Connecticut western news., 1895-10-31
HEAVEN LOOKING ON.
TEXT CT oR, rAlMAGs's FIRST SER
 MON AT rAE CAPITAL.

rtSr or oN> tAlMASe'S FIRST SER
 NON AT rAE CAPITAL.
 ltla rraAase to the Venerable Dr. sunder-
 ,a~a--A Great Cloud of Witnesses In tho
 Angelic Gallery While Every Christian
 rigAss His Lion In the Arena.
 WASHINGTON, Oct. 27.-Those who know that no church in this or foreign countries has been able to hold the au- tiences that have assembled when it was announced that Dr. Talmage would preach will not be surprised that vast multitudes attempted in vain to hear his first sermon as pastor in Washington. The subject of his opening sermon at. the national capital was, ''All Heaven Looking On, [" the text selected being the famous passage from Hebrews xii, 1, "Seeing we also are compassed about with so great cloud of witnesses. '
 In this my opening sermon in, the na- tics1al capital give you heartiest Chris tian salutation.S bethink myself of the privilege of standing in this historic church, go long presided over by one of the most remarkable men of the cen tury. There are plenty of good ministers, beside Dr. Sunderland, but I do not knowo of any man except himself with enough brain to have stood successfully and triumphantly 43 years in this con- spicuous pulpit. Long distant be the year when that gospel chieftain shall put down the silver trumpet with which he has marshaled the hosts of Israel or sheathe the sword with which he has struck such mighty blows for God and righteousness. come to you with the same gospel that he has preached and to join you in all kinds of work for mak- ing the world better, and hope to see you all in your own homes. and have you all come and see me, but don't alr come at once. Andswithout any preliminary discourses as to what propose to do begin here and now to cheer you with the thought that all heaven is sympa- thetically looking on. "Seeing we also are compassed about with so great 8 cloud of witnesses"
 At tho Amphitheaser.
 Crossing the Alps by the Mont Cenis pass, or through the Mont Cenis tunnel, yot arc in a few hours set down at Verona, Italy, and in 8 few minutes begin examining one of the grandest ruins of the world-the amphitheater. The whole building sweeps around you in circle. You stand in the arena where the combat was oDce fought or the race run. and on all sides the seats rise tier abovestier until you count 40 elevations or galleries-as shall see fit to call them-in which sat the senators, the kings and the 25, 900 excited specta- tors At the sides of the arena and un- der the galleries are the cages in which the lions and tigers are kept without food until, frenzied with hunger and thirst, they are let out upon some poor victim. who, with his sword and alone, is condemned to meet them. think that Paul himself once stood in such a place, and that it was not only fgura- lively, but literally, that he had fought with beasts at Ephesus.
 The gala day has come. From all the world the people are pouring into Verona. Men, women and children, orators and senators, great men and small thousands upon thousands come, until the first gallery is full, and the second, the third, the fourth, the fifth all the way up to the twentieth, all the way up to the thirtieth, all the way up to the fortieth. Every place is filled. Immensity of audience sweeping the great circle. Silencel The time for the contest has come. A Roman official leads forth the victim into the arena. Let him get his sword, with firm grip, into his right hand. The 25.000 sit breathlessly watching. I hear the door ut the side of the arena creak open. Out plunges the half starved lion, his tongue athirst for blood, and with a roar that brings all the galleries to their feet he rushes against the sword of the combat ant. Do you know how strong a stroke R man will strike when his life 'depepds upon. tho first thrust of his blade? The wild beast, lame and bleeding. sinks hack toward the side of the arena. Then, rallying his wasting strength, he comes up " ith fiercer eye and more ter rible roar than ever, only to be driven back with a fatal wound, while the combatant comes in with stroke after stroke, until the monster is dead at his feet. and the 25,0O0 people clap their hands and utter shout that makes the city tremble.
 A Lion to Fight.
 Sometimes the audience came to see 8 race. sometimes to see gladiators fight each other, until the people, compass sionate for the fallen, turned their thumbs up as an appeal that the van combat was with wild beasts.
 To an amphitheatrical audience Paul refers when he says, "We are compassed about with go great cloud of wit. nesses.
 The fact is, that every Christian man has. lion to fight Yours is bad tenn per. The gates of the arena have been opened, and this tiger has come out te destroy your soul It has lacerated you with many a wound. You have beer thrown by 1t time and again, but in tho strength of God you have arisen to drive it back. verify believe you will con quer. I think that the temptation ii getting weaker and weaker. You have given it so many wounds that the pros pect is that it will die, and you shall b. victor, through Christ. Courage, broth erl Do not let the sands of the aren, drink the blood of your soul
 Your lion is the passion for strong drink, You may have contended agains it 90 years, but t Is strong of body ana thirsty of tongue. You have tried t. fight it back with broken bottle or empt. wine flask Nay, that is not the weapon With one horrible roar he will seiz thee by the throat and rend thee hml from limb. Take this weapon, sharl and keeu-feach up and get it iron Gods armory. The sword of the Spirit