Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-02-09
REV. DIR. TALMAGE.
THE BROOKLYN DIVINE'S sun.
DAY SERMON.
Subject: "Festivity."

E5hDJCCt'
TEXT: "Contc, for all Things are NON
reddy. Luke xiv, IT.
1t was one Of the most exciting times in
English history when Queen Elizabeth visited
Lord Leicester at Kenilw0fth Castle. Tho
moment OF her arrival was considered soim-
portant that all the clocks of the castle were
stopped, so that the hands might point to
that one moment as being tho most signif-
cant OF all She was greeted tot the gate with
floating islands and torches and the thunder
OF cannon, and fireworks that set the night
ahlaze, and great burst of music that lifted
the whole scene into perfect enchantment,
men she was introduced in dining hall the
IuXur'"5 Of which asiOnisheH the world. -Four
: lUndre 8 -er ants waited sDDn the guests
InG enter. lment cost $jGJ,l eacn day Lord
Leicester made that great supper in Kenil.
worth Castle.
Cardinal WOIsey entertained the French
ambassadors at Hampton Court The best
COOKS IN all the land prepared for the ban
q0et. PuTveyOrS went out and travelled all
the kingdom over to find spOiIs for the table.
me time came. The guests were kept dur.
ing the day hunting in the Kings park so
that their appetites might be keen, and then
IN the evening, to the sound Of the trumpet
erS, they We're introduced into a hall hung
with silk ani cloth Of gold and there We're
tables a-glitter with imperial plate and laden
with the rarest of meats and abIush with the
cOstttest wines, and when the second course
Otthe feast came it was found that the artia
cies of food had been fashioned into the
shape OF men, birds AMI beasts, and groups
dan"lng, and JoustinG parties riding against
each other with lances. Lords and princes
and ambassadors, out Of cups filed to the
bfIm, drank the health first of the King of
England AMI next OF the King of France.
cardinal Wolsey prepared that great supper
III Hampton Court
But | have to tell you of grander enter
tainment. My Lord, the King is the ban
qucter. Angels are the cltpbearers All the
re leemei are the guests The halls of eternal
love, frescoed with light and paved with Joy
and cnrtained with unfading beauty. are the
banqueting place. The harmonies of pter-
nifty are the music. The chalces of heaven
are the plates, and | am one of the servants
coming out with 10th hands filled with inVi-
tatlons, scattering them everywhere, and,
oh, that for yourselves you might break the
seal OF the invitation and read the words
written i'll rel ink OF blood by the tremulous
hand OF dying Christ, Come now, for all
things are ready
There have been grand entertainments
where was a taking Off-the wine gave out,
or the servants were rebelliOus. or the light
failed. But [ have gone all around about
this subject anl looked at the redemption
which Christ has provided, and [ come here
to tell you it is complete, and [ swing open
the door of the feast, telling you that ''all
things are now ready"
In the first place | have to announce that
the Lord Jesus Christ Himself is ready Car
dIntl WOlsey came into the feast after the
first course. He came in booted and spurred
ana the guests arose and cheerel him, But
Christ comes i'll at the very beginning of the
teaSt-ayP, He has been waiting 1894 wears
for His guests He has been standing on His
mangled feet. He has hal His sore hand on
HIS punctured side. or He has been pressing
tod Il
Is wonderful that He has not been impatient
and that He has not said. ''Shut the door
and let the laggard stay out" but He has
been waiting.
No banquetpr ever waited for his guests SO
patiently as Christ has waited for us. 70
prove how willing He is to receive US. 1
gather ali the tears that rolled down His
cheeks IN sympathy for your sorrows; [
gather all the drops OF blood that channeIed
Ills brow. and His back, and His hands and
le2', IN trying to purchase your redemption
l gather all the groanS that He uttered in
midnight chill, and in mountain hunger, and
IN desert loneliness. and twist them into one
cry-bIttcr, agOnizing. overwhelming
gather all the pains that shot from spear
and spike and cross. ioltinS into one pang-
rHmOrseleSs, grinding. eXcruciating. take
that one drop of sweat on His brow and I'M
der the gospel glass that drop enlarges until
l see III it lakes OF sorrow and an ocean of
agony. That being standing before you now,
emaciated and gashed and CORY cOax9s for
your love with a pathOs i'll which every word
IS heart break and every sentence Il mar
tyrdOm. How can you think He trihes?
Ahasuerus prepared feast for 1870 DAYS
but this feast is for all eternity Lords and
princes were invited to that. You and and
all our world are invited TO this. Christ is
ready. You know that the banqueters of
olden time used to wrap themselves in robes
prepared for the occasion. 50 my Lord Jesus
hath wrapped Himself in all that is beautiful.
See how tair He is His eye, His brow, His
check, so radiant that the stars have no
brilllancy compared with it. His face reflect
ing all the joys of the redeemed His hand
having the onnipOtent surgery with which
He opened blind eyes and Strengthened
crooked limbs. and hOiSted the pillars of
heaven and swung the twelve gates, which
are the twelve pearls.
There are not enough cups in heaven to
dip up this ocean of beauty There are not
ladders enough 20 scale this height of love-
There are not enough cymbals to clap, or
harps to thrum, or trumpets to peal forth
the praises OF this one altogether fair Oh
thou Hover Of eternity, thy breath is the
perfume of heaven! Oh, blissfuI daybreak,
let all people clap their hands in thy radi-
ance Chorus: Come men and saints and
cherUbIm and seraphim and archangel-all
heights, all depths. all immensities. Chorus:
Roll Him through the heavens in a chariot of
universal acclaim, over bridges of hosannaS
along
great towers Ginning with eternal jubilee
Chorus Unto Him who hath loved us and
washed us from our sins in His own blood to
Him be glory, world without end?"
| have word of five letters, but no sheet
white enough on which to write il and no
pen good enough with which to inscribe it.
Give me the iaGest leaf from the heavenly
records-give me the pencil with which the
angel records his victOry-and then, with my
hand strung to supernatural ecstasy and my
pen dipped in the light of the morning,
will write it out in capitals of love.
"J-E-S-C-S.' 1t is this one infinitely fair
TO whom you are invited. Christ Is waiting
Tor you, waiting as a banqueter waits for
the delayed gueSt-the meats smoking, the
Deakers brlmming, the mnstrels with
fingers on the stiff string, waiting for the
clash OF the hoofs at the gateway
Waiting for you mother waits for her
son who went off ten years ago, dragging
her bleeding heart along with him. Waiting
Oh, give me a comparison intense enough
not enough, impOrtunate enough to express
my Notwithstanding high as heaven and
deep as hell and long as eternity! Not hop
ing that you can help me with such a com
parison, l will say. HE is waiting as only
the all sympathetic Christ can wait for the
coming back of a lost soul"
Bow the knee and kiss the Son,
Come and welcome, sinner, come.
Again. the Holy Spirit is ready. Why Is it
that so many sermons drop dead-that Chris
tian songs do not get their wing under the
people-that so often prayer goes 10 higher
than q hunters ''hollo?" 1t is because there
is a link wanting-the work of the Holy
Spirit. Unless that spirit give graphing
hooks to a sermon and lift the prayer and
wait the song, everything is dead failure.
That spirit is willing to come at our call and
lead you to eternal life, ready to com6
with the same power with which he unhorsed
Saul on the Damascus turnpike, and broke
down Lydia in her fine store. and lifted the
5000 from midnight into midnoon at the
Pentecost. With that power the spirit OF
God now beats at the gate of your soul.
Have you lot noticed what homely and in
significant instrumentalhy the spirit o. Go1