Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1898-07-01
BLISS OF PARADISE.
HEAVENLY REST THE SUBJECT or
DR.. TALMAGe'S SERMON.

ing Peace For Those Who Win the Crown,
copyright, 1898. by American Press Asso-
| ciatlOn.l
WASHINGTON, June 26.--This dis
course of DR.. Talmage draws a contrast
between the fatigues of this world and
the blissful recuperation Of the heav-
enly paradise; text, Micah ii, 10,
"Arise ye and depart, for this is not
your rest.
This was the drum beat Of prophet
who wanted to arouse his people from
their oppressed and sinful condition,
but it may just as properly be uttered
now as then. Bells by long exposure
and much ringing lose their clearness
of tone, but this rousing bell of the gos-
pei strikes in as clear tone as when it
first rang on the air.
AS far as / can see, your great want
and mine is rest. From the time we en-
ter life a great many vexations and an
noyances take after us. We have our
holidays and our seasons Of recreation
and quiet, but where is the man in this
world who has found entire rest? The
| fact is that God did not make this world
to rest in. A ship might as well 90
down off Cape Hatteras to find smooth
water as a man in this world to find
quiet From the way that God has
strewn the thorns and hung the clouds
and sharpened the tusks, from the colds
that distress us, and the heats that
smite US, and the pleurisies that stab US,
and the fevers that consume us, l know
that he did not make this world as a
place to loiter in. God does everything
successfully and this world would be a
very different world if it were intended
for us to lounge in. 1t does right well
for a few years. Indeed it is magnificent !
Nothing but infinite wisdom and good
ness could have mixed this beverage Of
water or hung up these brackets Of stars
or trained these voices of rill and bird
and ocean-so that God has but TO lift
his hand, and the whole world breaks
forth into orchestra But after all it IS
only the splendors Of a kings highway,
over which we are to march on to eter-
nal conquests.
Cares of Wealth.
You and l have seen men who tried
to rest here. They builded themselves
great stores. They gathered around
them the patronage of merchant princes.
The voice of their bid shook the money
markets. They had stock in the most
successful railroads, and in safe deposit
vaults great rolls Of government securi-
ties. They had emblazoned carriages,
high mettled steeds, footmen. plate that
confounded lords and senators who sat
at their table, tapestry on which foated
the richest designs of foreign looms,
splendor Of canvas on the wall, exqui-
siteness of music rising among pedestals
of bronze, and dropping, soft as light,
on snow of sculpture. Here let them
rest Put back the embroidered curtain
and shake up the pillow Of down. Turn
out the lights. 1t is II o'clock at night.
Let slumber drop upon the eyelids and
the air float through the half opened
lattice. drowsy with midsummer per-
fume. Stand back, all care, anxiety ana
troubled But no, they will not stand
back. They rattle the lattice. They
look under the canopy. With rough
touch they startle his pulses. They cry
out at ~ o'clock at night Awake,
man. How can you sleep when things
are so uncertain? What about those
stocks? Hark to the tap of that fire bell
1t is your district. How if you should
die soon? Awake, mani Think Of it!
Who viii get your property when You
are gone? What will they do with it?
Wake upl Riches sometimes take wings.
How if you should get poor? Wake up"
Rising on one elbow, the man Of for
tune looks out into the darkness Of the
room and wipes the dampness from his
forehead and says: Alas For all this
scene of wealth and magnifcence-no
rest "
| passed down a street Of city with
merchant He knew all the finest
houses on the street. He said: "There
is something the matter in all these
houses. In that one it is conjugal in
felicity. In that one, dissipated son.
In that, a dissolute father. In that, an
idiot child. In that the prospect OF
bankruptcy. This worlds wealth can
give no permanent satisfaction. This
is not your rest.
You and | have seen men try in an
other direction. Aman says IF | could
only rise to such and such place OF re-
nown; if l could gain that office; II l
could only get the stand and have my
sentiments met with one good round OF
hand clapping applause; if | could only
write a book that would live or make a
speech that would thrill or do an action
that would resound 7" The tide turns In
his favor His name is on 10, 600 lips.
He is bowed to and sought after and adj
vanced. Men drink his health at great
dinners. At his fiery words the multi
tudes huzza From galleries OF beauty
they throw garlands. From house tops,
as he passes in long procession, they
shake out the national standards Here
let him rest. 1t is IL O'Clock at night.
On pillows stuffed with nations praise
let him lie down. Hush. all disturbant
voicesl In his dream let there be hoisted
throne and across it march a corona
ton. Hush, hushl
The Worlds Empty Hopors.
"Wake upr' says rough voice. "Po-
litical sentiment is changing. How If
YOU should lose this place Of honor
Wake upl The morning papers are to be
full of denunciation. Hearken to the ex-
ecrations of those who once caressed
you. By tomorrow night there will be
multitudes neering at the words which
last night you expected would be uni
versally admired. How can you sleep
when everything depends upon the next
turn of the great tragedy? UP, man
OF of this pillowV The man, with
head yet hot from his last oration,
starts up suddenly, looks out upon the
night, but sees nothing except the now-
ers that lie upon his stand or the scroll
from which he read his speech or the
books from which he quoted his author
;t;os aud goos In his desk TO finish his