Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1892-08-13
REV. DIR. TALMAGE.
The Eminent Brooklyn Dlvins's SUM-
day Sermon.
Subject: "The Glorious March"

TEXT: Fair as the moon, clear as the
hun and terrible as an army ,cith ban
,iers "-Solomon's Song vi, 10.
The fragrance of spikenard, the fash of
Jewels the fruitfulness of orchards, the
luxurlance OF gardens the beauty of Hesh-
bon fish pools, the dew of the night and the
splendor o. the morning-all contribute to
the richness of Solomon's style when he
comes to speak of the glory of the church.
In contrast with his euloyium of the church,
look at the denunciatory things that are
said in our day inregard to it If one stock.
holder becomes cheat, does that destroy the
whole company? If one soldier be coward,
does that condemn the whole army? And
yet there are many in this day so unphiloso-
phic, so illogical so dishonest and so unfair
as to denounce the entire church of Col be-
cause there are here and there bad men be-
longing to it.
There are those who say that the church
OF God Is not up to the spirit of the day Id
which we live: but have to tell you that,
Notwithstanding all the swift wheels and the
flying shuttles and the lightning communi-
cations, the world has never yet been able
to keep up with the church. As high as God
is above man, so hlgh is the church of God
higher than all human institutions. From
her lamp the best discoveries of the world
have bsen lighted The best OF our inventors
have believed in the Christian religion the
Futons, the Morses, the Whitneys, the
Perrys and the Livingstones. She has owned
the best of the telescopes and Leyden Jars,
and while intidelity ami atheism have gone
blindfolded among the most startling dis
coveries that were about to be developed the
earth, and the air, anu the sea have made
quick and magnificent responses to Christian
philosophers.
The world win not be up to the Church of
Christ until the day when all merchan-
disc has become honest merchandise,
and all governments have become free
governments, and all nations evangelical
nations, and the last deaf ear oil spiritual
death shall be broken open by the million
voiced shout of nations born in day. The
church that Nebuchadnezzar tried to burn
in the furnace, and Darius to tear to pieces
with the lions, and Lord Claverhouse TO cut
with the sword, has gone on, wading the
floods and enduring the fire, until the deep
est barbarism, and the fiercest cruelties,
and the blacklist superstitions have been
compelled to look to the east, crying, "Who
is she that looketh forth as the morning,
fair as the moon, clear as the sun and terri
bic as an army with banners"
Yet there are people who ara ashamed to
belong to the church of Christ, and if you
ask them whether they are in such associa-
tions 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
honored moment of my life, when in the old
country meeting house the minister OF
Christ announced my name as a follower of
the Lord
You who are floating about in the world,
seeking for better associations, why do you
not join yourself to some Of the churches?
An old sea captain was riding in the cars
toward Philadelphia, AMI a young man sat
down beside him. He said, young man,
where are you going?' 81 am going to Phila-
delphia to live,n replied the young man.
Have you letters of introduction" asked
the old captain. "Yes, " said the young man,
and he pulled some OF them out. "Well,"
said the cid sea captain, "Haven't you a
church certiicater 'Oh, yes" replied the
young man; II didn't suppose you would
captain, II want to see that. As soon as you
get to Philadelphia present it to some Chris
tan church. | am an old sailor, and have
been up and down in the world, and it's my
rule us soon es | get into port to fasten my
ship fore and aft 10 the wharf, although 1t
may cost little wharfage, rather than have
my ship out in the stream floating hither and
thlther with the tide"
Oh, men and women, by the tides of friv-
swept that way, seeking for associations and
for satisfactions for the immortal soul, come
into the church of Jesus Christ Lash fast
to her. She is the pillar and the ground of
truth. Ipropose to speak OF the tire efold
glory of the church as it is described in the
text:
First-"Fair as the moon.n Col, who
has determined that everything shall be
beautiful in its season, has not left the night
OH no mo rt1l nil vi
The stars are only set as gems in her tiara.
Sometimes, before the sun has gone down,
the moon mounts her throne but it is altar
nightfall that she sways her undlsputed
sceptre over island ami continent, river and
sea. Under her shining the plainest maple
leaves become shivering silver, the lakes
from shore to shore look like shining mir
rors and the ocean, under her glance, with
great tides come up painting upon the beach,
mingling, as it were, foam aud fire.
Under the wltchery of the moon the awful
sleeps lose their ruggeiness and the cnasms
their terror The poor man blesses God for
throwing so cheap light through the broken
window pane of his cabin, and to the SICK 1t
seems like a light from the other shore that
bounds this great deep OF human pain and
woe. Ii the sun be like song, full and loud
and roured forth from brazen instruments
that fill heaven and earth with harmony
The moon is plaintive AMI sad, standing be-
meath the throne of G J. sending up her soft,
sweet voice of praise, vail the stars listen
and the seal No mother ever more lovingly
WATCHED a sick cradle than this pale watcher
OF the sky bends over the weary, heartsck,
siumberng earth, singing to it a silvery
music, while 1t is rocked in the cradle of the
spheres.
Now, says my text "Who is she. fair as
the moon% Our answer is the church.
Like the moon, she is borrowed light Sns
gathers up the glory of Saviour's suffer-
lngs, a Saviour's death, Saviour's resurrec-
ton, Saviours ASCENSION and pours that
light mt palace and dungeon on suualid
heathenism aud elaborate skepticism. on
widows tears and martyrs robe of flame. on
weeping penitence and loud mouthed scorn
She Is the only institution to-day that
gives any light to our world Into her por-
tails the poor come and get the sympathy of
a once pillowless Christ, tn e bereaved come
and see the bottle in which God saves all our
tears, and the captives come, and on the
sharp corners of her affairs dash off their
chains, and the thirsty come and put their
cup under the Rock Of Ages" which pours
fortn from its smitten side living water,
sparkling water, crystalline water from
under the throne Of God and the Lamb.
Blessed the bell that calls her worshipers to
praye.. Blessed the water in which her
members are baptized. Blessed be the wine
that giows in her sacramental cups. Blessed
the songs on which her devotions travel up
and the angels of Col travel down.
As tie moon goes through the midst of thu
roaring storm clouds un6ushe1 ani IN.
harmed. AMI comes out calm AMI beautiful
on the other side, 50 tae church of Col has
gone through all the storms of this worlds
persecution an cor1e out uninjursd no
worse for the fact that Robespierre cursed
It, and Notaire carIcature1 it, and Tom
Paine sneere1 at it, and all the forces of
darkness have bombIrde1 it. Not like some
ba'eful comet shooting across the sky,
scattering terror AMI dismay among the
nations, but above tho long bowling night
OF the worlds wretcheluess the Christian
cdurca has made her mild way, Fair as
the moon"
| take a step further in my subject
clear as the sun" After a season of storm
or fog, how you are thrilled when the sun
comes out at noon1ayl The mists travel up
hill above hill, mountain above mountain,
until they are skylost The forests are full
Of chirP and buzz and song; honey makers
on the long, birds beak pounding the bark.
the chatter of the squirrel on the rail, sne
call of hawk out OF clear SKY makes you
thanktut for the sunshine which makes all
the world so busy and 50 glad. The same
sun winch In the morning kindled conh1.
grations among the castles of cloud scoops
down to paint the lilly white and ths butter.
cup yellow Gn1 the forgetmenot blus.
W hat can resist the sul2 Light for voy.
ager on the deep, light for shepherds guard.
ing the focks afed, light for the poor who
have no lamps to burn, light for the down
cast and the weary, light for aching eyes
aud burning brain and consuming captive,
llgnt for the smooth brow of childhood and
NJ ha at rio Ii1,l,N