Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-08-14
TALMAGE'S SERMON
INTERESTING THEME ny Tue
WASHINGTON PREACHER
Subject. "The Glow OF sunset"

IWTT
anNieties and bitterness OF soul. He in turn
talks 90 them, nightly eNuouading the
scriptures. He throws over them the iascina-
ton OF intelligent conversation. They for
get the time aud notice not the objects they
pass, and before they ARE aware have come
up In front OF their house. They pause be-
Tore the entrance aud attempt 10 persuade
the stranger 10 tarry with them. They press
upon H.m their hOspitHities Night is coming
on, and He may meet a prowling wild beast
or be obliged 10 lie uusheltered from the
dew. lie cam 20 much farther now. Why
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 it
Is toward evening"
The eandlesarc lighted; thetable isspread;
pleasant sOciaiities are enkindled. They re-
iOice IN the presence OF the stranger guest.
He asks II blessing upon the bread they eat.
and He hands piece Of il 10 each. Suddenly
and with overwhelming power the thought
flashes upon the astonished people--it is the
Lord! And as they sit in breathless wonder.
looking upon the resurrected body OF Jesus,
He vanished. The interview ended, He was
gone.
With many Of us il is bright, sunshiny
day of prosperity. There is not a cloud in
the sky; not a leaf rustling in the forest; no
chill in the air. But We cannot expect all
this to last. He is not an intelligent man
who expects perpetual daylight Of Joy. The
sun will after awhile near the horizon. The
shadows will lensthen. While lspeak many
of rs stand in toe very hour described in the
text, "for it is toward evening" The re.
quest Of the text is appropriate for some be-
fore me- for with them it is toward the even
ing Of old age. They have passed the meridian
Of life. They are sometimes startled TO think
how old they are. They do not however, liketo
have Others remark upon it. If others sug-
gest their approximation toward venerable
appearance, they say, "Why, I'm not so old.
after all" They do, indeed, notice that they
cannot lift quite so much as once. They
cannot walk quite SO fast. They cannot
read quite 80 we'll without spectaeles. They
cannot so easily recover from a cough or
any occasional ailment They have lost
their taste for merriment. They are sur
prised at the quick passage of the year.
They say that it only seems alttle while ago
that they were boys. They are going little
down hill. There is something in their
health, something in their vision, something
i'll their walk, something in their changing
associations something above, something
beneath, something within, to remind them
that il is toward evening.
The great want of all such is to have Jesus
abide with them. 1t is dismal thing to be
getting old without the rejuvenating influ-
ence OF religion. When we stepon the down
grade Of life and see that it dips to the verge
OF the cold river we want TO behold some
one near who will help us across it, When
the sight loses its power TO glance and gather
up, We need the faith that can illuminate.
J When we feel the failure OF the eur, we need
the clear tones OF 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 strength
and beauty around US and we are left in soil
tude, we need the dove of divine mercy to
sing in our branches. When the shadows
begin TO fall and we feel that the dav is far
spent, We need most Of all to supplicate the
strong benefcent Jesus in the prayer of the
villagers, abide with u.s. for it is toward
evening""
The request OF the text is an appropriate
exclamation for all those who are approached
in the gloomy hour of temptation. There is
nothing easier than to be good natured when
I CNrI HtiunS pic"ser, % - H. L.---.Ll- .,I----
;here is nothing to oppose us, or forgiving
1 when we nave not been assailed. or honest
when we have no inducement to fraud But
you have felt the grapple OF some tempta.
ton. Your nature at some time quaked and
groaned under the internal force You felt
that the devil was after you. You saw your
Christian graces retreating. You feared
that you would fall in the awful wrestle with
blI anu NC luIpNL lulO lue aust. Inc gloom
thickened. The first indications of the night
were seen in all the trembling Of your SOU
In all the internal suggestions of Satan, in
all the surging up OF tumultuous passions
and eXctements. You felt with awful en-
phasis that it was toward evening. In the
tempted hour you need to ask Jesus to
abide with you. You can beat back the mon
ster that would devour you. You can I'M
horse the sin that would ride you down.
~ chr H.. 1
youspilt the head of helmeted abominatiOn.
Who helped Paul shake the brazen gated
heart OF Felix? Who acted like good sailor
when all the crew howled in the Mediter-
ranean shtpwreck? Who helped the martyrs
to be firm when one word of recanta-
ton would have unfastened the withes OF
the stake and put out the kindlIng fre2 When
the night OF the soul came on and all the
denlzens OF darkness came riding upon the
winds OF perdition who gave strength to the
SOUR Who gave calmness to the heart
Who broke the spell of internal enchant-
mentH He who heard the request of the viii
layers, abide With us, for it is toward even
ing"
One Of the forts of France was attacked,
aud the outworks were taken before night
The besieging army lay down, thinking there
was but little to do in the morning, and that
the soldery in the fort could be easily made
~ Shi-SLhCAs lDut dutlllS llb night, through
back stairs, they escaped into the country.
In themorning the besieging army sprang
upon the battlements, but found that their
prey was gone. So, when we are assaulted
in temptation, there is always some secret
stair by which we might get Off God will
not allow US to be tempted above what we
are able, but with every temptation will
bring way of escape that we may be able to
bear it.
The prayer of the text is appropriate for
all who are anticipating sorrow. The great
est folly that ever grew on this planet is the
tendency to borrow trouble, but there are
times when approaching sorrow is so evident
tbat we need r. ha m abins snanial nrenara-
ton for its coming.
One Of your children has lately become a
favorite. The cry of that child strikes deep
er into the heart than the cry of all the 9TH
ers. You think more about it. You give il
more attention, not because it is any more of
a treasure than the others, but because it is
becoming frail. There is something in the
cheek, in the eye and in the walk that makes
you quite sure that the leaves of the flower
are going to be scattered. The utmost nurs.
ing and medical attendance are Intellectual
The pulse becomes feeble the complexion
lighter, the step weaker, the laugh fainter
No more romping for that one through hall
and parlor, The nursery is darkened by an
approaching calamity. The heart feels with
mournful anticipation that the sun is going
down. Night speeds on. 1t is toward even
ing.
You have long rejoced in the care OF a
mother. You have done everything to make
her last days happy. You have run with
quick feet to wait upon her every want. Hel
presence has been perpetual blessing in the
household. But the fruit gatherers are look
Ing wistfully at that tree. Her soul is ripe
for heaven. The gates are ready to fash
open for her entrance. But your soul sinks
at the thought of u separation. You cannot
bear to think that soon you will be called to
take the last look at that face which from
the first hour has looked upon you with az