels and the flying shuttles and
the lightning communications, the world
has never yet been able to keep up with
the church. As high as God is above
man, so high is the church of God
higher than all human institutions.
From her lamp the best discoveries of
the world have been lighted. The best
OF our inventors have believed in the
Christian religion-the Fultons, the
Morses, the Whitneys, the Perrys and
the Livingstones. She has owned the
best of the telescopes and Leyden jars,
and while infidelity and atheism have
gone blindfolded among the most star
Ting discoveries that were about to be
developed the earth, and the air, and the
sea have made quick and magnificent
responses TO Christian philosophers.
The world will not be up to the church
Of Christ until the day when all mer-
chandise has become honest merchan-
disc. and all governments have become
free governments. and all nations evan
gelized nations. and the last deaf ear of
spiritual death shall be broken open by
tho million voiced shout Of nations born
In day. The church that Nebuchad-
nezzar tried to burn in the furnace, and
Darius to tear TO pieces with the lions, and
Lord Clayerhouse TO cut with the sword,
has gone on. wading the floods and en-
during the fire. until the deepest barbar-
ism. and the fercest cruelties, and the
BLACKLIST superstitions have been COM
PEELED to look to the east. crying, who
Is she that looketh forth as the morning,
fair as the moon. clear as the sun and
terrible Is an army with banners?"
ASHAMED OF HONOR.
Yet there are people who are ashamed
20 belong to the church Of Christ, and
II you ask them whether they are in
such associations they say, Eyes, some
times attend the church, instead of re
alizing the fact that there is no honor
compared with the honor Of being a
member Of the church ofGod. look.
back with Joy to the most honored mo
ment Of my life, when in the old couu-
try meeting house the minister Of Christ
announced my name as follower Of
the Lord.
You who are floating about in the
world. seeking for better associations.
why do You not join yourself 10 some of
the churches IN old sea captain WIS
riding ia the cars toward Philadelphia.
and n young man sat down beside him.
He said. Young man. where are you
goingT' Il am going TO Philadelphia
20 Iive." replied the young man. Have
you letters Of introductionY asked the
old captain YES" said the young man.
and he pulled some OF them out. well"
said the old sea captain, haven't you a
church certifcstes" "Oh. yes" replied
the young man: Il didn't suppose you
would want TO look at that" ayes"
said the sea captain. II want to see that
A. soon SIS you get to Philadelphia pre-
sent il to some Christian church. I am
an old sailor. and I have been mp and
down in the world. and it's my rule as
soon "a get into port 10 fasten my ship
fore and AFT To the wharf, although it
may cost little wharfage. rather than
have my ship ont in the stream floating
hither and thither with the tide
Oh. men and women. by the tides Of
frivohty ard ~urldliness swept this way
and swept that way. seeking for sssocis-
tons and for sstisfsctions for the inn
mortal soul. come into the church Of
Jesus Christ Lash fast 20 her. She il
the pillar and the ground of truth.
propose "a speak Of the threefold glory
Of the church IS IL Is described in the
text:
First-ssFair az the moon.- God. who