The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-05-01
REV. DIR. TALMAGE.
rba Eminent Divine's Sermon, De-
uvered In Warrington.
Subject: Invited to Banquet"

TEXT: Bring hither the fattei cali ans
kill it."-Luke wv; %.
In all ages of the world it has been custom
airy to celebrate joyful events by festivity.
The signing Of treaties, the proclamation OF
peace, the inauguration OF presidents, tue
coronation Of kings, the Christmas. the mar
riaye. However much on other days OF the
year cur tauls may have stintei supply, on
rhauksgiv wing Day there must be something
bounteous. Aud all the comfortable homes
OF Chrisiendom have at some time eele
brated joyful events by banquet and les
tiyity Something has happened on the old
homestead greater than anything that mas
ever happened tefore. A !avorite son whom
the world supposed would become Vaga.
bond and outlaw forever has got tired OF
sightseeing aud has returned to his fathers
home. The world said he would never come
back. The old man always said his son
would come back. He had been looking Tor
him day after day and year after year. he
knew he would come back. Now having re-
turned to his fathers house the father pro-
claims celebration. There is in the paddock
Il calf that has been kept up and FED to Ut
most capacity, 50 as 10 be ready Ior so,ile
occasion of Joy that might come along. al,
there never would be grander day on the
old homestead than this day! Let the butch-
ers do their work, and the housekeeper5
bring into toe the the smoking meat. inc
musicians will take their places, and the gay
groups will move up aud down the moor.
All tha friends and neShbors ara gathered
| in and an extra supply Is sent out TO the
table OF the servants. The father preStdes AZ
| the table and says grace, and thanks God
| that his long absent 10y is home again.
| On, how they missed him, how glad they are
| TO have him baeH!
| One brother stands pouting at The back
| door and saws. This is a great ado about
| nothing. This bad boy should have been
chastised instead OF greeted. Veal is too
| good for him. Blu the father says, Moth
| ing Is good enough" There sits the young
| man, glad at the hearty reception. but q
| shadow of sorrow fitting across his brow at
| the remembrance OF the trouble he had seen.
All ready now. Let the covers lift Music.
He was dead and he is alive again! He was
lost and he is found! BY such bold imagery
does the Bible set forth the merrymaking
| when Il soul comes home to God.
First OF all, there is the new converts Joy.
1t is no tame thing 10 become Il Christian.
The most tremendous moment in a mans
life is when he surrenders himself TO God.
The grandest time on the father g homestead
is when the boy comes back. Among the
great tbropg who in the pariors ofour church
professed Christ one night was a young man
who next morning rang my door bell and
said: 'Sir, cannot contain myself with the
Joy feel. J. came here this morning to ex-
press it. l have found mora JOY in FIVE
minutes in serving God than in all the years
of my prodigaity, and l came to say so.'
You have seen perhaps man running Tor
his temporal liberty and the officers OF tina
law after him. and you saw him escape, OF
gfterward you hear the judge had pardoned
hIm. and how great was the glee OF that res
,ued man; but it is q very tame thing, that,
compared with The running for ones ever
tasting life, the terrors of the law after him
and Christ coming in to pardon and bless
and rescue and save.
You remember John Bunyan in bis great
story tells how the pilgrim put his fingers TO
his ears and ran. crying: Life, life. eternal
ifei' A poor ear driver some time ago,
, after years having had 10 struggle to sup
port his family, suddenly was informed that
large inheritance was his, and there was a
10y amounting to beWilderment, but that is
small thing compared with the experiences
of one when he has put in his hands the title
deed TO the joys, the raptures, the splendor:
] )f heaven, and ha can truly say. Its man
) lions are mine, its temples are mine, its
longs are mine, its God is mine!" Oh, it Is
10 tame thing TO become Christian. 1t il
1 Incorporating. 1t is the killing OF the
atted calf. IL is jubilee. You know the
, Bible never compares it TO a funeral. but
llways compares it to something delightful.
9 t is more apt to be compared to banquet
9 han anything else. Ii is compared in the
, 3ib,e TO water, bright, flashing water, to thu
morning, roseate. freworked, mountain
ransiigured morning.
! wish could to-day take all the Bible ex
q ,ressions about pardon. and peace, and life
md comfort. and hope. and heaven. ant
wist them into ons garland and pur it OF
, he brow Of tho humblest child of God IL
y | his assembage and cry, "Wear it, wear il
: low, wear it forever, sou OF God, dauShte
( II the Lord God Almighty" Oh. the JOY 0
r he new convert Oh. the gladness of tn
; | Jhristihn seryiee You have seen some
3 LINES a msn in a religious assembly get NJ
= md give has experience. Well. Paul CAV
81 his expe1ieilce. Ne arsse in the presenc
O ~ two churches. the church on earth and tn
: ,burclfin heaven. and he said, "Now this /
!. 7 N.Y. exFerieEee -sorrowful, yet always re
y .oicing spRr, yet making many rich; havin
II az Ing. Pessessiu4 allthings." II tn
7bDle IN %bis hbuse knew the Joys OF tn
.ian felisioS, hey wonld all pass owe
81 Hhen Daniel sanaeman was dying of chol
arx his attshesnt ssaid. ssEaye xou niue
4 sohs be rsplfsa, ssincs Isohnd ahe Lord
: ,avalievr hsii any rnin except sln!" The
hey saidsto him, - Won. you like to send
ps'I sfgs to ts s{ s6s love M1as
/ tesus came rushing into uy soul like th
J, I jaFgss cf tie sea. and rad to cry GU
Stop, Lord. il Us 9ncdgh; stop, lord
II f,houghi,,n On. the joys-of this Christian r
ri isiop. Just pass-oyer from those tame joJ
! p,wbdeh You ara INDUCING joys Of q
: gorl5. into the raPtl1kesof the gospel II
esa eann n5xa atisiy y0s sss g oS
. O conquer auHtyet dfowned in bis own DO
De; Byfen whipped by disquietades aroun
e he M4fld8Eoltafre cursiDg his own sol