Democratic messenger., 1894-09-01
EVERLASTING LIFE.
REv. DR. TALMAGE ON THE REST
THAT ETERNITY BRINGS.


Iif. ls Sure and Safe-An Eloquent and
Comforting Address.
BROOKLYN, Aug 26.-Rev. DIR. Tai,
mage, who is now in Australia on his
globe girdling tour, has selected rs tie
subject of his sermon for today, through
the press. tho words, Everlasting
Life, the text being from Micah ii, 10.
Arise ye and depart, for this is not
your rest. !"
This was the drum beat Of a prophet
who wanted to arouse his people from
their oppressed and sinful condition,
tut il may just as properly be uttered
now rs then. Bells by long exposure
and much ringing lose their clearness
of tone, but this rousing bell of the gos-
pei strikes in as clear u tone as when it
first rang or the air.
As far asSi can sec your great want
and mine is rest. From the time we
enter life u great many vexations and
annoyances take after us. We may have
our holidays and our seasons of recrea-
tion and quiet, but where is the man
come to midlife 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 man in this world to
find quiet. From the way that 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, know that
he did not make this world rs place
to loitcr in. God does everything sue
cessfully, and this world would he a
very different world if it were intended
for us to lounge in. 1t does right well
for few hours. Indeed it is magnifi-
cent! Nothing but infinite wisdom and
goodness could have mixed this bever
age 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, 1t is only the splendors of y
kings highway, over which we are to
march on to eternal conquests-
No Rest.
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 de-
posits" great rolls of government Sc
curities. They had emblazoned car
riages, high mettled steeds, footmen.
plate that confounded lords and sena-
tors who sat ut their tables. tapestry on
which fioated the richest designs of for
eign looms, splendor of canvas ON the
walls, exquisiteness of music rising
among pcdestals of bronze and drop
ping soft rs light, on snow of sculpture.
Here let them rest. Put back the en-
broidercd curtain and shake up the pill
low of down. Turn out the lights. 1t is
IL o'clock at night. Let slumber drop
upon the cyelids and the air float
through the half opened lattice drowsy
with midsummer perfume. Stand back,
all care, anxiety and trouble. But, no.
they will not stand back. They rat
tie tho lattice. They look under the
canopy. With rough touch they startle
his pulses. They cry out at 12 o'clock
Mt night: Awake, man! How can you
sleep when things are SO uncertain?
What about those stocks? Hark to the
tap of that firebell! 1t 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 darkness of the room and wipes
the dampness from his forehead and
says. "Alas. for all this scene of wealth
and magnificence-no rest!'
Ipassed down n street of city with
q 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 infelic-
ity; in that one, q 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
Fame Is n vapor.
You and have seen men try in an
other direction. A man says: IF
could only rise to such and such place
of renown; if / could gain that office; il
l could only get the stand and have my
sentiments met with one good round
Of hand clapping applause; if / could
only write book that would live, or
make o speech that would thrill, or do
nm action that would resound" The
tide turns in his favor. His name is on
10. 900 lips. He is bowed to and sought
after and advanced. Men drink his
health at great dinners. AT his fiery
words the multitudcs huzza. From gal
leries of beauty they throw garlands.
From housetops. rs he passes i'll 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 voicesi In his
dream let there be hoisted a throne, and
across it march coronation. Hush,
hush! "Wake up" says rough voice.
Political sentiment is changing. How
il you should lose this place of honor?
Wake up! The morning papers are TO
be full of denunciation. Hearkea to the
execrations Of those who once caressed
you! BY tomorrow night there will be
multitudes sneering at the words which
last night you expected would be uni
versally admired. How can you sleep
when everything depends upon the next
turn of the great tragedy? Up, mani
OF of this pillowv" The man, with
head yet hot from his last Grafton,
starts up suddenly. looks out upon the
night. but sees nothing except the flow
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