Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-08-05
THE IVORY PALACES.
DR.. Talmage On the Glories Of the
World to Come.
The Attractiveaess OF Christ, VINO
Opens the Way for His Faithfui
FO1Iower--The Christians
Guide to Heaven.
rCopyrlght. 1899. Louis Kiopsch.l
Woabfn~tor Iufv 20


forth the Clories of the world 10 come
and the attractiveness of the Christ.
who opens the way; text. Psalms. ass:
"All thy garments smell OF myrrh and
aloes and cassia ont Of the ivory pal
aces"
Among the grand adornments Of the
city Of Paris is the church OF Notre
Dame, with its great towers and elab-
crate rose windows and scupturing Of
the last Judgment. with the trumpet
ing angels and rising dead; It's battle
lnents of quatre fofi; its sacristy. with
ribbed ceiling and statutes OF saints.
But there was nothing io all that great
building which more wildly appealed
20 my plain republican tnstes than the
costly vestmentS which lay in oaken
presses-robes Nhat had been cmbroio-
cred with gold and been worn by popeS
and archblshops on great occasions.
There was robe that had been worn
by Pius VII. at the crowuang Of the
first Napoleon. There was also a vest
Inent that had been worn at the bap-
tism OF NapolSon H. A. our guide
opened the oaken presses and brought
out these vestments of fabulous cost
and lifted them up the fragrance Of the
pungent aromascs M which they had
been preserved filed the place with a
sweetness that was almost oppressive.
Nothing that had been done Ia stone
more wildly impressed me than these
things that had been done in cloth and
embroidery and perfume. But to-day
/ open the drawer Of this text. and l
look upon the kingly robes OF Christ.
and as I lift them. flashing with eter-
nal Jewels. the whole house is filled
with the aroma of these garments.
which smell Of myrrh and aloes and
cassia out OF the ivory palaoes-
In my text the King steps forth His
robes rustic and blaze as he advances
His pomp and power and glory over
master the spectator. More brilliant Is
Hethan Queen Vashti. moving amid the
Persian princes; than Marie Antoi
nette on the day when Louis XIV. pu
upon her the necklace OF 500 diamonds
than Anne Boleyn the day when Henr,
VIII. welcomed her to his palace
beauty and all pomp forgotten Will
we stanS IN the presence OF this i'm
perial glory. King OF Zion, King o
earth. King OF Heaven. King forever
His garments not worn out. not dus
bedraggled. but radiant. ans jeweleo
and redolent. IL seems as II they mus
have been pressed a hundred yoar
amid the flowers OF Heaven. III
wardrobes from which they have bee
taken must have been sweete
with clusters Of campfire. and frankiI
cense. and all manner Of precious woos
Do YOU not inhale the odors? Aye. ayl
They smell of mvrrh and aloes an
cassia out of the ivory palaces
Your first curiosity is 10 know VII
the robes of Christ are odorous wit
myrrh This was briFht-leafed Ably
sinian plant. IL was trifoliated. II
Greeks, Egyptians. Romans and Jew
bought and sold il at a high price II
first present that was ever given
Christ was a sprig of myrrh thrown &
His infanEle bed in bethlehem. and q
last gift thar Christ ever had W
myrrh pressed into the cup of His CT
cifNion. The natives would take
stone and bruise the tree. and then
would exude gum that would satITa
ali the ground beneath. This gum "
nsed for purposes OF merchandise. .
piece of il no larger than chestn
would whelm whole room with odo
IL was put in closets, in chests, in dra
ers, in rooms. and its perfume adher
almost interminably 10 anything ne
IT. So when In my text I read th
" Christ's garments smell Of nlyrrh /
mediately conclude the exquisite swe
ness OF Jesus.
know that to many He IS only Ii
any historical person-another 10
Howard. another philanthropic Ob
lin. another Confueius, grand subj
for q painting. heroic theme fol
poem. beautiful form for stat
but to those who have heard His vo
and felt Ills pardon and received
benediction He is music and light a
warmth and thrill and eternal
GRANGE, sweet as a friend sticking
you when all else bctray. lifting you
while others try 20 push you down,
SO much like morning glories q
bloom only when the sun is coming
nor like -four o'clocks." that bio
only when the sun is going down.
like myrrh, perpetually aromatic,
same morning. noon and night. yesl
day, to-day, forever. IL seems as II
cannot wear Him out. We put on /
All our burdens and affiict Him "
all our griefs and set Him foremos
All our battles. and vet He is read,
lift and 20 sympathize and to help
have so imposed upon Him that