Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-06-28
THE EXCITED GOVERNOR.
Rev. DR.. Talmage Discourses About
Felix and Drusilla.
why Felix Sent Paul Back to the Guaro
Room and Adjourned the Subject of
keligion-The Dangers of Putting
the Matter Off-Now is the
Accepted Time.

|
course through the press last Sunday,
The Excited Governor, the text being
taken from Acts XIV. 25: Felix trem-
bled, and answered, Go thy way for
this time; when | nave a convenient
season, l will call for thee"
city of marble was Cesarea-
wharves of marble, houses of marble.
temples of marble. This being the or
binary architecture of the place, you
may imagine something of the splendor
of Gov. Felix's residence. In a
room of that palace, floor tesselated,
windows curtained ceiling fretted, the
whole scene atiuent with Tyrian pur-
pie, and statues, and pictures. and
carvings, sat very darll-complexioned
man by the name of Felix, and beside
him a woman of extraordinary beauty.
whom he had stolen by breaking up
another domestic cirel e. She was only
eighteen years of age, a princess by
birth, and unwittingly waiting for
her doom-that of being buried alive
in the ashes and scorie of Mount Nesu-
vius, which in sudden eruption, one
day, put an end to her denominations.
Wen, one afternoon, Drusilla. seated
in the palace, weary with the magnifi-
cent stupidities of the place, says to
Felix: You have very distinguished
prisoner, believe by the name of
Paul. DO you know he is one of my
countrymen? | should very much like
to see him, and | should very much
like to hear him speak, for | have heard
So 1mJph a hn41t hfl 81
that, the other day. when he was being
tried in another room of this palace
and the windows were open. heard the
applause that greeted the speech of
Lawyer Tertullus as he denounced
Paul. Now, | very much wish | could
hear Paul speak. Won't You let me
hear him speak?'' YES said Felix.
II will. | will order him up now from
the guard room Clank, clanll, comes
a chain up the marble stairway and
there is shuttle at the door. and in
comes Paul. little old man, prema-
turely OLD through exposure-only
sixty years of age, but looking as
though he We're eighty lie bows very
courteouslv before the governor and
the beautiful woman by his side, They
say: Paul. we have heard a great deal
about your speaking; give us now
specimen of your eloquence. Oh.
if there ever was a chance for man to
show Off Paul had chance there. He
might have harangued them about
irecian art. about the wonderful water
works he had seen at Corinth. about
the Aci opolis by moonlight. about
prison life in Philippi, about what
Saw in Thessalonica. about the old
mythologies: but mo- Paul said to
himself: II am now on the way to
martyrdom. and this man and woman
will soon be dead. and this is my only
opportunity to talk to them about the
things of eternity" And just there
and then there broke in upon the scene
a peal of thunder. II was the voice of
judgment day speaking through the
words of the decrepit apostle. As that
grand old missionary proceeded with
his remarks. the stoop begins to go
out of his shoulders. and he rises up.
and his countenance is illuminated with
the glories of future life, and his
shackles rattle and grind as he lifts his
fettered arm. and with it hurls upon
his abashed auditors the bolts of Gods
indignation. Felix grew very white
about the lips. His heart beat unevenly.
He put his hand to his brow, as though
to stop the quickness and violence of
his thoughts. He drew his robe tightly
around him. as under a sudden chill
His eyes glare and his knees shake,
and, as he clutches the side of his chair
in a paroxysm of terror. he orders the
sheriff to take Paul back to the guard
room. Felix trembled. and said: Go
thv way for this time; when | have a
convenient season, | will call for thee.
A young man came one night to our
services, with pencil in hand to carica-
ture the whole scene, and make mirth
If those who should express any anxi
ety about their souls; but met him at
he door. his face very white, tears
cunning down his cheeks, as he said
30 YOU think there Is any chance for
ne?r Felix trem5led and so may God
Grant IL may be so with Others.
1 propose to give you two or three
.aasons whv think Felix sent Paul
,ael to the guard room, and adjourned
his whole huDltIN VI A AAt III -
.eason was he did not want to give up
his sins He looked around; there was
Drusilla. He knew that when he be-
anne a Christian he must send her back |
To Azizus. her lawful husband, and he
said TO himself. Il will risk the de
,truction of my immortal soul, sooner
than I will do that How many there |
are now who cannot get to be Chris |
tians. because they will not abandon
their sins. In vain all their prayers
and all their church going. You can
not keep these darling sins and win
heaven: and now some Of you will have
To decide between the wine cup, and |
unlawful amusements. and lascivious |
Qualifications on the one hand, and |
eternal salvation on the other. Delilah /
sheared the locks of Samson; Salome /
danced Herod into the pit; Drusilla
blocked up the way to Heaven for /
ri vi when l,rpSent the subject /