The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-06-14
REV. DIR. TALMAGE.
THE BROOKLYN DIvISE'S SUM-
DAY SERMON.
Subject: "Thc Excited Governor"

Texr. "Pslix trembled anil answered, Go
| thy way for this time. When have n con-
veniont season I will call for thee. Acts
| xiv, 2j.
A city OF marble was Cnsarea-wharves OF
| marble. houses OF marble. temples OF mar
| bic. This being the ordinary architecture of
| the place. you mny imagine something ofthe
splendor OF Governor Felix's residence. In
| room OF that palace. floor tessellated, win
lows curtnined, ceiling frctted. the whols
scene nfliuent with ryrinn purple and stat
as and pictures and carvings, sat very
| lark complcxioncd man OF the name OF Fe-
4 Tx. and beside him woman OF extraordt-
/ nary beauty, whom he had stolen by break
/ ing up another domestic circle. She was
/ only eighteen years OF age. n princess by
| birth. and unwiitlngly waiting for her doom
| that OF being buried alive Ia the ashes and
scoriU Of Mount Vcsuvius, which In sudden
eruption one day put an end TO her abomi-
| nations.
We'll. one afternoon Drusilln seated in tho
I palace, weary with the magnificent stupidi-
| ties OF the place, says to Felix; "You have
n very distinguished prisoner. / believe, OF
the name Of Paul. Do you know he is ono
OF my countrymen2 should very much like
TO see him. aud | should very much like 20
hear him speak, for have heard so much
about his elouuencc. Besides that the other
room Of this palace and tho windows were
open. heard the applause that greeted the
| speech OF Lawyer Tertulus as he denounced
Paul. Now, very much wish l could hear
Paul speak. Won't YOU let me hear him
speaky" eyes" said Felix, "I will. / will
order him up now from the guardroom."
Clank, clank. comes a chain up the marble
stairway, and thero is n shuflii at the door,
and in comes Paul, n little old man, prema-
turely OIL through exposure. only sixty years
Of age, but looking rs though he were eighty.
He bows very courteously befors tho COVER
| no- and tho beautiful woman by his side.
| They say "Paul. we have heard a great de VI
| about your speaking. Give us now specl-
men OF your eloquence." oh. IL there ever
was "A chance for man TO show on, Paul
had n chance there! He might have har-
| lngucd them nbc ut Grecian art. about the
wonder al watcrworl,s he had seen at Corinih.
| about the AcropoliS by moonlight. about
prison life In Philippi, about what saw In
| rhcssnlonica," about the old mythologies.
but NO" paul said TO himself, II am now
on the way 10 martyrdom, and this man and
woman will soon be dead, and this In my
only opportunity TO talk TO them about tho
things Of eternity"
And lust thero and then there broke in
upon the scene II peal OF thunder II wns the
voice OF a Judgment day speaking through
tho words OF the decrepit apostle. As that
grand old missionary proceeded with his re-
marks the stoop begins TO go out OF his
shoulders. and he rises up, aud his counte-
nance Is illumined with the glories OF future
life, and his shackles rattle AMI grind rs he
lifts his iettered arm and with IL hurls upon
his abashed auditors the bolts OF Gods in
lignltion. Felix grew very white about the
lips. His heart bent unevenly. He put his
hand TO his brow as though 20 stop the
nuicknpss ana violence OF his thoughts. lie
nrew his rooc tighter about him, as under u
sudden chill. His eyes glare. and his knees
shake, and rs he clutches the side OF his
chair In very paroXysn OF terror he orders
the sheriff to take Paul back TO tho guard
room. Felix trembied and said CO thy way
Tor this time. when | have u convenient
scasoa, | will call for thee
4 young man came one night to our SER
vices, with pencil In hand. 10 carlcature the
whole scene ani make mirth OF those who
should express my the door his face very
.--.. tears ruunlng down his cheek, rs he
said. "Do you think there is any chancs for
moI" Felix trambled and SO may God grant
| II may be 80 with others,
propose TO gave you two or three reasons
why 1 think Felix sent Paul back TO the
guariroom and adjourned the whole subject
oi religion. The first reason was, he did no,
want 10 give up his sins. He looked around.
There was Dru-illa. He knew that when he
became Christian he must send her back 20
A22us, her lawful husband, and he said 10
himself, II will risk the destruction OF my
! immortal soul sooner than | will do that.
| How many there are now who cannot get "a
!. ! bc Christians because they will not abandon
their sins In vain all their prayers and all
their churchgo!ng. You cannot Keep these
darling sins an win heaven, aud now somt
Of you will have 70 decide between the wnt
cup and unlaw ul amusements AMI lusciy.'
Gus qualifications on the one hand and etci-
nal salvation on tho other
Drlilah shearrd the locks OF Samson S1.
. lomc danced Herot into the pit DrUSllI
. blocked up the way TO heaven for Felix. Ye
when present the subject now fear tha
some OF YOU will say ''Not quite yet. Dou'
be so precipitate in your demands. l havsr
few tickets Yet that have tou,c. l have
few engagements that must keep. l wan
| to stay u little longer IN the wllrl OF con
yiylallty--I few moro outlaws OF uncleal
laughter, a few moro steps on tho road tC
death, and then, sir. will listen TO wnat yoI
say. Go thy way Tor this time. When
have convenient season, l viii call 10
, | thee
Another reason why Felix sent Paul 20 tn,
Cuariroom aud adiougnel this subject wa
ho was 80 very Ousv. In ordinary times E
found the affairs ot state absorbing. bu
those were extraordinary times Tho who'll
land was ripe for insurrectlon. The Scarii
"a band OF assassins, were already prowlinI
around tho palace, and | suppose he thought
81 can't attend TO religion while / am 8
pressed by affairs OF state" II was busines
among other things that ruined his soul, an'
suppose there are thousands OF people whc
are not children OF God because they have 81
much business. II is business in the store
losses. gains, unfathful employees.
IL Is business in your law oiilce--sUb
ppnas, writs You have to write out, paper
you have TO file, arguments you have &
make II Is your medical profession. witt
its broken nights and the exhausted ankle
ties OF life hanging upon your treatment.
Is your real estate office, your business witt
landlords and tenants and the failure of mel
, 10 meet their obligations with you. Aye
with some of those who are here II is the AN
, noyance OF the kitchen, and the sitting room
and the parlor-the wearing economy oitry
ing TO meet large expenses with a small in
come. Ten thousand voices OF "business
business. business" drown the voice OF th
eternal Spirit, silencing the voice OF the ad
vancing Judgment day, overcoming the vol.
OF eternity, and they cannot hear they can
: not listen. They say. go thy way for thi
! time" Some OF you look upon your goods