Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-07-15
REV. DR.. 7ALMAGH.
Tha Eminent Brooklyn Divine's Sun.
day Sermon.
subject: nIigh. ii the Evening".

symbol for gloom and suffering, 1t is often
really cheerful. bright and impressive.
speak not of such nights as come down with
no star pouring light from above or silvered
wave tossing up light from beneath-nurky,
hurting. portenfous hut such as you often
see when the pomp and magnificence Of
heaven turn out on night parade, and it
seems as though the song which the morn
ing stars began so long ago were Ginning
yet among the consultations and the sons
Of God were shouting for Joy.
Such nights the sailor blesses from the
foreeastle, 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 foeks afield. while angel
hands above them set the silver bells airing
ing, GLORY to God in the highest and on
earth peace good will toward men"
What solemn and glorious thing is night
in the wilderness Night among the noun
tains ! Night on the ocean Fragrant night
among tropical groves Flashing night
amid arctic seventies Calm night on Roman
campagna! Awful night among the cor
dilleras Glorious night mid sea after a
tempest Thank God for the night The
moon and the stars which rule it are light
houses on the coast toward which, hope.
we are all sailing, and blind mariners are We
II with Sc many beaming; burning. flaming
gloties I'd guide us we cannot find our way
Into the harbor. Ny text may well suggest
that as the natural evening if often luminous
sd it shall be light in the evening of our sor-
tows-of old age-of the worlds history-of
the Christian life. i'At eyentime it shall be
light.
This prophecy will be fulfilled in the even
ing of Christian sorrow. For a long time it
is broad daylight. The sun rides high In
Vulnerable activities so ahead with thou
sand feet and work with a thousand arms,
and the pickax struck a mine, and the bat
terry made discovery, and the investment
yielded its 20 per cent. and the book came to
ifs 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
gloSed in the wine and ate at the banquet.
and all the gods of music and ease and graft
flcation gathered around this Jupiter hold
ing in his hands SO many thunderholts Of
power.
But every sun must set ard the brightest
day must have its twilight Suddenly the
ky was overcast The fountain dried UP.
The song hushed The wolf broke into the
family fold and carried off 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 firml Away went long established
credit Up flew a flock of ealumnies The
new book would not sell. patent could
not be secured for the invention. Stocks
sank like lead. The insurance company ex-
pioded. How much" says the sheriff,
twill YOU bid for this piano7n How much
for this library2n ''How much for this
family picture?p
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
they lie down in the dust weeping. waiing
and gnashing their teeth? When the rod OF
fatherly chastisement struck them, did they
strike back? Because they found one bitter cup
on the table of Gods supply; did they upset
the whole table2 Did they kneel down at
their empty money vault and say: 'All my
treasures are gomez" Did they stand by the
grave of their dead saying: There never
will be a resurrection
Did they bemoan their thwarted plans and
say, 1.-THE stocks are down-would God |
were dead?n Did the night of their disaster
come upon them moonless, starless. dark and
bowling, smothering and choking their lives
out? Mo- No! Mo- 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 The atmos-
phere with heaven. The soul at every step
seemed to start up from its feet bright
winged joys warbling heavenward.
=, II ~
cries David. "The Lord gave. and the Lord
hath taken away, " exclaims Job. Sorrow
full, yet 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 fulfllment in the
time OF old age. 1t is a grand thing to be
young to have the sight clear and the hear
ing acute and the step elastic and all our
pulses marching on to the drumming of
stout heart. Midlife and old age will be de-
MED many OF US, but youth--we all know
what that is Those wrinkles were not al
ways on your brow. That snow was not all
ways on your head. That brawny muscls
did not always lunch your arm. You have
hot always worn spectacles. Grave and dig
hifled 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.
But youth will not always last; 1t stays
only long enough to give US exuberant spir-
its, and broad shoulders for burden carry
ing, and an arm with which to battle our
way through difficulties. Lies path if you
fellow it long enough will come under frown-
ing crag and across trembling causeway
Blessed old age if you LET it come naturally.
You cannot hide it. You may try to cover
the wrinkles, but you cannot cover the
wrinkles If the time hes como for ecu to
be old. be not ashamed to be old. The
grandest things in all the universe are old
Old mountains. old rivers, old seas. old
stars and an old eternity. Then do not be
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 50. They say they
are 20, but they are 30 They say they are
So but they are 80 How some people will
How beautiful the old age
of Jacob leaning on the top of his staff, of
John Quincy Adams falling with the harness
on. of Washington Irving sitting pen in hand
amid the scenes himself had made classical,
Of John Angel James to the last proclaiming
the Gospel to the masses OF Birmingham, OF
Theodore Frelinghuysen down to feebleness
and emaciation devoting his illustrious
faculties to the kingdom of God. At even
tide it was light
See that you do honor to the aged.
philosopher stood at the corner OF the street
day after day saying to the passers by:
You will be an old man. You viii be an
old man" 'You will be an old woman You
will be an old woman. People thought he
was crazy. / 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
Trouble and care have marked il
full enough. Thrust no thorn into that old
heart. It will soon cease to beat. The eye
that moeketh its father and re.useth to obey
its mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick
it out. and the young eagles shall eat it. y
The bright morning and hot MONDAY OF
life have passed with many. 1t is o. clock
S O'Clock. o'clock The shadows fall
longer and thicker and faster. Seven o'clock
s O'Clock. The sun has dipped below the
horizon. The warmth has gone out of the
air, Nine O'Clock 10 O'Clock The heavy
dues are falling. The activities OF LIES day
sre all hushed. 1t is time to go TO bed.
Eleven O'Clock IL O'Clock The patriarch
sleeps the blessed sleep, the cool sleep, ths
long sleep. Heavens messengers of light
have kindled bonfires OF victory all over the
heavens. Al eveniiie it is light-light.
by text shall also find fuiillment in the
latter days of the church. Only few mis-
sionaries, few churches, few good men,
compared with the institutions Ieprous and
putrefied
1t Is early yet in the history Of everything
good. Civilization and Christianity are just
getting out of the cradle. The light OF
martyr stakes flashing all up and down the
sky is but the flaming of the morning, bu.
when the evening OF tho world shall
.a-ra <,ior, - f.1zir a<..r.,ar5rcr truth