The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1895-11-16
TALMAGE'S SERMON.
Lessons From the Miracle Of the
Sea of Galilee.

Always Well to Have Christ On the Ship
People Who Follow Christ Must
Not Expect Constant
Smooth Bailins.
Rev. T. Dewitt Talmage. in his ser
mon prepared for publication thi
week discourses on the life of Jesus
among the fishermen IF Galilee. Thi
subject Is: Rough Sailing" and tn.
text:
And there were also with him other littl,
ships, and there arose great storm Of wind
Mark w., s6-37.
Tiberias, Galilee and tienhesarei
were three names for the same lake
1t lay In a scene of great luxuriance.
The surrounding hills, high. terraced,
sloping, gorged. were so many hang
ing gardens of beauty. The streams
rumbled down through rocks of gray
and red limestone, and flashing from
the hillside, bounded to the sea. In
the time Of our Lord the valleys, head.
lands and ridges were covered thickly
with vegetation, and, so great was the
variety of climate, that the palm tree
of the torrid and the walnut tree OF
rigorous climate were only little
way apart. Men in vineyards and
olive gardens were gathering mp the
riches for the oil press. The hills and
valleys were starred aud crimsoned
with flowers, from which Christ took
His text, and the disciples learned les
sons of patience and trust. 1t seemed
as if God had dashed a wave of beauty
on all the scene until 1t hung dripping
from the rocks, the hills, the clean.
ders. On the back of the Lebanon
range the glory of the early scene was
carried up as II to set it in range with
the hills Of Heaven.
No other gem ever had so exquisite
q setting as beautiful Gennesaret
The waters were clear and sweet, and
thickly inhabited. tempting innumera-
BILE nets. and affording livelihood for
great populations Bethsaida. Cho-
rain and Capernanm stood on the
bank, roaring with wheels of traffic
and flashing with splendid equipages,
and shooting their vessels across the
lake, bringing merchandise for Damas-
Gus and passing great cargoes Of
wealthy product. Pleasure boats of
Roman gentlemen, and fishing smacks
of country people who had come down
to cast . net there, passed each other
with nod and shout and welcome, or
side by side swung idly at the mooring.
nd lxot
yard, tower and shadowy arbor, looked
of upon the calm. sweet scene as the
evening shadows began to drop, and
Hermon, with its head covered
with perpetual snow, in the glow
Of the setting sun looked like a
white-bearded prophet ready to ascend
Ia chariot of fire. think we shalt
have quiet Dightl Not leaf winks
IA the air, or a ripple disturbs the sur
lace Of Gennesaret. The shadows of
The great hcadlands stalk clear across
he water, The voices of evening"
Tide, how drowsily they strike the ear
the splash of the boatman's oar, and
he humping of the captured fish on
he boats bottom, and those indie
Icribable sounds which fill the air at
,ightfall.
You hasten mp the beach of the lake
! little way, and there you find an ex-
.ltemeDt as of embarkation. A f1otilla
S pushing out from the western shore
If the lake-not squadron with a
leadly arma ment; not clipper to ply
With valuable merchandise; not piratic
'essels with graphing hook, to hug to
leath whatever they could seize, but a
lotilla laden with messengers of light,
md mercy. and peace. Jesus is in the
ront ship; His friends aud admirers
ire In the small boats following after.
'hrist, by the rocking of the boat and
he fatigues of the preaching exercises
# the day, is induced to slumber, and
see Him In the stern of the boat,
With pillow perhaps extemporized
Tut of irsherman's coat, sound
sleep. The breezes of the lake run
heir fingers through the locks of the
sleeper, apd on it's surface
here riseth and falleth the light ship,
ike child on the bosom of its sleep
ng mother! Calm night. Starry night.
night Run mp all the sails, !
md ply all the oars, and let the boats
Tho big boat and the small boats-go
,liding over the gentle Gennesaret.
The sailors prophcsy change in the |
weather.. Clouds begin to travel up
he sky and congregate. After awhile, |
ven the passengers hear the moan of |
he storm, which comes on with rapid |
tribes, and with all the terrors of |
hurricane AID darkness. The boat,
aught in the sudden fury, trembles |
ike a deer at bay, amid the wild |
langor of the hounds. Great patches |
I foam are flung through the cir.
The loosened sails, Tapping in the |
Wind, crack like pistols. The small |
'oats poised on the white cliff of the !
riven sea tremble like ocean petrels,
nd then plunge into the trough with |
errific swoop until wave strikes |
hem with thunder-crack, and over
GARD 20 the cordage, the tackling.
nd the masts, and the drenched dis
iples rush into the stern of the boat, |
nd shout amid the hurricane: Master,
Arrest Thou not that we perish?"
hat great parsonage lifted His
cad from the fsherman's cot /
nd walked out to the prov of
he vessel and looked upon the
torn. On all sides were the T
mall boats tossing in helplessnesa,
nd from them came tho cries of |
men. By the fash of light
ing ! see the calmness of the UNI
overed brow Of Jesus, and the spray !