Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-07-16


mage, who is now In Australia on his
round-the-world journey, has selected as
the subject for his sermon through the
press to-day, "Laug liter" the text
being taken from Psalm 126: .: Then
was our mouth filed with laughter"
and Psalm "a: He that stitch In
the heavens shall laugh"
Thirty-eight times does the Bible
make reference to this confirmation Of
the features and quick expulsion Of
breath which we call laughter. Some
times il is born OF the sunshine and
sometimes the midnight Sometimes
it stirs the sympathy Of angels and
sometimes the exclamation OF devils.
All healthy people laugh. Whether
IL pleases the Lord or displeases him;
that depends upon when we laugh and
at what we laugh. My theme to-day is
the laughter OF the Bible, namely;
Sarah's laugh, or that Of scepticism;
David's laugh, or that Of spiritual ex-
ultation; the fools laugh, or that sinful
merriment; Gods laugh, or that Of in
finite condemnation; heavens laugh, or
that OF eternal triumph.
scene: An Oriental tent; the occu-
pants, old Abraham aud Sarah, perhaps
wrinkled and decrepit. Their three
guests are three angels the Lord Al
mighty one OF them. In return for the
hospitality shown by the old people, God
promises Sarah that she shall become
the ancestress OF the Lord Jesus Christ.
Sarah laughs in the face Of God; she
does not believe it. She is affrighted at
what she has done. She denies IL. She
says: Il didn't laugh" Then God re-
tOrted with an emphasis that sllenced
audjsputatiou: But thou didS't Iaugh."
Ny friends, the laugh Of scept!ciSm, IN
all ages. IS only the echo OF Sarah's
laughter. God says be will accomplish
a thing; and men say IL cannot be done.
A great multitude laugh at the miracles.
They say they are contrary To the laws
of nature What is a law Of nature? IL
Is Gods way OF doing a thing. You
ordinarily cross river at one ferry.
Tomorrow YOU change FOR one day,
ard you go across another ferry. You
made the rule. Have you not the right
10 change o.? You ordinarily come In
az that door OF the church. suppose
that next sabbath you should come
in 80 the other door, 10 is a
habit YOU have. Have you
not a right TO change your habit? A law
fp Of a
ing things. II be makes a law, has be
not right 70 change IL aJany time he
wants TO change IL? Alas. for the folly
Of those who laughat God when be says:
Il will do a thing" they responding:
you can't do it. God says that the
Bible is true-it is all true. Bishop
COleDso laughs; Herbert Spencer laughs;
STUART Mil laughs; great German Uni
A great many OF Observation-Disclosures
with lonK rows of professors seated on
the fepce between Christianity and in
fidelity laugh softly. They say: 1--WE
didn't augh." That was Sarah's trick.
Gcd hunders from the heavens: "But
thou iidst laugh" The Garden Of Eden
was only fable. There never was any
ARK built; or IL IL was built, il was too
small TO have two OF every kind. The
D.ar of fire. by night was only the
Northern lights. The ten plaques OF
Egypt only brilliant specimen OF Jug
cry. The sea parted because the wind
blew violently great while from one
direction. The sun ana moon did not
put themselves out OF the way for
JOSHUA. Jacobs ladder was only hOri-
Eontal and picturesque clouds. The
destroying angel shifting the first born
in Egypt was only cholera infantum be-
come epidemic. The outlet of the
whale, by positive measurement too
small 20 sRallow a prophet. The story
OF the immaculate conception z shock
10 all decency The lame, the dumb,
the blind, the halt, cured by mere hui
man surgery. The resurrection OF
Christ'S friend, only beautiful tableau;
Christ, and Lazarus, and Mary, and
Martha acting their parts well. Ny
friends, there is not a doctrine or state
ment Of Gods Holy Word that has been
derded by the scepticSn OF the day. l
take up this book OF King James'S
translation. ] consider 10 a perfect BIZ
bic; but here are Sceptics who want it
torn 20 pieces. Aud now, with this Bi.
Ole in my hand, let me tear out all those
portions which the scepticism of this
demands shall be torn out. What shall
go first? We'll, saws someone in the
audience, take out all that about the
Creation, ADD about the first settlement
OF the world. Away goes Cen
esis. Now" says someone, take
out all that about the mi
racUlous guidance OF the chill
dren Of Isreal In the wilderness" Away
goes Exodus. "NOw," saws someone
else in the audience, there are things
Deuteronomy and Kings that are not
fiji 10 be read" Away go Deuteronomy
and the Kings Now, says someone,
THE Book OF Job is fable that ought
20 come out" Away goes the Book OF
JOB. Now" says someone, "thOSs
passages 10 the New Testament which
imply the divinity OF Jesus Christ ought
so come out" Away go the Evangel-
fsts. Now" says someone, 1.-The Book
of Reveiation-how prepoSterous. il
represents a man with the moon under
his feet, and sharp sword in his
hand" Away goes the Book Of Revela-
tiOn. Now there are a few pieces !
left. What shall we do with them? |
go" SAYS some man 10 the audience, Il |
DONE believe a word IN the Bidle, from |
one end 20 the other Well, IL is all |
gone. Now you have put out the last !
light for the nations. Now it is the I
pitch darkness OF eternal midnight !
How do you like t.?
The next laughter mentioned in tbs /
Bible is David's laughter, or the express |
sion Of spiritual exultatiOn. Then was /
our mouth filed with laughter" He /
got very much down sometimes; but /
there are other chapters where for four /
or FIVE times be calls upon the people TO /
praise and exul;. IL was not a mere /
twitch OF the lips; 10 was a GemonStra- |