The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-06-28
BLISS OF PARADISE.
HEA vENLY REST HI SUBJECT OF
DIR. TALMAGE'S SERMON.
without Jesus There Can BE No Rest
on Earth-Wealth and Power Bring
NO Balm to the Spirif-Eyer-
lasting Peace For Those VINO Win
the CrONn.

copyright, 1898, by American Press
Association.)
This discourse of DIR. Talmage draws
a contrast between the fatigues Of this
world and the blissful recuperation Of
the heavenly paradise; text, Micah
lilo. Arise We and depart, for this is
not your rest"
This was the drum e Of a 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 clearnes5
OF tone, but this rousing bell OF the
gospel strikes in as clear a 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
~nnOyance take after us. We have
our holidays and our seasons Of recre-
alton and quiet, but where is the man
in this world who has found entire
rest? The fact is that God did not
make his world to rest in. A ship
might as well go down off Cape Hat
tcras 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, | know that
He did not make this world as a place
to IOiter in. God does everything sue
Cessfully 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. In deed it is magnifi-
cent! Nothing but infinite wisdom and
goodness could have mixed this bever-
age of water or hung up these brack-
cts of stars or raine these voices
of rill and bird and that God
has but to lift H. hand, and the whole
world breaks forth into orchestra. But
after all it is only the ~sDlendors of a
kings highway, over which we are to
march on to eternal c~OnQuestS.
CARES OF WEALTH.
You and / 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 securities. They had en-
blazOned carriages, high melted
steeds, fOOtmen, plate that COMPOUNDED
lords and senators who sat at their
table, tapestry on which flOated the
richest designs of foreign looms, splen-
dor of canvas on the wall, exquisite
ness of music rising among pedestalS
of bronze, and dropping, soft as light,
on snow or sculpture. Here let them
rest. Put back the embroidered cur
tain and shake up the pillow of down.
Turn out the lights. It is II o'clock
at night. Let umb drop upon the
cyclids and the air flOat through the
half opened lattice. drOWsy with mid
sunmer perfume. Stand back, all care.
anxiety and trouble! But no, they
ILL go 49, IT.
lattice. They look under the canopy.
With rough touch they startle his
pulses. They cry out at II o'clock at
night: awake, man. How can you
sleep when things are so uncertain -?
What about those stocks? Hark to
the tap of the fire bell. It is your dis
trict. How if you should die soon?
Awake, man! Think of it! Who will
get your property when you are gone?
What will they do with it? Wake up
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 magnifi-
CenCe-nO rest"
I passed down a street of a city with
a 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, a dissipated son.
In that, a dissolute father. In that, an
idiot child. In that, the prospect OF
bankruptcy" This worlds wealth car
give no permanent satisfaction. This
is not your rest.
You and I have seen men try in an
other direction. A man a eff
could only rise to such and such 4
place of rerown; if I could gain that
office: If | could only get the stead ans
have my sentiments met with ere goes
round Of hand clapping applause. if
could only write a book that WOULD
iv" or make a speech that would thrill
or 90 all action that would ros0ur1''
The tide tutns in his favor. His name
is on 1y.C06 lips He is bowed to anC
sought after and advanced Mer
drink his health at great, dinners. y
his fiery T>rds the multitu1as nu7:a
From the geueries of beatty they
thrtv C~ar1s From house sops. a.
he passes III long procession, tie.
shake out the national standards. Her,
let him rest. 1t is II o'clock at night
On pillows stuffed with G. nation.
praise let him lie down. Hush. all dis
turbant voices! In his dream let Their,
be hoisted q throne n across i
march a coronation. Hush, huGhi
THE WORLDS EMPTY HONORS.
Wake up" say a rough voice
political sentiment is changing. How
if you Should lose this place of honor
Wake up! The morning papers are t
be full OF 0enUnciation. Hearken t
the eXeCv2tiCnS of those who one ca
reSSad you. by tomorrow night Their
will be mu,titudes sneer;nS at til
words which last night YOU ekpccte,
would be universally admired. IIoy
can you sleep when everything de
ponds upon the next turn of the grea
tragedy? Up, man! Off of his pill
low" The a with head yet no
from his Grafton, starts up suddenly
looks out upon the night, but see
nothing except the flowers that Ii
upon his stand or the scroll from
which he read his speech or the book
from which he quoted his authorize
and goes to his desk to finish his neg
lected correspondence or to pen an in