The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-11-14

banquet and your blood curdles with hor- |
rror. The king OF terrors has there a gbast- |
lier banquet. Human blood is the wine and |
dying groans are the music. Sin has made
itself king in the earth. II has crowned |
itself. II has spread banquet. II invites !
all the world to come TO IL. II has hung In
Its banqueting hall the spoiis OF all king
doms and the banners Of all Nations. II has
gathered from all music. II has strewn
from its wealth the tables and floors and
arches. And yet how often Is that banquet
broken up and how horrible Is its end! Ever
and anon there is a handwriting on the wall.
king fails. A great culprit Is arrested.
Tho knees OF wickedness knock together.
Gods judgment, like an armed host, breaks
In upon the banquet, and that night is Bel
shazzar. the king OF the Chaldeans, slain.
Here is young mar who says; ~ cannot
see why they make such fuss about the In.
toxicattng cup. Why, II Is exhilarntingl II
makes me feel well. can talk better, think
better. feel better. cannot see why people
have such prejudice against II. A few
years pass on, and he wakes up and finds
himself in the clutches OF an evil habit which
he tries to break. but cannot. and he cries
out, 80 Lord God. help mel" IL seems ne
though God would not hear his prayer and
In an agony OF body and soul he cries out,
1T biteth like serpent and stingeth like
an adder" How bright IL was at the start
How black II was at the last
Here Is man who begins TO read loose
novels. "They are so charming he says.
II will 90 out and see for myself whether all
these things are so" He opens the gate of
sinful life. He goes In. sinful spritc
meets hthi with hcr wand. She waves her
wand, and II is all enchantment. Why, IL
seems rs II the angels OF Col had poured out
vials OF perfume In the atmosphere. As
he walks on he finds the hills becoming
more radiant with foliage and the
ravines more resonant with the falling
water. oh. what charming landscape he
sees! But that sinful sprite, with her wand,
meets him again. but now she revcrses the
wand. and all the enchantment IL gone. Tho
cup is full OF poison. The fruit turns 20
ashes. Allthe leaves ofthe bower are forked
tongues OF kissing serpents. The flowing
fountains fall back In a dead pool stenchtu
with corruption. Tho Turing songs become
curses and screams Of demoniac laughter.
Lost spirits gather about hmund feel for his
heart and beckon him on with "Hail brothcrl
Hal, blasted spirit. huil,' lie tries to get
out. He comes 90 the front door where he
entered aud tries TO push II back, but the
door turns against him. and in the jar OF
that shutting door ho hears these words
This night Is Beshazzar. the king OF the
Chaldeans, slain.' Sin may open bright as
the morning II ends dark "a .hc night
lean further from this subject thp. death
sometimes breaks in upon a banquet. Why
did he not go down to the prisons I'm Baby
lonP There were people there that would
like to have died. ] suppose there were men
and women in torture In that city who
would have welcomed death, but he comes
to the palace, and just nj the time when the
mirth Is dashing to the tiptop pitch death
breaks In at tho banquet. We have
often seen the sa ne thing illustrated Here
is "A young man Just come from college. He
Is kind. He is loving. Ho is enthusiastic
He ia eloquent. by one spring he may
bound to heights toward which many men
nave been struggling for years. A prOfes
sion opens before him. He is established In
the law, Hts friends cheer him. Eminent
men encourage him. After awhile YOU may
see him standing in the American Senate OF
moving popular assemblage by his el1
quence, as trees are moved in u whirlwind.
Some night he retires early. A fever IL on
him. Delirium, like q reckless chnrioteer
seizes the reins Of his intellect. Father and
mother stand by and see the tides of his life
going out TO the great ocean. The banquet
Is coming to an end. The lights OF thought
and mirth and eloquencc arc being extln.
guished. The garlands are snatched from
the brow. The vision Is gone Death nj the
banquet -- .- .
have also to learn from the subject tha,
the destruction OF the vicious and OF those
who despise God will be- very sudden. The
wave OF mirth had dashed to the highest
point when the invading army broke
through. II was unexpected. Suddenly,
almost always. comes the doom Of those who
despise God and defy the laws Of men. How
was II at the delugeI Do you suppose II
came through long northeast storm. &c
that people for days before were sure II was
coming! No, | suppose the morning was
bright; TINT cglmness broodcl on the waters
that beauty sat enthroned on the hills, when
suddenly the heavens burst and the noun.
tains sank like anchors into the sea that
dashed clear over tho Andes and the Himaa
vas.
The Red Sea was divided. The Egyptians
tried TO cross 1t. There could be no danger.
The Israelites had just gone through. Where
they had gone, why not the Egyptians Oh,
II was such beautiful walking place.
pavement OF tingel shells aud pearls. and
on either side two great walls OF water
solid. There can be fno danger. Forward,
great host OF tho Egyptians! Clap the
cymbals and blow the trumpets OF victory!
After them! We will catch them yst, ani
to trem6le! They rock fGey iaI1Il ~
rushing wa.e,s! The shrek oi drowning
men! The Swimming of the war horses in
vain Tor the shore! The strewing Of the
great host on the bottom OF the sea. OF
pitched by the angry wavs on tho beach--a
battered, bruised and loathsoma wreck
SsSfH SSolSS ny ;5af 2s 6eS.dh Ra; hfi IT, n2a! 8
stroyei, and without remedy
l am just setting forth fact which you
have noticed rs well as I. Auanias comes
to the apostle. The apostle says. did you
sell the land for so muoh2" Ho says. yes"
Y VIZ a lie Dn,s ~ quick as that!
Sapphira, his wife, comes in. "DId YOU ssII
the land for So much2" "Yes." y Wis
lie. aud QUICK rs that she was dad! dli's
judgments are Upon those Ih2 dGsblss Him
and defy Hin, They c5ne suddenly.
Skilled sportsmen do not like tx shoot o
bird standing on a sprig nearby. II they are
skilled. they pride themselves on taking It on
the wing, and they wait till IL starts. Doath
y "a old sportsman aaI le loves to take men
flying undor the Very sun. He loves to taka
Them on the wing. Oh, aee TO God this
night! II there be one In this presence who
has wandered far away from Christ, though
he may not have heard the call Of the gospel
for many year, | invite him now to como
and be saved Flee from thy sin! Flee 10
the stronghold of the gospel! Now Is Tfh1ha
cepted time. Now is the day Of sal,,,dtIM,
Good night, my young f....sndsy may You
have rosy sleep, guard, Him who never
sulmbers! May Isain tbs ,,ornio,,