Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-09-04
REV. DR.. TALMAGE.
Tbs Eminent Washington pivines
Sunday Sermon.
Subject: "The Great Trial"

verdict has been rendered, at this judges
desk sentence has been pronounced. But
have to tell you to-day OF trial higher tnan
any Oyer and Terminer or Circuit or Su-
preme or Chancery. 1t is the trial OF every
Christian mau for the life of his soul. This
trial is different from any other in the TACT
that it is both civil and criminal.
The issues at stake arc tremendous. and L
shall in my sermon show you, first, what are
the grounds Of complaint; then, who are the
witnesses in the cause, and lastly, VINO are
the advocates.
When q trial is called on the first thing is
to have the Indictment read. Stand up then,
o. Christian man. and hear the indictment
OF the court Of high heaven against thy SOUL
It is IN Indictment of ten counts, Tor tnou
hast directly or indirectly broken all tue tea
commandment. You know how 1t thun-
derel on Sinai AMI when God came down
how the mountain rocked and the smoke
assembled us from q smoldering furnace, AMI
the darkness gathered thick, and th9 LOUD,
deep trumpet uttered the Words "Ihe soul
that snneth, it shall die!'' Are you guilty.,
or not guilty2 Do not put in negative pea.
too quick, for have to announce that "aii
have sinned and come short OF the glory Oh
God. There is mono that doeth gooo; no,
not one. Whosoever shall keep tho whole
law, vet Offend in one point. he is guilty o.
ALL" Do not therefore, be too hasty III
pronouncing yourself not guilty.
Tho lawsuit before Us also charges you
with the breaking Of solemn contract
Many time did we promise to be Inc LORDS
We got down on our knees ana sad: ~;
Lord. am Thino now and forever. Diu
YOU keep the promise? Have you stoo up
TO the contract? Have you not sometimes
faltered when YOU ought to have been truef
Have YOU not been proud when VOC ougnt
TO have been humble? Have you not played
the coward when you oaght to have been
the hero2 l charge il upon you and charge
it upon myself--Te have broken the con-
tract.
Still further; this lawsuit claims damages
at yout hands. The greatest SANDER Oh the
the Christian religion is an inconsistent pro-
fessor. The Bible says religion Is one thing;
we, by our inconsistency, say religion IS
some other thing, and what is moro deplora-
bic about it is that people can see faults IN
| others while they can not see any in them
selves II YOU shall ut any time find some
miserable old gossip. with imperfections
from the crown of her head TO the sole OF her
| foot. 4 perfect blotch of sin herself, she VIII
90 tdltling, tattling, tattling, all the years OF
| her life about the Inconsistencies OF others,
having no idea that she is inconsistent her.
self. God save the world from tho gossip,
| female aud male! l th nix the males are the
worst!
Now you have heard tho indictment read.
Are you ready to plead guilty or not guilty.
Perhaps you are not ready, yet TO plca,ni;;
Then the trial will 90 on. The witnesses Will
DO called, and we shall have the matter de-
cidel. In the namo Cf Go now make pro-
clamation: Oyczl Oyezl Oyez! whoever
hath ANYTHING to offer in this trial in wbicl
| God is the plaintiff and the Christian soul
the defendant. let him now step forth and
give testimony in this solemn trial.
The first witness call upon the stind in
behalf Of the prosecution is the world-atl
critical aud observant OF Christian CHAT
acter. You know that there are people
around you who pcrpetually banquet on tue
frailties of Gods children. You may know
if you have lived in the country, that CROW
cares for nothing 50 much as carrion. Tnerd
are those who imagine that out of tho faults
of Christians they can make bridge o
boats across the stream Of DEATH aud they
are going to try it; but, alas fort mistake
When they get mid-stream away Will so I'M
bridge AMI down will go their souls to psrdl
ton. o world of the greedy eye ant tn
hard heart, come on tho stand now and tes
tify in behalf Of the prosecution against tut
Christian soul on trial. What do you know
about this Christian man? ION, says III
world, III know a great deal about hi1l. II
talks about putting his treasures in heaven
but he is the sharpest man in ira 10 eve
knew. He seems to want us to believe tina
he is child of God, but ho is just full o
imperfections do not know but l am
great deal better than he is now. Often
times he is worry earthly, and he talks 50 lit
tie about Christ aul 50 much about hlmseli
am very glad to testify that this is oa
mar"
Stop. O World, with the greedy eye an
hard heart. fear you are too much ih'el
ested in this trial TO give impartial evidenc
Let all those who hear the testimony OF thi
witness know that there is an Old tamil
, quarrel between these two parties. Thel
always has been variance between II
World and the Church, and While the Worl
Oh the witness stand to-day has told gre'
, deal of truth about this Christian man, yo
must take it all with much allowance, r
Numbering that they still keep the old grnds
good. O. World Of the greedy and the hal
heart that will do; you must sit down.
The second Witness l call in this case
Conscience. Who art thou. Conscienc
What is your business? Where were &c
born? What are you doing here? GOD
saws Conscience, III was born i'll heaven.
came down to b'friend this man. ha'
; lived with him. have instructed him.
q have warned. him. showed him the rig
and The wrong, advising him to take the OF
and eschey tue other. l have kindled
J great light in his soul. With whip
Scorpion have scourged his wickedness, al
: have tried to cheer him when doing rigL
and vet I am compelled to testify on &
stand to-day that he Las sometimes reJect
nv mission. o., how many cups OF II
have pressed to his lips that he DASH
down, and how often has he stood with !
9 hard heel on the bleeding heart OF the s.
of God 1t pains me very much that ma
= to testify against this Christian man, a
vet must, in behalf OF Him who will In
wise clear the guilty, say that this CHRISTI
d man has done wrong He has been world
q He has been negle .tiul. He has done
thousand things he ought not to have dor
and left undone a thousan things he Dug
: to have DONE" That will do, Conseien'
l. You can sit down.
- The third witness I call in the case is
angel of Col Bright AMI shining one, WI
= doest thou here? What hast thou to S
n against this man on iriaR ION. says
f angel, II have been messenger to him.
have guarded him. l have washed him. W
y this wing have defended him, AMI ofit
1t times, when be knew it not, led him II
O green pastures and beside still waters.
, snatched from HIM the poisoned CHI
= ices. When bad spirits came upon him
5. destroy him, l fought them back with infln
e ferceness, and yet have to testify tod
a. that he has rejected my miss on. he
not done as he ought to have done. Thou
- came from the sky, he drove me ba
L Though with this wing defended him, a
e though with this voice | wOoed him, II;
T. TO announce his multiplied imperiec,ions.
: dare not keep back the testimony, Tor thel
s. should not dare to appear again anon
II the sinless ones before the great VII
10 Throne"
:, There is ony one more witnessto be cal
:, on hehalf of the prosecution. and that is