Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1894-01-05
EGV. DR.. TALMAGE.
The Eminent Brooklyn Divins'S Sun
day Sermon.
Subject; "The Morning Star"

| Ills is tnElSI0ldS Eve. OuI dllcullOu anu
the attention of the world is drawn to the
star that pointed down to the caravansary
where Christ was born. But do not let us
forget that Christ himself was a star. To
that luminous fact my text calls us.
1t seems az if the natural world were
anxious to make up for the damage it did our
race in furnishing the forbidden fruit. If
that fruit wrought death among the Nations,
now all the natural pro iuct shall become a
symbol of blessing. The showering down Of
the wealth of the orchard will make us think
of him whom Solomon describes as the apple
tree among the trees of the wood. and the
flowers of tangled glen and cultured parterre
shall be the dew glinted garland for the brow
of the Lord Jesus Yea, even the night shall
be taxed, and its brightest star shall be set
as gem in the corenet of'our holy religion.
Have You ever seen the morning star adj
vantagecusly? If it was on your way home
from nights carousal, you saw none OF its
beauty. If you merely turned over on your
| pillow in the darkness, glancing out of the
| window, you know nothing about the
cheerful influence ofthat star. But there are
many in this house tonight who in great
! passes of their life, some OF them far out at
sea, have gazed at that star and been thrilled
through with ndescribable gladness. That
star comes trembling as though with the
perils Of the darkness, and yet bright with
the anticipstons of the day. 1t seems emo
tional with all tenderness, its eyes Ali with
the tears OF many SORROWS. 1t is the gem on
the hands of the morning thrust up to signal
| its coming. Others stats are dim, like holy
! candles in a cathedral or silver beads count
| ed in superstitious litany, but this is living
stars, speaking star historic star, an
evangelistic star--bright and brilliants and
triumphant symbol of the great Redeemer.
| photographic operator puts his finger on the
| silver key Of the electric instrument. and the
tidings fly across the continent And SO it
seems TO me that the finger of inspiration is
placed upon this silver point in the heavens,
! and it's thrill through all the EARTH ''Bs-
| hold bring you COOL tidinCs of great Joy
| to all people. Behold. am the bright and
morning star" The meaning of my text is
this: As the morning star precedes and
! promises the coming of the day. so Christ
heralds the natural and spiritual dawn.
In the first place, Christ heralded the COM
ing Of the creation There was time when
there was no order, no sound or beauty. No
wing stirred. No word was uttered. No
light sped. AS far as Col could look UP, as
far out, there was nothing. Immeasureabls
solitude. Height and depth and length and
breadth OF nothingness. Did Christ then
exist? On. yes. "By him were all things
made that are made things in heaven an |
things in earth AMI things under the earth
Yes he annotated the creation. He led forth
Arcturus and his sons. He snone before the
first morning. His voice was heard in the
concert when the morning stars setenaded
the advent OF our infant earth. when, wrapped
in swaddling clothes Of light. it lay in the
arms of the great Jehovah. He saw the first
fountain laid. He saw the first light kindled.
That hand which was afterward crushed
upon the cross was thrust into chaos, audit
brought out one world AMI swung it in that
orbit. and brought out another world and
swung il in another orbit and brought out
all the worlds AMI swung them in their
particular orbits. They came like sheep
at the call OF shepherd. They knew
his voice, AMI he called them all by
their names. On, it is an interestin5
thought 10 me TO know that Christ had some
thing to do with the creation. | see now
why it was so easy for Him TO change water
INTO wine. He first created the water. ]
see now why it was so easy for Him TO cure
the maniac He first created the intellect. I
see now why it was 80 easy for Him to hush
tine tempest He sank Gennesaret. | see
low why it was 80 easy for Him to swing fish
intc Simons net. H. made the fish. / see
now why it was so easy for Him to give sight
to the blind man. He created the optic nerve.
7 Gee now why it was so easy for Him TO rais5
Lazarus from the dead. He created the
body of Lazarus and the rock that shut him
in. Some suppose that Christ came a stranger
70 Bethlehem. Oh. no. He created the
shepherds, and the focks they watched, and
the hills on which they <Rastured, and the
heavens that overarched their heads, and the
angels that chanted the chorus on that Christ
mas night. That hand which was afterward
nailed TO the cross, was an omnipotent and
creative hand and the whole universe was
poised on the tip of one of His fingers. Be-
fore the world was Christ was. All the
world came trooping up out of the darkness
and He greeted them, as father greets his
children, with good morning, or good
night Hail. Lord Jesus, morning star OF
the first creation.
Again. Christ heralds the dawn OF comfort
in Christian soul Sometimes we come to
passes in life where all kinds of tribulations
meet us. You are building up some great
enterprise. You have built the foundation
the wall-you are just about TO put on tho
capstons, when everything is demolished.
You have Il harp all strung for sweetest &C
cord, an some great agony brushes IT
: There is little voice hushed in the house
hold. Blue eve closed. Co.or dashed out OF
the cheek. The loot still Insteal Of the
quick feet i'll the hall, the heavy tread OF
those wlo march TO the crave. o.. what
are psople to DO amid e.; ,,-sse sorrows!
Some sit down ana mourn. Some bite their
pale hands. Some fall on their faces. Some
lie on their backs helpless AMI look up into
what seems TO them an Implying heaven.
Some pull their hair down over their eyes
AMI look through with a flends glare. Some.
with both hands press their hot brain and
want TO die ami cry, 80 God, Col
Long night. bitter night sfupendous night
OF the worlds suffering Some know not
which WAY to turn. Butnot so the Christian
-, H. looLe nm toward tho heavens He
sees n bright appearance in the heavens.
Can if be only flashing meteor? Can it be
only falling star? Can it be only delu-
sion Nay nay. The longer he looks the
mora distinct il becomes, until after
awhile he cries out "a star-a morn
ing star. n star OF comfort star
OF grace. a star OF peace, the star OF
the Redeemerl' Peace for all trouble.
Balm for all wounds. Life for all dead.
Now Jesus, the great heart healer, cones
into our home Peace Peace that passetn
all understanding. We look up through our
tears. We are comforted. 1t is the morn
inc star of the Redeemer. "Who broke of
that f1ower2" said one servant in the garden
TO another. ''Who broke of that flower?
And the other servant said. "The master.
Nothing more was said, for If the master mad
not right TO break of flower to wear over
his heart or to set in the vase OF his mansion.
VINO has right to touch the fiower2 And
when Christ comes down into our garden TO
gather lilies. shall we fight Him hackT Snail
we talk as though He had no right 10 Gomez
If any one in all the universe has right 10
that which is beautiful in our homes. then
our Master has, and He will take it and He
will wear it over His heart, or He will set it
in the vase of the palace eternal. Tho
Lord gave. and the Lord hath taken away
hlaccc "a fho mama Of tha ord Peace.