The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-10-25
ARE SWIFT AND SURE
Gods Judgments Are Like Sharp
Razors, Says DR.. Talmage.
Nations of the World Are Either Pun.
ished or Revarded-All Gallant.
ties Are Directed by Di.
vine Wisdom.
copyright. 1900, by Louis Klopsch.1
Uo ~ rofn

vine Wisdom.
copyright. 1900. by Louis Klopsch.1
Washington.
DIR. Talmage, in his journey west
ward through Europe, has recently Wis
tied scenes of thrilling historic events.
He sends this sermon, in which he
shows that nations are judged in this
World and that God rewards them for |
their virtues and Furnishes them for
their crimes. The text is Isaiah Z,
20: I'm the same day shall the Lord
shave with a razor that is hired, name
ly, by them beyond the river, by the
king of Assyria."
The Bible is the boldest book ever
written. There are no similitudes in
Ossian or the Had or the Odyssey so
daring. It's imagery sometimes seems
on the verge of reckless, but only
seems so. The fact is that God would
startle and arouse and propel men and
nations. A tame and limping simili-
tude would fail to accomplish the OBJ
ject. While there are times when He
employs in the Bible the gentle dew
and the morning cloud and the dove
and the daybreak in the presentation
of truth, we often find the iron char
lot, the lightning, the earthquake, the
spray, the sword and, in my text, the
razor. This keen-bladed instrument
has advanced in usefulness with the
ages. In Bible times and lands the
!, ara n,,% IN "a
sons of mourning and humiliation, but
the razor was always a suggestive SYM
boil. David said of Doeg, his antagon-
ist: 'Thy tongue is sharp razor work
ing deceitfully"-that is, it pretends
to clear the face, but is really used
for deadly incision.
In this striking text this weapon Of
the toilet appears under the follow
ing circumstances: Judea needed to
have some of its properties cut of,
and God sends against it three Assyrian
kings-frst Sennacherib, then Esar-
haddon and afterward Nebuchadnez-
Ear. These three sharp invasions that
cut down the glory of Judea are COM
pared to so many sweeps of the razor
across the face Of the land. And these
devastations were called a hired ra-
zor because God took the kings of As
syria, with whom He had no sympathy,
to do the work, and paid them in pal
aces and spoils and annexations. These
kings were hired to execute the Di-
vine behests. And now the text, which
on its first reading may have seemed
trivial or inapt, is charged with mo-
mentous import: I'm the same day
shall the Lord shave with razor that
is hired, namely, by them beyond the
river, by kings of Assyria.'
Well, if Gods judgments are ra-
zors, we had better be careful how we
use them on other people. In careful
sheath these domestic weapons are put
away where no one by accident may
touch them and where the hands of
children may not reach them. Such
instruments must be carefully handled
or not handled at all. But how reck-
lessly some people WELD the judgment
of God! If man meets with busi-
ness misfortune, how many there are
ready to cry out: "That is a judgment
of God upon him because he was un-
scrupulous or arrogant or overreach-
ing or 1niserly. I thought he would
get cut down What clean sweep
of everything! His city house and
country house gone. His stables emp
tied of all the fine bays and sorrels and
grays that used to prance by his door.
All his resources overthrown and all
that he prided himself on tumbled into
demolition. Good for him!" Stop, my
brother. Don't sling around too free
ly the judgments Of God, for they are
razors.
Some of the most wicked business
men succeed, and they live and die
in prosperity, and some of the most
honest and conscientious are driven
into bankruptcy. Perhaps the unsuc.
cessful mans manner was unfortu-
nate, and he was not really as proud
as he looked to be. Some Of those
who carry their heads erect and look
imperial are humble as q child, while
many man in seedy coat and slouch
hat and unblacked shoes is as proud
as Lucifer. You cannot tell by q
mans look. Perhaps he was not un.
scrupulous in business, for there are
two sides to every story, and every.
body that accomplishes anything fo1
himself or others gets industriously
lied about. Perhaps his business mis-
fortune was not q punishment, but
the fatherly discipline to prepare hin
for Heaven, and God may love hin
far more than He loves you, who car
pay dollar for dollar and are pu,
down in the commercial catalogue,
rs Al. Whom the Lord loveth H,
gives $400, 900 and let's die ON embroid
cred pillows? No; whom the Lore
loveth He chasteneth. Better keel
your hand CT the Lords razors, les
they cut and wound people that d,
not deserve It. II you want to shaw
OF some Of the bfistling pride Of you
own heart, do so, but be very careful
how you put the sharp edge on 9th
ers. How l do dislike the behavio