Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-06-22
REV. DR.. TALMAGE
The Eminent Brooklyn DiVine'S Sun
day Sermon.
Subject: "The Excited Governor"


BILE. This being the ordinary architecture OIL
the place. YOU may imagine something ottne
eplendor OF Governor Felix's residence LII
a room OF that palace, floor tessellated, WIN
,dows eurtained, ceiling fretted. the "hoie
scene afluant with Tyrian purple and stat
.ues and pictures and carvings, sat q very
dark complexioned man OF tho name OF re-
lix. and beside him woman OF extraorG'-
nary beauty, whom he had stolen oy oreaN-
ing M another domestic circle. She was
only eighteen years Of age. princess by
birth. and unwittngly waiting for her doom
that OF being buried alive in the asnes anu
scorjn of Mount Vesuvius, which in sudden
eruption one day put an end 10 her aoomi-
nations.
VOL. ono afternoon Drusilla, seated in the
nalace weary with the magnificent stupldi-
ties OF the place, says to Felix: You nave
a very distinguished prisoner, L believe, OF
the name OF Paul. Do you know ne IS one
of my couutrymen? Ishouid very mucn IKE
TO see him. and should very much Ike 10
hear him speak, for have heard so much
about his elouuencc. Besides that the other
day. when he was being tried in anotner
room of this palace and the windows were
omen. heard the applause that greeted the
sneech Of LAWYER Tertullus as he denounced
Paul. Now, 1 very much wish L could near
Paul speak Won't you let me near MN IN
speak?" eyes" said Felix, 81 will. VIII
order him up now from the guardroom;
Clank, clank, comes chain up the marble
stairway. and there is shuttle ut the door,
and in comes Paul, a little old man, prema
iurely old through exposure, only sixty years
of age. but looking as though he were eighty
He bows very courteously before the COVER
nor and the beautiful woman by his slde;
They say "Paul. we have heard great deol
about your speaking. Give us now spscl-
49, nx-nP
men of your eloquence." Oh, II there ever
was a chance for man to show on, raul
had a chance there! He might have har-
angued them about Grecian art. about the
wonderful waterworks he had seen at Corlnth.
about the Acropois by moonlight. about
Yrson life in Philippi, about "what saw IN
Lhessalonica, about the old mythologles,
but ''Nor Paul said to himself, IL am now
on the way 10 martyrdom, and this man ana
woman will soon be dead, and this is my
only opportunity to talk 10 tnem ABOUT LUG
things Of eternity"
And lust there and then there broke in
upon the scene peal of thunder. 1t was the
voice of a judgment day speaking through
the words OF the decrepit apostle. AS that
grand old missionary proceeded with his re-
marks the stoop begins TO go out OF MS
shoulders, and he rises up, aud his counte-
nance is illumined with the glOries OF afuture
life. and his shackles rattle and grind as ne
lifts his fettered arm and with 1t hurts upon
his abashed auditors the bolts OF Gods In
Alienation. Felix grew very wtgjte about the
Inns. His heart beat unevenly He put his
hand to his brow as though TO stop the
ouickness and violence OF his thoughts. lie
drew his robe tighter about him, as under Il
sudden chill His eyes glare, and MS Knees
shake, and as he clutches the SIDE OF MS
chair in a very paroxysn OF terror ne orders
the sheriff to take Paul back to the guard
room. Felix trembled and said Go thy way
for this time. When L have convenient
season, will call for thee.
A young man came one night to our ser
vices, with pencil in hand. TO caricature Tue
whole scene and make mirth OF those VINO
should express any anxiety about their souls,
hut I met him at the door, his face very
white. tears running down his cheek, rs he
said. do YOU think there Is any chance lot
meY' Felix trembled, and so may Goa gram
it may be so with others.
Tnropose to give you two or three reasons
whv think Felix sent Paul back to the
guardroom and adjourned the whole suolecl
of religion. The first reason was, ne ala no.
want TO give I'D his sins. He looked around
There was Drusilla. He knew that when hi
became a Christian he must send her back &c
Azzjus. her lawful husband, and he said K
himself. 81 will risk the destruction OF my
immortal soul sooner than l will do that.
How many there are now who cannot get II
he Christians because they will not abandon
their sins In vain all their prayers and al
their churchgoing. You cannot keep these
darling sins and win heaven, and now sons
of Won gyill have to decide between the wine
cup and unlawful amusements and lascrVt
Gus qualifications on the one hand ana eter
nal salvation on the other.
Dalilah sheared the locks OF Samson Sa
lone danced Herod into the pit DruSlll
blocked I'D the way to heaven for Felix. Ye
when I present the subject now fear tina
some of YOU will say mot quite yet. Don
be so precipitate in your demands. nave
few tickets yet that have to use. L nave
few cnyagements that must keep. / wan
to STAY a little longer in the whirl OF con
VITALITY few more outlaws oil unclea
laughter, few more steps on the ROAD t
death. and then, sir will listen to what yo
say. Go thy way Tor this time. When
have a convenient season, l will call 10
thee"
Another reason why Felix sent Paul to tn
ruardroom and adjourned this subject wa
ne was 50 very buy. In ordinary times d
Yound the affairs OF state absorbing, br
those were extraordinary times. The wnol
land was ripe for insurrection. Inc Slcarl
q band of assassins, were already proWlln
around the palace, and suppose he though
messed by affairs Of state" 1t was bushes
among other things that ruined his soul, an
Isuppose there are thousands OF people wn
are not children of God because they nave
much business II is business in the store
losses, gains. unfaithful employees.
II is business in your law off1ce-sut
penas, writs you have to write out, paper
you have to file, arguments you nave
make. It is your medical procession, Wit
- fbA avn ct nH "a 10
ties Of life hanging upon your treatment.
ia YOUR real estate office, your business wit
landlords and tenants and the failure OF me
to meet their Obligations with you. Aye
with some Of those who are here 1t Is tho an
noyance of the kitchen, andthe sitting room
and the parlor-the wearing economy oftry
ing to meet large expenses with small III
come Ten thousand voices OF 'bus1nes'
business. business" drown the voice OF IN
eternal Spirit, silencing the voice OF the az
vancing Judgment day. overcoming the voic
of eternity. and they cannot hear they car
not listen. They say. $50 thy way for thl
time" Some of you look upon your goods
look upon your profession, you look upo
your memorandum books, and you see tn
demands that are made this very week upo
your time and your patience and you
money, and while am entreating you abou
-FOUR soul and the danger OF procrastinatto
you say: go thy way for this time. Whe
have convenient season, will call 70
thee"
Oh, Felix, why be bothered about the a
fairs of this world 80 much more than aboI
the affairs of eternity? Do you not kno
that when death comes you will have to stc
business, though it be in the most exactin
period of it-between the payment OF II
money and the taking Of the receipt? III
moment he comes you will have to go. Deaf
waits for no man, however high, howev'