The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-01-10
REV. DIR. TALMAGE.
THE BROOKLYN DIvINE'S SUN.
DAY SERMON.
Subject: ssThe Morning Star"

TEXT: "I am the bright and the morning
star. ."-Revelation xii, 1G.
This Is Christmas Eve. Our attention and
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 star. To
that luminous fact my text calls us. .
It seems as II the natural world were
anxious to makeu up for the damage it did our
race in furnishing the forbidden fruit. II
that fruit wrought death among the Nations,
now all the natural product shall become
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 coronet OF our holy religion.
Have you ever seen the morning star ad-
vantageously2 II 1t was on your way. home
from a 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 9azed at that star and been thrilled
star comes trembling az though with the
perils of the darkness, and yet bright with
the anticipations Of the day. It seems emo
.ional with all tenderness, its eyes fill with
the tears of many sorrows. It Is the gem on
the hands OF the morning thrust up to signal
its coming. Others stats are dim, like holy
candles in cathedral or silver beads count
ed in superstitious litany, but this is living
stars, speaking star, a historic star, an
;okio otor ~ md
triumphant symbol Of the great Redeemer.
Thetelegraphic operator puts his finger on the
silver key OF the electric instrument, and the
tidings fly across the continent. And SO 1t
seems to mo that the finger o. inspiration Is
placed upon this silver point in the heayens,
and its thrill through all the earth. "Be-
hold bring you good tidings 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
herslds 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 God could look up, az
far out, there was nothing. unreasonable
solitude. Height and depth and length and
brsadth OF nothingness. Did Christ then
e1istS Oh, yes. SPY him were all things
made that are made things in heaven and
things in earth and things under the earth.
Yes, he antedated the creation. He led forth
Arcturus and his sons. He shone before the
first morning. His voice was heard in the
concert when the morning stars ssrenaded
the advent OF our infant earth. when, wrapped
In swaddlIng clothes Of light. 1t lay in the
arms OF the great Jehovah. He saw the frs.
fountain laid. He saw the first light kindled.
That hand which was afterward crushed
upor the cross was thrust into chaos, andit
brought out one world and swung 1t in that
orbit. and brought out another world and
swung il in another orbit, and brought out
all the worlds and swung them in their
particular orbits. They came like sheep
at the call of shepherd. They knew
his voice. and he called them all by
their names. oh. it is an interesting
thought to me to know that Christ had some
thing to do with the creation. see now
why it was 30 easy for Him to change water
into wine. He first created the water. L
see now why it was so easy for Him to cure
the maniac. He first created the intellect. l
see now why it was so easy for Him to hush
the tempesr. He sank Gennesaret. see
now why it was 80 easy for Him to swing fish
into Simon's net. He made the fish. sea
now why it was 80 easy for Him to give sight
to the blind man. He created the optic nerve.
I see now why it was so easy for Him to raise
Lazarus from the dead. He created the
body OF Lazarus and the rock that shut him
In. Some suppose that Christ came stranger
to Bethlehem. Oh, no. He created the
shepherds, and the hocks they watched, and
the hills on which they pastureo, ana the
heavens that oyerarched their heads, and the
angels that chanted the chorus on that Christ
mas night. That hand which was atterward
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 a 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 the
capstone, when everything is demolished.
You have harp all strung for sweetest ac-
cord, and some great agony crusnes IL.
There Is little voice hushed in the mousse.
hold. Blue eye closed. Color dashed out OF
the cheek. The foot still. Instead OF the
quick feet in tho hall, the heavy tread OF
are people to do amid all these sorroWs!
Some sit down and mourn. Some bite their
lin until the blood comes. Some wiring their
male hands. Some fall on their faces. Some
lie on their backs helpless and look up into
what seems to them an IMPLYING heaven.
Some pull their hair down over their eyes
and look through with tiend's glare. Some,
with both hands, press their hot Dram ana .,
want to die and cry, 20 God, COO
Nj Ctnnonhnnd
| of the worlds suffering! Some know not
| which way to turn. Butnot so the Christian
man. He looks up toward the heavens. He
| sees O bright appearance in the heavens.
| Can il be ONLY flashing meteor? Can 1t be
only a falling star? CAN'T be only delu-
sion2 Nay. nay. The longer he looks the
moro distinct it becomes, until after
awhile ne cries out, ga star-a morn
ing star, star of comfort. star
the Redeemerr' Peace for all trouble.
Balm for all wounds Life for all dead.
Now Jesus, the grent heart healer. comes
into our home. Peace! Peace that passeth
all understanding. We look up through our
tears. We are comforted. II Is the morn !.
ING star of the Redeemer. "Who broke OIL
that fower?" said one servant in the gardesnt, st,
TO another. "Who broke on that nowerf
And the other servant said. 1.-The MASTER.
Nothing more was Sald, lor IL INC ma9tei ne.t
not right to break Off flower to wear over
his heart or to set in the vase OF his mansion;
who has right to touch the fower9 And
when Christ comes down into our garden 10
gather lilies, shall we fight Him back! ena.a
we talk as though He had no right to come!
n any one in ali the universe has right to
that which is beautiful in our homes. then
our Master has, and He will take 1t and He
will wear it over His heart, or He WILL set It
In the vase of the palace eternal. 'The
Lord gave. and the Lord hath taken away
blessed be the name Of the Lord" Peace.
troubled soul! I put the balm on your
wounded soul tonight. The morning star,
| liz .,,o.pi,,n atn nf fhp Eadeamar