The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-08-24
REV. DR.. TALMAGE.
THE BROOKLYN DIVINES sun
DAY SERMON.
Subject: "The Glorious March,"

sun and terrible as an army Uith ban
nerS."-Solomon's Song vi, 10.
The fragrance Of spikenard, the fash of
jewels, the fruitfulness Of orchards, the
Iuxurlance 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 Solomons style when he
comes to speak of the glory of the church.
In contrast with his eulogium Of the church,
look at the denunciatory things that are
said in our day in regard it. If one stock
holder becomes cheat, does that destroy the
whole company? If one soldier be acoward,
does that condemn the whole army? And
yet there are many in this day so unphiluso-
phic, so illogical, so dishonest and 80 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 in
which we I've; but have to tell you that,
notwithstanding all the swift wheels and the
flying shuttles and the lightning commune
cations, 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 tho world
have been lighted. The best Of our inventors
have believed in the Christian reiigion-ths
Fultons, the Morses, the Whitneys, the
Perrys and the Livingstones. She has owned
the best of the telescopes and Leyden jars,
and while inidelity and atheism have gone
blindfolded among the most startling dis
coveries 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 merchan-
disc has become honest merchandise,
and all governments have become free
governments and all nations evangellzed
nations, and the last deaf ear OF spiritual
death shall be broken open by the million
voiced shout Of nations born in day. The
church that Nebuchadnezzsr 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 hercest crueltles
and the blackest superstitions have been
compelled to look to the east, crying, Nv no
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 il you
ask them whether they ara in such asso:ia.
tions they say, Eyes. sometimes attend
the church" instead of realizing the fact
that there is no honor compared with the
honor Of being 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 follower OF
the Lord.
You VINO 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 Phila la1elphia, and a young man sat
down beside him. He said, Young man,
where are you going?' II am going to Pnila.
delphia to live" replied the young man.
'.Rave you letters Of introduction% asked
the old captain. Yes" said the young man.
and he pulled some OF them OUT. ""ell,"
said the old sea captain, Haven't you
church cer5ifcateT "Oh, yes" replied the
want to look at that" Yes" said the sea
captain. II want to see that. As soon as you
get to Philadelphia present it to some Chris
Gian church. am an old sailor, and have
been up and down in the world, and it's my
rule as soon ss get into port to fasten my
| ship fore and att to the wharf, although 1t
! may cost little wharfage, rather than nave
my ship out in the stream floating hither and
| th,ther with the tide"
Oh, men and women, by the tides Of friv.
olity and worldliness swept this way and
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. propose to speak Of the thresfold
! glory of the church as it is described IN the
| text:
First-"Fair as the moon" Col, who
has determined that everything shall be
beautiful in its season, has not left the night
| without charm. The moon rules thu 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 after
| nightfall that she sways her unplsputed
| sceptre over island and continent, river ana
sea. Under her shining the plalness maple
leaves become shivering silver, the laEes
| from shore to shore look like shining mir
rors, and the ocean, under her glance, with
great tides come up painting upon the oeacn,
| min2ling, as it were, foam aud f1re.
Under the witchery Of the moon the awful
! sleeps lose their ruSgedness and the chasms
| their terror. The poor man blesses God tor
throwing so cheap q light through the broken
window pane Of his cabin. and to the SICK II
seems like q light from the other shore tina!
| bounds this great deep OF human pain and
woe. If the sun be like song, full and loud
and poured forth from brazen instruments
that fill heaven and earth with harmony,
ine movn IS plaluuve auI sad, Srandlns be-
meath the throne of God sending up her soft
sweet voice Of praise, while the stars lister
and the sea: No mother ever more lovingly
watched a sicS cradle than this pale watcher
OF the sky bends over the weary, heartsick,
s!umbering earth, singing to 1t silvery
music, while it is rocked in the cradle Of the
| spheres.
| Now, says my text, "Who is she, fair a:
Lhe moony Our answer is the church
| Like the moon, she is borrowed light. Sne
gathers uo the glory of SaviouTs suffer-
| ings, Saviour's death, a Saviours resurrec
tion. a Saviour's ascension, and pours that
light op palace and dungeon. on squalid
heathenism and elaborate skepticism, -
widows tears and martyrs robe OF fame, on
| weeping penitence and loud mouthej scorn.
She is the only institution to-day that
| gives any light to our world. Into her por
tails thu poor come and get the sympathy OF
once pillowless Christ, th bereaved come
and see tho bottle in which God saves all our
tears. and the captives come, an1 on the
| sharp corners OF her altars dash oil theil
chains, and the thirsty come and put their
cup under the "Rock OF Ages" which pours
! forth 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 worshipsrs te
| prayer. Blessed the water in which her
members are baptizec. Blessed be the wine
that glowe in her sacramental cups. Blessed
the songs on which her devotions travel up
and the angels OF God travel down.
AS tie moon goes through the midst Of the
roaring storm clouds unaushet and un-
! harmed. and comes out calm and beautiful
on the other side, 80 the church OF Col IA.
gone through all the storms OF this world:
persecution and come ous uuinjured, nc
worse for the fact that Robe5pierre cursed