National Baptist world., 1894-09-07
EVERLASTING REST.
DR.. Talmage Tells Where It May
Be Found.
The World the Kings Highway, Where All
Must BE Moving-Peace. Quiet and
Happiness at the End of
the Journey.

ing Life" the text being from Micah
Il. 10: Arise We and depart, for this is
not your rest.''
This was the drum-beat of prophet
who wanted to arouse his people from
their oppressed and sinful condition;
but it may just as properly be uttered
now as then. Bells, by long exposure
and much ringing, lose their clearness
of tone; but this rousing bell of the
gospel strikes in as clear tone as when
1t first rang out on the air.
As far as | can see, your great want
and mine is rest= From the time we
enter life, great many vexatiOns and
annoyance take after us. We may have
our holidays, and our seasons Of recrea-
tion and quiet, but where is the man
come to mid-life who has found entire
rest? The fact is that God did not
make this world to rest in. A ship
might as well go down off Cape
Hatteras to find smooth water as
a man in this world to find
quiet. From the way God has strewn
the thorns, and hung the clouds, and
sharpened the tusks; from the colds
smite us, and the pleurisies that stab
us, and the fevers that consume us,
know that He did not make this world
as place to lOiter in. God does every
thing successfully; and this world
would be very different world if it
were intended for us to lounge in. 1t
does right we'll for few hours. In
deed, it is magnificent! Nothing but
finite wisdom and goodness could have
mixed this beverage of water, Or hung
up these brackets of stars, or trained
these voices of rill, and bird, and ocean,
so that God has but to lift His hand
and the whole world breaks forth into
orchestra. But, after all, it is only the
splendors Of kings highway, over
which we are to march on to eternal
conquests.
You and / have seen men who tried
to rest here They builded themselves
great stores They gathered around
them the patronage of merchant
princes. The voice of their bid shook
the money markets. They had stock
in the most successful railroads, and in
"safety deposits great rolls Of govern
ment securities. They had emblazoned
carriages, high -mettled steeds, foot
men, places that confounded lords and
senators who sat at their table, tapes
try on which foated the richest de-
signs of foreign looms, splendor of
canvas on the wall, exquisiteness of
music rising among pedestals Of bronze,
and dropping, soft as light, on snow of
sculpture. Here let them rest. Put
back tine embroidered curtain, and
shake up the pillow of down.
Turn out the lights! 1t is II
o'clock at night. Let slumber
drop upon the eyelids and the air
float through the half opened lattice
drowsy with midsummer perfume.
Stand back, all care, anxiety and trou-
BILE! But no. they will not stand back.
They rattle the lattice. They look un-
der the canopy. With rough touch
they startle his pulse. They cry out
at 12 o'clock at night: Awake, man!
How can you sleep when things are so
uncertain? What about those stocks?
Harlz to the tap Of that fire bell; it is
your district! How if you should die
soon? Awake, man! Think of it!
Who will get your property when you
are gone? What will they do with it?
Wake up! Riches sometimes take
wings. How if you should get poor?
Wake up!' Rising on one elbow, the
man Of fortune looks out into the dark
ness of the room and wipes the damp
ness from his forehead, and says:
"Alas! For all this scene of wealth
and magnificence-no rest!'
Ipassed down a street of a city with
a merchant. He knew all the finest
houses on the street. He said: ''There
is something the matter in all these
houses. In that one it is conjugal in
felicity. In that one a dissipated son.
In that, a dissolute father. In that,
an idiot child. In that, the prospect of
bankruptcy" This worlds wealth
can give no permanent satisfaction.
This is not your rest.
You and I have seen men try in an
other direction. A man says: eff l
could only rise to such and such place
of renown; if | could gain that office;
if could only get the stand and have
my sentiments met with one good
round of hand-clapping applause;
if I could only write a book
that would live, or make
speech that would thrill, or do an
action that would resound!' The tide
turns in his favor. His name is on TO-
900 lips He is bowed to, and sought
after, and advanced. Men drink his
health at great dinners. At his fiery
words the multitudes huzza! From
galleries of beauty they throw gar
lands. From housetops, as he passes
in long procession, they shake out the
national standards. Here let him rest.
1t is IL o'clock at night On pillow
stuffed with nations praise let him lie
down. Hush! all disturbant voices. In
his dream let there be a hoisted throne,
and across it march a coronation.
Hush! Hush! ,"Wake up!' says a
rough voice. political sentiment is
changing. How if you should lose this
place of honor? Wake up! The
morning papers are to be full OF
denunciation. Harlen to the execra-
tions of those who once caressed
you. By tomorrow night there will
be multitudes sneering at the words
which last night you expected would