Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1899-01-14
REY. DR.. fALMAGR.
THE EMINENT DNINE's SUNDAY
DISCOURSE.

sao3ects ~Dinerent Modes 81 Measuring
tee FiiKht OF Ttme''-Li Shouia Not
BE Wholly span OF Y~ers-rhe Curss
OF weaish-The True Gauge.
TExr: How old art thouf"-Genesls
XVII. g
The Egyptian capital was tue focus Of
the worlds wealth. In shins and harsrs
there had been brought 20 h from Tniia
lranSincense and cinnamon ant ivory and
diamonds, from the north. marble and
lron' nom syria, purple and silk; from
Sreece. some % the fnest horses Of tho
world and some of the most brilliant char.
lots. and from All the earth that which
could best please tho eye aod charm tho
ear and gratify the taste. There were TEN
Pies sdama With I'D sandstone. entered hv
the gateweys that we're guarded BY pillars
hewiidering with hiercglyrhics and wound
Win orazen serponts and adorned with
winged creatures. their eyes ana beakl
and pinions glittering with precious stones;
there were marble columns blooming into
white fower beds. there were stone pillars.
st the TOP bursting into the shape of tho
issus Then IN flil bloom.
Along the avenues. lined With sphinx
and fame and ohclisk. there were nrIna.a
who came In gorgCoLsly upholstered
palanQuins, carried ny servants in scar
iet or elsewhere drawn hv vehirie- tha
sncw-white horses. golden -hitfcl aud
SIX abreast, dashing az iuu run. on s0ors
spelcd out in letters % porphvrv and
beryl and flame. There were ornaments
twisted FROM che wood 90 tamarisk nrn-
bosscd with silver breaking into foam.
There were footstools made ONE 90 q singis
precious stone. There were beds fashioned
out % crouched lion in bronze There
were chairs spotted with che sleek hides cf
leoparis- There were sofas fnntnl with
the claws oi Wild beasts and armed with
the beaks ot brds. A. YOU stand on tla
H.HHh 81 .sHH.
and look either way. and there are miles
ot breakers, white with the ocean foam.
dashing shoreward. 40 10 seenel as if the
sea or the worlds p0mn and wealth iu the
Egyptian capital for miles ana miles dung
itself up into white breakers of marble
tcmple. maus0ioum and oboiisK
lt was 90 this capital and the palace of
Pharaoh that Jacob. She plain shepherd
came 20 meet his son Joseph. who had be.
come prime minister in the royal spart-
ment. Pharaoh and Jacob mot. dignity
and rusticity. the yracefnlness 90 the court
and the plain manners of the 0eid Tho
king. wanting 60 make the old country man
at ease aud seelng how white his beard Is
aud how feeble hts step. looks familiarity
into his face and saws 60 the aged man.
How old art thou9"
On New Years. night the gate of eternity
opened 90 let in amid tlo great thronr sd
departed centuries the soul of the diving
year. Under the tVeslta stroke % tha
patriarch fcll dead. and The stars ~ the
night we're ths funeral TORCHES Ne is most
fortunate that on this road of iiio fhere are
80 many mllestones. on which we can read
just how fast We are going toward the
journeys end. feel that q is not an in-
appropriate question that I ask to-day
when i look into your faces and saw as
Pharaoh dad 20 Jacob, the patriarch. " How
old art thouf"
People who are truthful on every other
n.H H.. N..... 81 !.
not solicit from you any literal response 60
tie question have asked. Iwould put no
one under temptation. but I simply want
this morning to see by what rod lt o. we
are measuring our earthly existence. Tiers
Is right way and a wrong way of measur,
ing door, or wall, or an arch. OF q tower.
aud 80 there Is a right way and wrong
way OF measuring our earthly existence.
TO IL With reference to this higher meanin (
that / confront YOU this morning with the
stupendous question of the text and ask
How OLD art thouff
There are many who estimate their lii,
BY nero worldly gratilcatl0n. When Lord
Dundas was wished a Happy New Year III.
said, ''It will have 90 be 8 happier year thar
the past. for I hadn't one happy moment
I IA al the twelve months that have gone
i But that has not been the experience OF
most az rs. We have found that th0uQA
T the world is blasted with sin "a is YER
bright and beautiful place 20 reside ia
i we nave NAA Joys AunMmerAHIn. InnTa &
no hostility between the gospel aud "a.
/ merriments and the festivities 0f life. I q,
not think that we fully enough appreciat.
y the worldly pleasures God gives US. WheI
f you recount your eniOyments you do no
I 90 back 20 the time when you were an in
FAINT Ia your mothers arms. looking up int.
the heaven OF her smile; to othose DAYS whsi
you fued the house with the upr0ar OF bois
ferrous merriment; when you shouted a
you pitched the Gall on the playground
when on the cold. sharp winter night
I mufled up. on skates YOU shot out over Ia
resonndlng lee of the pond2 Have you for
! gotten al those good days that the Lor,
I gave your We're you never a boyP Wer
: you never a girl3 Between those times ant
this how many mercies the Lord has be
slowed upon youi How many joys hav
/ breathed up 90 you from the flowers an
shOne down to you from the stars an
chanted 20 you with the voice OF soarinl
/ bird aud tumbling cascade and hO0mini
sea and thrnders that with beyonets OF er
/ charged dOwathe mountain sidci I0yi J0l
/ Joyl IL there Is any Ona who has A right {
/ the eDlOyments OF the world II Is th
Christian for God has given higl lease
I everything ID tue promise. sAi are Won -
But have 20 tel you that q man who est
mates MS life on earth BY mere woridl
/ qualification L. most unwies naao on
life Is not 20 be a game 81 chess. ItIs no
a dance % lighted ball, TO quick music.
j. not the lroth Of an aie pitcher. III lsna
the settings Of a vine cup. Itisnota a bar
qaet, with intOxication and roisterinr. I
- the irst step on a ladder that mounts in
20 the skies or the nrst step On a road TIA
plunges into horrible abyss. How ol
art thouf' Toward what destiny are vor
tending ano how fast arc you getting OF
toward it7
Again, remark that there are many rh
estimate their life on earth by their sor
rows and misiortunes. Through a srrea
I "a r.I..
gone very deep. turning no a terrialo ror
! rnM N-u LaNa haan h.l....--L - -