The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-08-31
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.

tne SUBJECT OF ms sermon through Tn
press this week the words. "Everlast
ing Life" the text being from Mical
ii. 10: 'Arise We and depart, for this i
not your rest"
This was the drum-beat of prophe
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 exposur,
and much ringing, lose their clearnes
of tone; but this rousing bell of tn,
gospel strikes in as clear tone as wher
it first rang out on the air.
As far as l can see, your great wan
and mine is rest. From the time we
enter life, great many vexations anC
annoyance take after us. We may have
our holidays, and our seasons of recrea
ton and quiet, but where is the mar
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
that distress us, and the heats that
smite us, and the pleurisies that stab
us, and the fevers that consume us, 1
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 well 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 a 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 COMPOUNDED lords and
senators who sat at their table, tapes
try on which fioated 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 the embroidered curtain, and
shake up the pillow of down.
Turn out the lights! 1t is IL
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 I'M
der the canopy. With rough touch
they startle his pulse. They cry out
at 10 o'clock at night: awake, man!
How can you sleep when things are SO
uncertain? What about those stocks?
Hark 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 magniicence-no restr"
/ passed down street of a city with
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, 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 have seen men try in an
other direction. A man says: IF 1
could only rise to such and such place
of renown; if 1 could gain that office;
if l could only get the stand and have
my sentiments met with one good
round of hand-clapping applause;
if 1 could only write a book
that would live, or make a
speech that would thrill, or do an
action that would resoundr' 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 |
Harken to the execra-
tons of those who once caressed |
you. BY tomorrow night there will |
be multitudes sneering at the words
which last night you expected would
be universally admired. How can you
sleep when everything depends upon
the next turn of the tragedy? Up,
man. Off of this pillowr' The man,
with head yet hot from his last ora
ton, starts up suddenly, looks out up
On the night. but sees nothing except
the flowers that lie on his stand, or the
scroll from which he read mis- speech,
Dr. the books from which he quoted his