Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-12-08
AN EARTH REDEEMED
REV. DR.. TALMAGE PICTURES THE
WORLD AS IT WILL BE.
The Twenty-frst Century VIII See
the Complete Gospelization of All
the People of the Earth-Evil over
come by the Power of Christ.
fCopyright, Louis Klopsch, ls00.l

copyright, Louis Kopsch. 1901
| WASHINGTON, Dec. 8. - BY a novel
mode DR.. Talmage In his discourse
shows how the world will look after il
has been reyolutonized for good; text
IL Peter Iii. 13. "a new earth, wherein
dwelleth Righteousness"
Down in the struggle to make the
world better and happier we sometimes
get depressed with the obstacles to he
overcome and the work to be accom-
pllshed. VIII 1t not be tonic and an
/ Inspiration to look at the world as u
will be when ii has been brought back
to paradisaieal condition! SO lot us
for few moments transport ourselves
into the future and put ourselves for
ward In the centuries and see the world
in It's rescued and perfected state, as
we will see it II in those times we are
! permitted to revisit this planet. as |
! am sure we will. We all want to see
the world after 1t has been thoroughly
gospelized and all wrongs have been
righted. We will want to come back.
and we will come back, to look upon
the refulgent consummation toward
which we have been on larger or
smaller scale toling. Having heard
the opening Of the orchestra, on whose
strings some discords travelled, we will
want to hear the last triumphant bar
Of the perfected oratorio. Having seen
the picture as the painter drew its first
outlines upon canvas. we will want to
see it when 1t Is as complete as Ru-
bens' Descent From the Cross or
Michael Angeles Last Judgment"
Having seen the world under the CLEAN
of the star of Bethlehem. we will want
to see II when, under the full shining
Of the Sun OF Righteousness, the tow
ers shall strike l2 at noon.
There will be nothing In that coming
century Of the worlds perfection to
hinder our terrestrial visit. Our power
and velocity Of locomotion will have
been improved Infinitely, II will not
take us long to come here. however far
off In Gods universe heaven may be.
Is going on now. Are they not all
mlnIstering spirits sent forth to minis
ter 10 those who shall be heirs Of saliva
tion?" Surely the gates OF heaven will
not be bolted after the world is Eden
lied. so as to hinder the redeemed from
descending for a tour Of inspection and
congratulation and triumph.
Evils Overcome.
You know with what interest we look
upon rulns-ruins Of Kenilworth castle.
ruins Of Melrose abbey. ruins OF Rome,
ruins Of Pompeii. 80 this world in
ruins Is an enehantment TO look at. but
we want to see It when rebuilt. rcpil-
Jared. recovered. realtered. rodedicat-
ed. The exact date OF the worlds NOR
al restoration ! cannot foretell. II
may be that through mighty awaken
ings II will take place In the middle OF
the nearby twentieth century. II may
be at the opening Of the twenty y-1rst
century, but IL would not be surprising
II IL took more than 100 years to cor
rect the ravages Of sin which have
ragged for G000 years. The chief mis-
sionary and evangelistic enterprises
were started In this century, and be
not dismayed II 1t takes couple OF
centuries to overcome evils that have
had full swing for GO centuries. !
take no responsibility in saying on
what page Of the earthly calendar it
will roll In, but Gods eternal veracity
| Is sworn to Il that II will roll In. and rs
the redeemed in heaven do as they
please and have all the facilities Of
/ transit from world to world you and |,
my hearer or reader. will come and
look at wha, my text calls "a new
earth. wherein dwelleth righteousness"
imagine that we are descending at
that period Of the worlds complete
gospelization. There will be no peril
In such a descent Great heights
and depths have no alarm for glorified
spirits. We can come down through
chasms between worlds without grow
ing dizzy and across the spaces Of half
a universe without losing our way.
Down and farther down we come. AS
we approach this world we breathe the
perfume Of illimitable gardens. Florali-
zation that in centuries past was here
and there walled in, lest reckless and
dishonest hands pluck or despoil II,
surges its billows Of color across the
fields and up the hillsides, and that
which was desert blossoms as the rose.
All the foreheads Of crag crowned with
flowers. the feet Of the mountains slip
pered with flowers. Oh. this perfume
Of the continents. this aroma OF hem
ispheresl As we approach nearer and
nearer we hear songs and laughter
and hosannas. but not one groan of
distress, not one sob Of bereavement
not one clank OF chain.
Alighted on the redeemed earth. we
are first accosted by the spirit OF the
twenty-nrst century. who proposes tc
guide and show US all that we desire tc
see. Without his guidance we would
lose our way. for the world Is so much
changed from the time when we lived
in IT, First OF all he points out TO us
group of abandoned buildings. We
ask this spirit OF the twenty-hrst cen
tury, What are those structures
whose walls are falling down anC
whose gates are rusted on the hlngesY
Our escort tells us: Those were once
penitentiaries filled with Offenders. bu
the crime Of the world has died out
Theft and arson and fraud and VIC
lence have quilted the earth. Peopl'
have all they want. and why should
they appropriate the property OF 9th
ers. even II they had the desIref Th'
marauders. the asaassihE the bucca
neers. the HsredS, ne Mana sahlbs
the rutfiana. the bandits. ars dead. or
transformed BY ths power OF tn
Christian religion. are new upright ant
benencent and useful. Prisons ar
OF no moro use In this world excep
as places to be visited by curiosit.
seekers, as further back in the annal
of time tourists visited the fortres
where the prisoner OF Chillon was In
carcerated, or Devils island, wher
Dreyfus endured four years Of cruel
ty"
After passing on amid columns an