The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1893-07-26
LIGHT In THE EVENING.
An Eloquent Discourse by Rev. T.
Dewitt Talmage, D. D.
Light in the Evening of Our Sorrows, Of
Old Age, of the Worlds History, OF
the Christians Life-A Password
at the Gate of Heaven.

He spoke as follows:
While might" in all languages, is
the symbol for gloom and suffering, it
is often really cheerful, bright and i'm
pressive. speak not of such nights as
come down with no star pouring light
from above, or silvered wave tossing
up light from beneath--murky, hurt
ling, portentous, but such as you often
see when the pomp and magnifcence
of Heaven turn out on night parade;
and it seems as though the song which
the morning stars began so long ago
were Ginning yet among the constella-
tons, and the sons of God were shout
ing for joy. Such nights the sailor
blesses from the forecastle, and the
trapper on the vast prairie, and the be-
lated traveller by the roadside, and the
soldier from the tent, earthly hosts
gazing upon heavenly, and shepherds
guarding their focks afeld, while
angel hands above them set the silver
bells a-ringing: "Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace, goodwill
TOWARD men,"
What solemn and glorious thing is
night in the Wilderness! Night among
the mountains! Night on the ocean!
Fragrant night among tropical groves!
Flashing night amid arctic seventies!
Calm night on Roman Campagna!
Awful night among the Cordilleras!
Glorious night mid sea after tempest!
Thank God for the night! The moon
and the stars which rule it are light
houses on the coast, toward which l
hope we are sailing, and blind mariners
are we if, with so many beaming,
burning, flaming glories to guide us,
we can not find our way into the har-
Dor. My text may well suggest that,
as the natural evening is often lumin-
Gus, SO it shall be light in the evening
of our sorrow-of old age-of the
worlds history-of the Christian life.
sat eventime it shall be light"
This prophecy will be fulfilled in the
evening of Christian sorrow. For a
long time it is broad daylight. The sun
rides high. Innumerable activities go
ahead with thousand feet, and work
with thousand arms, and the piclkax
struck mine, and the battery made a
discovery, and the investment yielded
its 20 per cent, and the book came to
twentieth edition. and the farm quad
rupled in value, and sudden fortune
hoisted to high position, and children
were praised, and friends without num-
Der swarmed into the family hive, and
prosperity sang in the music, and
stepped in the dance and glowed in the
wine, and ate at the banquet, and all
the gods of music, and ease, and graft
fication gathered around this Jupiter
holding in his hands so many thunder
bolts of power But every sun must
set, and the brightes t day must have
| it's twilight. Suddenly the sky 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 string all broke. Down went
the strong business firm! Away
went long established credit! Up
flew flock of calumnies! The
book would not sell. A patent
could not be secured for the inven-
ton. Stocks sank like lead. The in
surance company exploded. SLOW
much" says the sheriff, will you bid
for this piano." How much for this
library?" "How much for this family
picture" 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 hoof!
Did they lie down in the dust, weeping
wailing and gnashing their teeth.
When the rod of fatherly chastisement
struck them, did they strike back? Be
cause they found one bitter cup 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 gomez" Die
they stand by the grave of their dead
saying, There never will be resur
rection?"
Did they bemoan their thwartet
plans and say, THE stocks are down
would God | were dead?' Did the
night of their disaster come upon then
noonless, starless, dark and bowling
smothering and choking their life out
No! No! No! At eventime it wa:
light. The swift promises overlook
them. The eternal consultations
from their circuit about Gods throne
poured down an infinite luster. Under
their shining the pillows of troubl,
took on crests, and plumes of gold anC
Jasper, and amethyst and flame. AL
the trees of life rustled in the midsum
mer air of Gods love. The nigh
blooming assurances of Christ's sympa
thy filed all the atmosphere will
Heaven. The soul at every step SCENE,
to start IN from its feet bright-winget
joys, warbling heavenward. ut i
good that have been afflicted" erie
David. THE Lord gave, and the Lore
hath taken away" eNclaims job
"Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing,
says st. Paul. "And God shall wip
awayall tears from their eyes," ex
claims John, in apocalyptic vision. A
eventime it was light. Light from
the cross! Light from the promises
Light from the throne! Streaming
joyous, outgushing, everlasting light
The text shall also find fulfillment il
the time of old age. 1t is a gran,
thing to be young-to have the sigh
clear and the hearing acute, and tn
step elastic. and all our pulse march