Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-07-14
REV. DR.. TALMAGH.
The Eminent Brooklyn Divine's Sun
day Sermon.
Subject, "Iight in the Evening"

symbol for gloom and suffering, 1t IS often
really cheerful, bright and impressive. l
speak not OF such nights as come down with
no star pouring light from above or sllVered
wave tossing up light from beneath-murSy'
hurting. portentous-but such as you often
see when the pomp and magniilcence. OF
heaven turn out on night parade, and II
seems as though the song which the morn
ing stars began so long ago were Ginning
vet among the consultations ana the sons
of God were shouting for JOY
Such nights the sailor blesses from the
forecastle and the trapper on the vast
prairie, and the belated traveller by the road
side. and the soldier from the tent. earthly
hosts gazing upon heavenly, and shepherds
guarding their focks afield, while anger
hands above them set the silver bells a-ring-
ing. "Glory to God in the highest and on
earth peace good will toward men.
What A solemn and glorious thing IS night
IN the wilderness Night among the noun
tainsl Night on the ocean Fragrant night
among tropical groves Flashing night
amid arctic seventies Calm night on Roman
eampaGna Awful night among the cor
dilleras Glorious night mid sea alter
tempest Thank God for the night Inc
moon and the stars which rule II are ilght-
houses on the coast toward which, nope,
we are all sailing, and blind mariners are we
if with so many beaming. burning naming
ylories to guide US we cannot ma our way
into the harbor. My text may well suggest
that as the natural evening II often luminous
so il shall be light in the evening OF our sor
rows-of old age-of the worlds nlstory[ol
the Christian life. AT eventime 1t shall be
light ouu
inc of Christian sorrow. For a long time il
Is broad daylight. The sun rides high. In
numerals activities so ahead with a thou
sand feet and work with thousand arms,
and the pickax struck a mine. and the bat
terry made discovery. and the investment
Welded its 20 per cent. and the book came to
lie twentieth edition. and the farm quad
rnnled in value. and the sudden fortune
hoisted 10 high position. and children were
nraised and friends without number swarmed
into the family hive. and prosperity sang IN
the music and stepped in the dance and
olowed in the wine and ate at the banquet,
and all the gods Of music and ease and graft
Acation gathered around this Jupiter hold
ing in his hands so many thunderboits OF
power. ,-,-...
But every sun must set. and the brightest
dav must have its twilight. Suddenly the
sty was overcast The fountain dried up.
The song bushed. The wolf broke into the
family fold and carried of the best lamb. A
deep howl Of woe came crashing down
through the Joyous symphonies. At one
rough twang OF the hand OF disaster the harp
strings all broke. Down went the strong
business firm Away went long established
credit Up flew flock of calumnies The
new book would not sell A patent could
not be secured for the invention. Stocks
sank like lead. The insurance company eX-
ploded. How much. says the sheriff.
Twill YOU bid for this piano. How much
for this librarv?" How much for this
family pictureY
Will the grace Of God hold one up in such
circumstances? What have become OF the
great multitude Of Gods children who have
been pounded Of the fail and crushed under
the wheel and trampled under the hoofl Did
they lie down in the dust weeping, vailing
and crashing their teeth? When the rod of
fatherly chastisement struck them, did they
strike back? Because they found one bittercup
on the table Of Gods supply did they upset
the whole table, Did they kneel down at
their empty money vault and say "All my
treasures are gone?' Did they stand by the
grave Of their dead saying There never
will be a resurrection
Did they bemoan their thwarted plans AMI
say. The stocks are down-would God
were deadY' Did the night of their disaster
come upon them moOnless starless. dark and
bowling. smothering and choking their lives
OUT No No No, At eventime it was
light. The swift promises overlook them.
The eternal consultations from the circuit
about Gods throne poured down an infinite
luster. Under their shining the pillows Of
trouble took on crests and plumes OF gold
and jaspar and amethyst and flame. All the
trees Of life rustled in the midsummer air Of
Gods love- The night blooming assurances
Of Christ's sympathy filed all -he atmos-
phere with heaven. The soul at every step
seemed 10 start up from its feet bright
winged Joys warbling heavenward.
1T is good that l have been afflicted.
cries David. Tine Lord gave. and the Lord
hath taken away" exclaims JOB. Sorrow
ful. vet always rejoicing says st. Paul.
And God shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes" exclaims John in apocalyptic
vision At eventime it was light. Light
from the cross Right from the promises
Light from the throne. Streaming. joyous,
outgushing. everlasting light
The text shall also find fulfillment in the
tine of old age. II is a grand thing 10 be
Young to have the sight clear and the hear
ne acute and the step elastic and all Oui
pulses marching on to the drumming OF
stout heart. Midlife and old age will be de-
MED many Of rs. but youth--we all know
what that j.. Those wrinkles were not a.
yavs Oh your brow That snow was not al
,avs on YOUR head. That brawny muscle
id not always bunch your arm. You have
of ALWAYS worn spectacles. Grave and Dig
fled as you now are, you once went coast
~ down the hillside or threw of your hat
Dr. the race. or sent the ball flying sky'high
But youth will not always last. 1t stays
MY long enough to give US exuberant spir-
5. and broad shoulders for burden carry
". and an arm with which TO battle our
-av through difficulties. Lies path II you
GLOW it long enough will come under iroWn-
lg crag and across trembling causeway'
lessed old age if you let it come naturally.
on cannot hide it. You may try to cover
ne wrinkles, but YOU cannot cover the
-rinkles. If the time has come for you to
e old. be not ashamed TO be old. The
randest things in all the universe are old.
Id mountains. old rivers, old seas, old
tars and an old eternity. Then do not be
shamed to be old unless you are older than
he mountains and older than the stars.
How men and women will lie They say
1ev are 40. but they are so. They say they
re 20. but they are 80. They say they are
o. but they are so. How some people will
e Glorious old age II found IN the way OF
How beautiful the old ago
{ Jacob. leaning on the top OF his staff, OF
ohm Quincy Adams falling with the harness
n. OF Washington Irving sitting pen in hand
mid the scenes himself had made classical,
I John Angel James to the Inst proclaiming
he Gospel to the masses Of Birmingham, Of
'beodore Frelinghuysen down to feebleness
nd emaciation devoting his illustriOu5
aculties to the kingdom Of God. AT even
de il was light
See that you do honor to the aged. 4
Philosopher stood at the corner Of the street
av after day saying to the passers by:
You will be an old man. You will be an
Id man" "You will be an old woman. You
ill be an old woman" People thought he
ras crazy. / do not think that he was
mooth the way for that mothers feet-they
ave not many more steps to take. Steady
hose tottering limbs-theY will soon be at
est. Plow not up that face with any more
Yrinkles. Trouble and care have marked it
I'LL enough. Thrust no thorn into that old
cart. II will soon cease to beat "The eye
hat mocketh its father and refuseth to obey
& Al. H.. -. l.