The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-07-20
LAUGHTER.
The Subject of the Latest Sermon
by DR.. Talmage.
The Laugh of Skepticism and of Spiritual
Exultation-God's Laugh of Condem-
nation and Heavens Laugh
of Triumph.

Dr. 1almage, who is IN Australia on
his round-the-world trip, selected for
his latest sermon through the press the
subject of Laughter" the text being
taken from Psalm cxxvi. g: ''Then was
our mouth filed with laughter" and
Psalm ii. 4: HE that sitteth in the
heavens shall laugh" Following is
the sermon:
Thirty-eight times does the Bible
make reference to this CONFORMATION
of the features and quick expulsion of
breath which we call laughter. Some
times it is born of the sunshine and
sometimes the midnight. Sometimes
it stirs the sympathies of angels and
sometimes the ordinations of devils.
All healthy people laugh. Whether it
pleases the Lord or displeases Him;
that depends upon when we laugh.
My theme to-day is the laughter of the
Bible, namely: Sarah's laugh, or that
of skepticism; David's laugh, or that of
spiritual exultation; the FOOLS laugh,
or that of sinful merriment; Gods
laugh, or that of infinite condemna-
ton; Heavens laugh, or that of eternal
triumph.
Scene: An Oriental tent; the occu-
pants, old Abraham and Sarah, per-
haps wrinkled and decrepit. Their
three guests are three angels-the
Lord Almighty one of them. In re-
turn 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 it. She says: 81 didn't
laugh" Then God retorted with
an emphasis that silenced all
disputation: "But thou didst
laugh" My friends, the laugh of
skepticism in all ages is only the echo
of Sarah's laughter. God says He will
accomplish a thing and men say it cam
not be done. A great multitude laugh
at the miracles. They say they are
contrary to the laws of nature. What
is law of nature? 1t is Gods way of
doing a thing. You ordinarily cross a
river at one ferry. Tomorrow you
change for one day, and you GO across
another ferry. You make the rule.
Have you not the right to change it?
You ordinarily come in at that door of
the church. Suppose that next Sab
bath you should come in at the other
door? 1t is habit you have. Have
you not a right to change your habit?
A law of nature is God S habit-His way
of doing things. If He makes the
law, has he not right to change it at
any time he wants to change it? Alas!
for the folly of those who laugh at
God when He says: Il will do thing"
they responding: "YOu can't do it. :"
God says that the Bible is true-it is all
true. Bishop Colenso laughs; Herbert
Spencer laughs; Stuart Mill laughs;
great German universities laugh; Har-
ward laughs-softly. A great many of
the learned institutions with long rows
of professors seated on the fence be-
tween Christianity and infidelity laugh
softly. They say: "We didn't laugh"
That was Sarah's trick. God thunders
from the heavens: But thou didst
laugh" The Garden of Eden was only
fable. There never was an ark built;
or if it was built, it was too small
to have two of every kind. The
pillar of fire by night was only the
northern lights. The ten plaques of
Egypt only brilliant specimen of Jug
glery. The sea parted, because the
wind blew violently great while
from one direction. The sun and moon
did not put themselves out of the way
for Joshua. Jacobs ladder was only
horizontal and picturesque clouds. The
destroying angel shifting the first
born in Egypt was only cholera in
fantum become epidemic. The gullet
of the whale, by positive measurement,
too small to swallow prophet. The
story of the immaculate conception
shock of all decency. The lame, the
dumb, the blind, the halt, cured by
mere human surgery. The resur-
rection of Christ's friend only
beautiful tableaux; Christ and
Lazarus and Mary and Martha
acting their parts well. My friends,
there is not doctrine or statement of
Gods holy word that has not been de-
rided by the skepticism of the day. l
take up the book of King James trans
lation. / consider it perfect Bible;
but here are skeptics who want it tore
to pieces. And now, with this Bible in
my hand, let me tear out all those por-
tions which the skepticism of this day
demands shall be torn out. What shall
go first? WELL" says some one in the
audience, ''take out all that about the
creation, and the first settlement of the
world" Away goes Genesis. Now"
says some one, take out all that about
the miraculous guidance of the chill
dren of Israel in the wilderness"
Away goes Exodus. Now" says
some one else in the audience,
''there are things in Deuteronomy
and Kings that are not fit to
be read" Away go Deuteronomy and
the Kings. Now" says one, 1.-The Book
of Job is fable that ought to come
out" Away goes the Book of Job.
Now" says some one, those passages
in the New Testament which imply the
divinity of Jesus Christ ought to come
out" Away go the Evangelists.
Now" says some one, ''the Book of
preposterous! it rep
resents man with the moon under his
feet, and sharp sword in his hand"
Away goes the Book of Revelation.
Now there are few pieces left. What
shall we do with them? "Oh," says
some man in the audience, 81 don't be-
lieve word i'll the Bible, from one end
to the other" Well, it is all gone.
Now you have put out the last light
for the nations. Now it is the pitch
darkness of eternal midnight. How do
you like it?
But l think, my friends, we had bet
ter keep the Bible a little longer in
tact. 1t has done pretty well for
good many years Then there are old
people who find it comfort to have it