Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-07-07
REV. DR.. TALNAGH.
The Eminent Brooklyn Divins's Sun
day Sermon.
Subj fit: "Arrogance and Humility


the ancient temple blazed there. The noun
tain top was not originally large enough to
hold the temple, and so q wall 600 feet high
was erected, and the mountain was built out
into that wall
II was at that point that satan met Christ
and tried to persuade Him TO cast Himself
down the 600 feet. The nine gates OF the
temple flashed the light Of silver and gold
and Corinthian brass. which Corinthian brass
was mere precious stones melted and
mixed and crystallized. The temple itself
was not so very large a structure. but the
courts and the adjuncts Of the architecture
made II half a mile in circumference.
We stand and look upon that wondrous
structure. What's the matter? What
strange appearance in the temple? Is it fire?
Why, it seems as If il were n mantle all kin
died into fame. What's tho matter2 Why.
its the hour Of morning sacrifice and the
smoke on the altar rises and bursts out Of
the crevices and ont of the door and wreathes
tho mountain top with folds OF smoke
through which glitter precious stones
gathered and FURNISHED by royal mu-
niicence.
see two men mounting the steps of the
building. They go side by side they are
very unlike: no sympathy between them
the one the pharisee. proud arrogant, POM
pous he goes up the steps Of the building :
he seems by his manner to say CLEAR the
track Never before came up these steps
such goodness and conservation"
Beside him WAS the publican. bowed down.
seemingly. with a load on his heart. They
reach the Enclosure for worship in the midst
OF the temple. The pharisee goes close up
to the gate Of the holy Of holes He feels he
is worthytO stand there He SAYS practically:
81 am so holy | want TO 90 into the holy of
holes. Oh Lord | am o very good man /
an a remarkably good man. Why two days
in the week | eat absolutely nothing. / am
so good. I'm very generous in my conduct
toward the poor. l have no sympathy with
the common rabble; especially have / none
with this poor. miserable. commonplace.
wretched publican, who happened to como
up the stairs beside me-"
The publican went clear to the other side
Of the inclosure rs far away from the gate
OF the hoiyo holies As he could get, for he
felt unworthy TO stand near the sacred place
And the Bible says he stood afar of. Stand
ing on tho opposite side OF this inclosure
he bows his head. and rs orientials when
they have any trouble beat their breasts. so
he begins to pound his breast rs he cries
God be mercifu to me. sinner -
On was there ever a greater contrast? The
incense that waited that morning from the
priests censor was not so sweet as the pub
leans prayer floating into the opening
heavens. while the prayer Of the pharisee
died on his contemptuous lips and rolled
down into his arrogant heart. Worshiping
there. they join each other and 20 side by
side down the steps. the pharisee cross.
wretched. acrid saturnine-tho publican
with his face shining with the very joys Of
heaven, for Il tell you that this man went
down to his house justified rather than the
other"
Now. l put this pubicans prayer under
ANALYSIS, and | discovered in the first place
that he was persuaded Of his sinfulness. He
was an honest man he was a taxgatherer
he was an officer Of the government. The
pubicans were taXgatherers. and Cicero
says they were the adOrnmcnt Of the State
OF course they were somewhat unpopular
because people then did not like to pay their
taxes any better than people now like to pay
their taxes, and there were many who dis
liked them.
Still suppose this publican. this tax gath
crer, was an honorable man. He had an
Office Of trust there were many hard things
said about him, and yet. standing there in
that enclosure OF the temple amid the
demonstrations OfGod's holiness and power,
he cries out from the very depths OF his SOUL
God be mcrciful 10 me. a sinner ~ BY what
process shall prove that am q sinner BY
what process shall prove that you are a SIN
nery Shall ! ask you to weigh your motives
to scan your actions. 10 estimate your be-
hayiort ] will do nothing OF the kind.
will draw my argument rather from the plan
Of the work that Col has achieved for your
salvation.
You 90 down in storm To- the beach and
Won sce wrcckers put on their rough jackets
AMI lnunrh the lifeboat and then shoot tho
rockets 70 show that help is coming ont into
the breakers and you Immediately cry. a
shipwrcc And - hen / sec the Lord Jesus
Christ putting aside robc and crown and
launch ont on the tossing sea of human SUI
fering and satanic hate going ont into the
laundering surge of dsath, [ cry. - ship
wreck 80
know that our souls are dreadlully lost
by the work that God has done 20 save them.
Are you a sinner Suppo,a you had COM
mercial agent in Charleston ~ San Fran
cisco. or Chicago, and you were paying him
promptly his salary. and you found utaiter
awhile that notwithstanding he had drawn
the salary ne had given nlne-tcn,hs Ofal the
time to some other commercial establish
ment. Why your Indignation would know
no bounds. And yet that is just the way We
have treated the Lord.
He sent ms out into the world to serve
Him. ile has taken good care 81 US. JIG
has clothed Us. fife has sheltered Us. and He
has surrounded Us with 10000 beneiactions
and yet many Of u have given nine-tenths Of
our lives to the seriice of the world. the flesh
and the devil. Why my friend, the Bible is
full Of confessions. and do not find anybody
is pardoned until he has confessed.
What did David say? Il will confess my
;ransgressions unto the Lord What did
Isaiah say? Woe is me. because l am
man Of unclean lips What did Ezra say?
Our iniquities are increased over our head,
and our trespass is grown up into heaven.
And among the millions before the throne OF
God tonight not one got there until he con-
fessed. The coast Of eternal sorrow is strewn
with the wreck Of those who. not taking the
warning. drove with the cargo Of immortal
hope into the white tangled foam OF the
breakers.
Repent. the voice celestial cries,
- H. A.