Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-11-04

Coming bat My People Know Not"
| BLooKLYN, N. Y, Oct. 80, 1s92.-The
flutter of bright colored leaves which
every wind blows from the trees in the
avenues around the Tabernacle,
reminded the thousands who entered
its doors this morning, that winter
was approaching. DR.. Talmage, with
his usual tact, turned the impression
to account in his sermon, which was
on the text, Jeremiah 81: "The stork
in the heaven knoweth her appointed
time; and the turtle, and the crane,
and the swallow observe the time of
their coming; but my people know not
the Judgment of the Lord"
When God would set fast beautiful
thought, he plants it in tree. When
he would put it ahoat, he fashions it
into fish. When he would have it
glide the air, he moulds it into bird.
My text speaks of four birds of beauti-
full instinct-the storll, of such strong
atfectation that it is allowed Familiarity
to come, in Holland and Germany,
and build its nest over the door
way; the sweet dispositioned
turtle-dove, mingling in color
white, and black. and brown, and
ashen, and chestnut; the crane, with
voice like the clang of trumpet; the
swallow, swift rs dart shot out of the
bow of heaven, falling, mounting,
Swimming, sailing-four birds started
/ by the prophet twenty-five centuries
ago, yet flying on through the ages,
with rousing truth under glossy wing
and in the clutch of stout claw. sup
pose it may have been this very season
of the year-autumn-and the prophet
out-of-doors, thinking of the impeni-
tence of the people of his day, hears a
great cry overhead.
If you were in the field to-day, in the
clump of trees at the corner of the
field, you would see a convention OF
birds noisy as the American Congress
the last night before adjournment, or
as.the English Parliament when some
unfortunate member proposes more
economy in the Queens household
convention of birds all talking at once,
moving and passing resolutions on the
subject of migration; some proposing
Togo tomorrow, some moving that
they go to Brazil. some to
Florida, some to the table-lands
of Mexico, but all unanimous in the
fact that they must go soon, for they
have marching orders from the Lord
written on the first white sheet of the
frost, and in the pictorial of the chang
ing leaves There is not belted king
fisher or a chaffinch, or a tre-crested
wren, or a plover, or a red-legged
partridge but expects to spend the
winter at the South, for the apart
ments have already been ordered fol
them in South America, or in Africa
and after thousands of miles of flight
they will stop in the very tree where
they spent last January. Farewell
bright plumage! Until spring weather
away Fly on, great band of heavenly
musicians! Strew the continents will
music, and whether from Northern
fields or Carolina swamps, or Brazilian
groves men see your wings or hear
your voice, may they bethink them
selves of the solemn words of the text
The stork in the heaven knoweth hel
appointed times; and the turtle and tn,
crane and the swallow observe tn,
time of their coming; but my people
know not the judgment of the Lord. ;
1t is good sign when you hear {
workman whistle. 1t is a better sigr
when you hear him hum a roundelay.
is a still better sign when you hear hin
1t. 81, r "
Wesley A violin chorded and strung
if something accidentally strike it
makes music, and l. suppose there Il
such a thing as having our hearts
SO attuned by divine grace, tina
even the rough collisions of lif,
will make a heavenly vibration. / d.
not believe that the power of Christian
song has yet been fully tried
1 believe that if you could roll tn,
'Old Hundred doxology through
Wall street, it would put an end to an,
financial distur bance! l believe tina
the discords, and the sorrows, and tn
sins of the world are to be swept on
by heaven-born hallelujahs. Some Oh,
asked Haydn, the celebrated musician
| 'NJ AN OhPCoNN ohSA NASSA
full music. Why" he said, II can
do otherwise. When l think of God
my soul is so full of joy that tn,
notes leap and dance from my pen.
/ wish we might all exult melodiousl,
before the Lord. With God for on
Father, and Christ for our Saviour, an,
heaven for our home, and angels TO
future companions, and eternity for
lifetime, we should strike all the note
of JOY. Going through the wilderness
n of this world, let us remember tina
' we are on the way to the summer,
cline of heaven, and from the migra
tory populations flying through thi
autumnal air learn always to keel
singing.
Children OF the heavenly King
AS ye journey, sweetly sing;
Sing your Savior's worthy praise,
Glorious In his works and ways.
> We are travelling home TO God.
In the way your fathers trod