The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-06-29
TO THE WEARY.
Rev. DR.. Talmage breaches a Com
forting Sermon.
A Land of Rest, Free from Care, Lies on
che Other Side of the Great River
The Rich and HOnored Vainly
Seek Repose on this Earth.

In tDe 1OllOWlng sermon Dr. lal-
mage gives his views of the heavenly
kingdom and draws many sharp con-
trasts between the fatigues of this
world and the blissful recuperation of
that which is to come. His text is
Micah 2: 10: "Arise ye and depart for
this is not your rest"
AS far as can see, your great want
and mine is rest. From the time we
enter life, great many veXations and
anDoyances take after us. We have
our holidays aid our seasons of rec
reation and quiet, but where is the
man in this world who has found en-
. tire rest! The fact is that God did
not make this world to rest in. A
ship might as well go 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, !
know that he did not make this world
as place to loiter in. God does every
thing 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. In
deed, it is magnificent! Nothing but
infinite wisdom and goodness 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 kings
highway, over which we are to march
on to eternal conquests.
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 em,
blazoned carriages, high-mettlet
steeds, footmen, plate that confound
ed lords and senators who sat at theil
table, tapestry on which floated the
richest designs of foreign looms
splendor of canvas on the wall, eX
uuisiteness of music rising among pc
destals of bronze, and dropping, sof
as light, on snow of sculpture. Here
let them rest. Put back the embroid
cred curtain, and shake up the pillow
of down. Turn out the lights. 1t il
II o'clock at night. Let slumber droI
upon the eyelids. and the air foa
through the half-opened lattice
drowsy with midsummer perfume
Stand back, all care, anxiety, ant
TROUBLED! But no! they will not stanC
back. They rattle the lattice. The,
look under the canopy. With rougl
touch they startle his pulses. The
cry out at 12 o'clock at night, "Awak
man; how can you sleep when thing
are so uncertain? What about thos
stocks? Hark to the tap of that fir
bell; it is your district: How if yo
should die soon? Awake man! Thin
of it! Who will get your propert
when you are gone? What will the
do with it? Wake up! Riches som,
times take wings. How if you shoul
get poor? Wake up!"
Rising on one elbow, the man of fo'
tune looks out into the darkness {
the room, and wipes the dampnes
from his forehead and says, "Alas
For all this scene of wealth and mas
nificence-no rest!"
Ipassed down street of city wit
merchant He knew all the fines
houses on the street. He said: "Thel
is something the matter in all thes
houses. In that one it is conjugal il
felicity. In that one, dissipatel so
In that, dissolute father. In tina
an idiot child. In that, the prospec
of bankruptcy" This worlds wealt
can give no permanent satisfaction
This is not your rest.
You and | have seen men try in a
other direction. A man says: "If
could only rise to such and such
place of renown; if could gain thi
Office; if / could only get the stan
and have my sentiments met with OF
good round of hand-clapping a
plause; if I could only write boo
that would live, or make a speech tn
would thrill, or do an action tn
would resound!" The tide turns
his favor. His name is on ten tho
sand lips. He is bowed to, and soug
after, and advanced. Men drink
health at great dinners. At his fie
words the multitudes huZza! Fro
galleries of beauty they throw gi
lands. From housetops, as he pass
in long procession they shake out t
national standards. Here let him re
IT is II o'clock at night. On pillo
stuffed with nations pride let h
lie down. Hush! all disturbant voic
In his dream let there be hoisted
throne and across it march coroI
tion. Hush! Hush!
''Wale up!" says a rough vol
"Political sentiment is changing. II,
If you should lose this place of hone
Wake up! The morning papers are
be full of denunciation. Hearken
the execrations of those who once
ressed you. By tomorrow night tn,
will be multitudes sneering at
words which last night you expect
would be universally admired. H
can you sleep when everything
pends upon the next turn of the gr
tragedy. Up, man! Off of this pillow
The man, with head yet hot from
last oration, starts up suddenly, lo'
out upon the night, but sees moth
except the flowers that lie upon
stand, or the books from which
quoted his authorities, and goes to
desk to finish his neglected col
spondence, or to pen an indignant
to some reporter, or sketch the p
for a public defense against the
saults Of the people. Happy when
got his first lawyers brief; exult
when he triumphed over his first