The Penn's Grove record., 1893-07-14
REV. DR.. TALMAGR.
The Brooklyn Diyine's
Sunday Sermon.
Subject :-"Light in the Evening""

~ btHt" h"NS ~ "' W '4"
-Zechariah xiv, Z.
While might" in all FaSuagcs Is tho
symbol for gloom and suffering, it is ottn
really cheerful, bright and Impress yc. l
speak not of such nights as come Gown with
no star pouring light from above or silvered
wave tossing up light frem Overwhelmingly,
hurting. portentous-hut u as you often
see when the pom7 and 'magniflcence OF
heaven turn out OF night parade, and it
seems as thousn thu song which the morn
ing stars began so long g were Ginning
vet among the consultations and the SJns
of Iiod were shouting for JOY.
) Such nights the sailor blesses from the
forecast.e, 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 heal emily, and shepherds
guarding their flocks afield, while angel
hands above them set the silver bells airing
ing, "Gloryto 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
tainsi Night on the OCEAN Fragrant night
among tropical groves: Flashing night
annie arctic seventies ! Calm night on Roman
campagna! Awful night among the cor
dilleras! Glor:oy> night mid sea after Il
tempestl Thank Co for the night The
moon and the stars which rule 1t are light
houses on the coast toward which, l hope.
we are all sailing, and blind mariners are we
If with so many beaming. burning. flaming
glories to guide us we cannot find our way
into the harbor. My text may well suggest
that as the natural evening II often luminous
so it shall be light In the evening of our sor-
rows-ot old age-of the worlds history--of
the Christian life. sat eventime 1t shall be
light"
This prophecy will be fulfilled in the even
ing Of Christian sorrow. For a lone timei 1t
ir lrNoJ Iavlinhf Tho GIID riiaa hiDh In
Vulnerable activities go ahead with a thou
sand feet and work with a thousand arms,
and the pickax struck a mine, and the bat
terry made a discovery, and the investment
yielded its 20 per cent. and the book came to
its twentieth edition, and the farm quad
rupled in value, and the sudden fortune
hoisted to high position, and children were
praised, and friends without number swarmed
into the family hive, and prosperity sang in
the music and stepped in the dance and
glowed in the wine and ate ut the banquet,
and all the gods OF music AMI ease aud graft
fcation gathered around this Jupiter hold
ing in his hands so many thunderbolts OF
power.
Blu every sun must set. and the brightest
day must have its twilight. Suddenly tine
sky was overcast. The fountain dried up.
The song hushed. The wolf broke into the
family fold and carried of the best LIANT. A
deep howl of woe cam 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 hew IA flock OF calumnies! The
new book would not sell. A patent rould
not be secured for the invention. StorI5
sank like lead. The insurance company sx-
ploded. Glow much," says the sheriff.
twill you bid for this piano?' ''How mu;h
for this library9' How much for tbs
family picture?"
viii 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 un Ter
the wheel and trampled under the hooi? Did
they lie down in the dust weeping, waiins
and crashing their teeth? When the roi 4
fatherly chastisement struck them, did they
strike back? Because they founi one bitter cup
on the table of Gods supply, did they upset
the whole table? Did they kneel Town at
their empty money vault and say GAN my
treasures are gomez" Did they stand by the
grave of their dead saying: ''Tbere never
will be a resurrection?"
Did they bemoan their thwarted plans AMI
say, The stocks are down--would God 1
were deadP" Did the night OF their disaster
come upon them moonless, ~starless. dark and
bowling, smothering and choking their lives
out? No! mol No! At eventime 1t 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 crtsts and p!umcs of gold
and jaspar and amethyst and fiams. All the
trees of life rustied in the midsummer air OF
Gods love. The night blooming assurance
of Chr,st's sympathy filled all .he atmos-
phere with heaven. The soul at every step
seemed to start up from its feet bright
winged joys warbling heavenwari.
~ --- Al-A n 49,. lA.N 4 4 ~
cries David. 'The Lord gave, and the Lord
hath taken away" exclaims Job. Sorrow
full, yet always rejoicing" says st. Paul.
Sand Col shall wipe away all tears from
their eyes" ex,laims john in apocalyptic
vision. At eventime it was light. Light
from the crossi Right from the promises
Light from the throne! Streaming, joyous,
outgushing, everlasting light!
The text shall also find iuihllment in the
time of old age. 1t is a grand thing TO be
young to nave the sight clear and the hear
ing acute and the step elastic and all our
pulses marching on 10 the drumming OF a
stout heart. Miili:e and old age will be de-
MED many OF us, but youth-we all know
what that is. Ihose wrinkles were not al-
ways on your brow. That snow was not al
ways on your head. That brawny muscle
did not always bunch your arm. You have
not always worn sp~ectacles. Grave and dig
nifed as you now are, you once went coast
ing down the hillside, or threw off your hat
for the race, or sent the ball flying sky high.
Blu youth will not always last. 1t stays
only long enough to give US exuberRnt spir-
its, and broad shoulders for burden carry
ing, and an arm with which to battle our
way through difficulties. LIES path IL you
fellow it long enough will come under frown-
ing crag and across trembling causeway,
Blessed old age II you let 1t come naturally.
You cannot hide 1t. You may try to cover
A. l-A $50. n-n A@..-- All
wrinkles. II the time has come for you to
be old, be not ashamed to be old. The
grandest things In all the universe are Did.
Old mountains. old rivers, old seas, old
stars and-an old eternity. Then do not be
ashamed to be old unless you are older than
the mountains and older than the stars.
How men and women will lie! They say
they are 40, but they are 60. They say they
are 20, but they are 80. They say they are
60, but they are so. How some people will
lie! Glorious old age II found in the way of
righteousness How beautiful the old age
of Jacob, leaning on the top Of his stan, Of
John Quincy Adams falling with the harness
of Washington Irving sitting pen in hand
the scenes himself had made classical,
of John Angel James to the last proclainlng
the Gospel to tho masses of Birmingham, of
Theodore Frelinghuysen down to feebleness
and cancellation devoting his illustrious
faculties to the kingdom of God. At even
tide it was light
See that you do honor to the aged. A
philosopher stood at the corner OF the street
day after day saying to the passers by.
''You will be an old man. You will be an
old man." "You will be an old woman. You
will be an old woman" People thought he
was crazy. I do not think that he was,
Smooth the way for that mothers feet-they
have not many more steps to take. Steady
those tottering limbs-theY will soon be at
rest. Plow not up that face with any more
wrinkles. Trouble and care have marked it
full enough. Thrust no thorn into that old
heart. 1t will soon cease to beat. "The eye
that mocketh its father and refuseth to obey
its mother, the ravens OF the valley shall pick
it out, and the young eagles shall eat it,"
The bright morning and hot MONDAY OF
life have passed with many. 1t is 4 o'clock |
5 o'clocki 6 o'clock! The shadows fall
and thicker and faster. Seven o'clock |
8 o'clock. The sun has dipped below the
The warmth has gone out Of the
Nine o'clock 10 o'clock The heavy
iues are falling. The activities OF LIES day
are all hushed. 1t Is time to go to bed.
Eleven o'clock 70 o'clockl The patriarch
sleeps the blessed sleep, the cool sleep, the
Iong sleep. Heavens messengers OF light
kindled bonfires OF victory all over the