The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1894-03-24
a STORY OF FEsTIvITY.
Rev. DR.. TaImaee Repeats the Die
vine Invitation.
~Co,ne. For All Things Are Now Ready "
"A Bise1ing to the Great and
Glorious Feast of Jesus
UnbounLed Lows.

"A Bists1ing to the Great and
Glorious Feast of Jesus
UnbounLed Lows.
The following sermon on the subject
of Eestivity'' was delivered by Rev.
7. Dewitt Talmage in the Blooklyn
tabernacle. being based ON the text;
Come. for all things are now ready.-Luke,
siu H.
II was one of the most exciting times
In English history when Queen Eliza
beth visited lord Leicester at Kenil-
worth castle, The moment of her ar
rival was considered SO important that
all the clocks of the castle were
stopped. so that the hands might point
to that one moment as being the most
significant of all. She was greeted to
the gate with floating islands. and
torches, and the thunder of cannon,
and fireworks that set the night
holazc, and great burst of music that
lifted the whole scene into perfect
enchantment. Then she was intro
.duced in dininpshall, the Injuries of
which astonished the world: four hnn-
dred servants waited upon the guests;
the entertainment cost FIVE Thousand
dollars each day. Lord Leicester made
that great supper in Kenilworth castle.
Cardinal Wolsey entertained the
French ambassadors at Hampton
.court. The best cooks in ali the land
prepared for the banquet; purveyors
went outvand travelled all the kingdom
over to find spoiis for the table. The
time came. The guests wers kept dur
ing the day hunting in the kings park,
SO that their appetites might he keen;
and then, In the evening, 10 the sound
of the trumpeters, they were intro
duced into q hall hung with silk and
cloth Of gold. and there were tables a.
glitter with imperial plate, and laden
with the rarcst OF meats, and a-blush
with the costsiest wines; and when
the second course OF the feast came, it
Svns found that the articles Of food had
been fashioned into the shape OF men,
birds and beasts. and groups dancing,
and jousting parties riding against
each other with lances Lords, and
princes, and ambassadors, out of the
cups filed TO the brim, drank the
health. hrsto the king of England,
and nextof the king of France. Car
dinal Wolsey prepared that great sup
per IN Hampton Court
But have TO tell you of grander
entertainment. My Lord, the King. lie
the banqueter. Angels are the cup
NRarnrS All Tho rRdaAn1nd tho
guests The balls OF eternal love, frcs-
coed with light, and paved with joy,
ana cuftained with unfading beauty,
are the banqueting place. The har-
monies OF eternity are the music. The
chauces OF Heaven are the plate, and
am one OF the servants coming out
witis both hands filled with invite
t'ons, scattering them everywhere;
and, Oh. that for yourselves, You might
break the seal OF the invitation and
read the words written in red ink OF
blood by the tremulous hand OF dy-
ing Christ: Come now. for all things
are ready.
There have been grand entertain
1nents where was taking off--the
Nfic Eetsc WV VI eifC SOL SdutS WCIS
-rebellious. or the lights failed. But /
have gone all around about this subject
and 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 Fall things are now ready"
In The first place / have TO Announce
that the Lord Jesus Christ himself is
ready. Cardinal Wolsey came into the
feast after the first course; he came in
booted and spurred, and the guests
arose and cheercd him. But Christ
comes in at the very beginning of the
feast; aye, He has been waiting eight
cen hundred and ninetv-four wears for
His quests. He has been standing on
His mangled feet: He has had His sore
hand ON His puntured side. or He has
been pressing His lacerated temples-
waiting, waiting. 1t is wonderful that,
He has not been impatient and that He
has not said. .Shut the door and Lot
the laggard STAY out but He has been
WAITING. No banoueter eyer waited
for his guests SO patiently as Christ
has waited for us. To prove how Will
ing He is 10 receive MS, / gather all tic
tears that rolled down His cheeks n
sympathy for TOUR sorrows. ! Gather
all the drops of blood that cbanneled
His brow. and His back. and His hands
and feet in trying to purchase your re-
demption: | gather all the proaps