South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1896-08-06
REV. DR. TALMAGR.
The Eminent Washington Divine's
Sunday Sermon.
sas,.e.: Arh. c,.~ q ........

TRxr: "Abide with ne. for n "a tov.rc
evening. Luke xiv, 20.
Two villagers, having cone,ud.i thai,
errand In Jerusalem. have started ont nj the
city gate and are on their way 20 Emmans
the place OF their residence. They 90 with 4
SAD heart. Jesus, who had been their ad-
mlraton and their joy. had been basely
massacred and entombed. As. with sad facs
ard broken heart, they pass on their way a
stranger accosts them. They tell Hin, thai
anxieties and bitterness Of soul. He In turn
seIks 10 them, nightly expoundin2 the
,sseIp,ores, ne throwsover them the fascina-
non OF Intelligent conversation. They for.
ger the time and notice not the objects they
pass, and before they are aware have corni
up IN front OF their house They pause be-
lore the entrances dnd attempt TO persuade
, sre s'rTanger TO tarry with them. They press
upon HIM their Inequalities. Night e. coming
on, ana He may meet a prowIing wild beast
or De obliged to lie unsheltered from the
uew. he cannot go much farther now. whv
not stop there and continue their pleasant
conversation? They take Him by The arm
and they insist upon His coming in. address.
ing Him In the words. "Abide with us. for n
Is toward evening"
The candles are lighted; the table Is spread .
pleasant socfalities are enkindled. They re-,
ioice In the presence or the stranger rnes,
He asks blessing upon the bread thew ear
ana He hands piece of IL 10 EACH Suddenly
ana with Overwhelming power the thouoht
nashes upon the astonished peopie--it ,s tbe
Lordl And rs they sit in breathless wonder.
looking upon the resnrrected body OF Jesus'
He vanieaied. The interview ended, ffs yvas
gone. ""o
With many OF US ii is bright. stinsbinv
Jay OF prosperity. There is not a olotd n,
the SKY; not leaf rustliDg in the forest, no
e s,ni IN the ar; But we cantot expect all
this to last: He is not an intelligent mar,
VINO expects perpetual daylight of joy: The
sun will after awhile near the horizon. Tba
shadows will lengthep. While Speak MANY
oil US stand In the very hour described In the
text, 'for 1t is toward evening" I'he re.
quest of the text is appropriate for soma he
lore me, Tor with them 1t is toward the even
Ing OF old age. They have passed the meridian
OF life. They are sometimes startled 10 think
now old they are. They do not, however, like TO
nave il others remark upon it. III Others sug-
Sest their approximation toward venerable
appearance, they say, "why; I'm not so old,
after ALL" They do. indeed. notice that tf,et
cannot lit quite so much as once. Tbev
cannot walk quite so fast. They cannot
aeaa quite SO well without spectacles. They
any occasional ailment. They have lost
their taste for merriment. They are sur-
Rrised mt the quick passage Of the year.
Iney say that 1t only seems alittie while ago
,hat they were boys. They are going little
down hill. There Is somei hing In their
health, something In their vision, something
IN their walk. something in their Changing
associations, something above, something
beneath, something within, to remind them
tnat IT Is toward evening.
The great want of all such Is TO have Jasus
abide with them. 1t is a dismal thing to be
getting old without the rejuvenating iufIu-
enee OF religions When we stem on the dow,
grade OF life and see that II dips to the verge
OF tne cod river, we want 10 behold some
one near who viii help us across II. when
me sight loses its power 10 glance and gather
up, we need the faith thar can illuminate.
When we feel the failure OF the ear. we need
me clear tones o: that voice which in olden
times broke up the silence of the deaf with
cadence OF mercy. When the axmen OF
death hew down whole forests Of strenpth
snd peauty around us and we are left in soli-
tude, we need the dove of divine mercy 70
sing IN our branches. When the shadows
begin TO fall and we feel that the day IS far
spent, We need most OF all to suppllcate the
strong beDencent Jesus In the PRAYER of the
Villagers, Abide with US, for Ii Is toward
evening""
The request OF the text Is an appropriate
exclamation Tor all those who are approaches
.h tue gloomy nour OF temptation There is
notning easier than to be good nat ured when
everything plesses, or TO be humble when
there Is nothing to oppose us. or forgiyinC
when we nave not been assailed, or honest
when we have no inducement TO fraud. But
sou have felt the grapple OF some tempta
Eroaned under the internal force. You felt
mat the devil was after you. You saw vour
christian graces retreaing. You feared
That you would fall in the awful wrestle with
',n ana oe thrown into the dust The gloom
,nickened. The first Indications of fine ni1ht
were seen in all the trembling of your soul.
In all the internal suggestions Of Satan in
All tno surRing up OF tumui.uous passions
and excitements. You felt with awful en-
Pnssis that u was toward evening. In the
MED hnrF NJ M
ABIDE with you. You can beat back the mon
uer that would deyour you. You can I'M
1orse the sin that would ride Won down.
You can sharpen the battleax with which
you split the head OF helmeted abomination.
VINO helped Paul shake the brazeu gated
heart OF Felix! Who acted like good sailor
when all the crew howled in the Mediier-
ranean shipwreck2 Who helped the mHrtyra
% DO hrm when one word OF recanta-
ton would have unfasten6d the withes OF
me stake and put out the kindIiDg aref When
me night OF the soul came on and All the
eenizens OF darkness came riding upon fhs
winds OF perdition who gave strength TO the
sour Who gave ealmness to the hear4l
VINO broke the spell OF Internal onchant-
menif He who heard the request OF the vii
lagers. abide win US, for it Is toward even en-,
ing"
One Of the forts OF France was attaeked
ana the outworks were. taken before night
Inc besieging army lay down, thinking there
vas but little to do in the morning, and that
the soidiery in the fort could be- ensllv made
10 surrender. But during the night. thronen
back Stairs, they escaped into the country.
N the morning the besiegipg army eprnn0
upon the baitlemrnts. but founf that their
prey was gone. 80. when we are assaulted
IN temptation, there IS always some secret
stair BY which we might get on. God will
Dot allow us 20 be tempted above what we
arc able. but with every temptation will
orlng 2 way Of escape that we may be able to
bear 81.
The prayer OF the text is appropriate for
ail who are anticipating sorrow. The great
ssI ioiy that ever grew on this planet Is tho
tendency 70 borrow trouble, bat thcre are
times when approaching sorrow is so evident
tnat We need 20 be- making special prepara-
ton for its coming.
One Of your children has lately bsrope n
iavorite. The cry Of that child strikes deep
or into the heart than the cry Of AL the o,h-
ers. You think more aboutit. You give II
more attention. not because Il Is any more OF
treasure than the Others. out because n ie
becoming frail. There Is something in the
cheek, IN the eve aud I'm the walk that makea
You quite sure that the leaves Of the flower
are going 90 be scattered The utmost mrs
Ing ana modicaf atrenoanca are fnauocfuaf
The pulse becomes feeble the complexion
lighter, the step weaker, the laugh fainter
No more romping for that one through hall
and parlor. The nursry " darkened BY 90
mournful anticipation that the sun Is going
down Night speeds on. IL r. toward even
ing.
You have long rejoiced IN tho caro- Of a
mother You have done everything 20 make
her last days happy. You have run with
quick feet 60 wait upon her every want. Her
presence has been = perpetual blessing in thf