Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-10-25
TALMAGE'S SERMON.
HosHEBA's HEROIC DEED. SUN
DAYS SUBJECT.



sister Of Ahaziah, took Joash, the son
of Ahaziah, and stole him from among
the kings sons which were slain, and
they hid him. even him and his nurse,
in the bedchamber from Athalah, so
that he was not slain. And he was
with her hid in the house of the Lord
six years"
Grandmothers are more lenient with
their children's children than they
were with their own. At 40 years OF
age II discipline be necessary chas-
tisement is used. but at 20 the grand
mother. looking upon the misbehavior
of the grandchild, is apologize and
disposed to substitute confectionery
for whip. There is nothing more beau
tiful than childhood Grandmother
wipes her spectacles and puts them on
and looks down into the face of her
mischievous and rebellious descendant
and says, 81 don't think he meant TO
do 1t. Let him off this time I'll be
responsible for his behavior in the su-
ture." My mother. with the second
generation around her. a boisterous
crew, said one day: Il suppose they
ought to be disciplined. but | can't Go
it. Grandmothers are not fit to bring
up grandchildren" But here in my
text we have a grandmother of diff.
ferent type.
/ have been at Jerusalem, where the
occurrence of the text took place, and
the whole scene came vividly before
me while | was going over the site OF
the ancient temple and climbing the
towers of the kings palace. Here in
the text it is old Athaliah. the royal
murderess. She ought to have been
honorable. Her father was king.
Her husband was king. Her
son was a king. And yet we find
her plotting for the determination OF
the entire royal family, including her
own grandchildren. The executioners'
knives are sharpened. The palace Is
red with the blood Of princes and prin-
cesses. On all sides are shrieks and
hands thrown up and struggle and
death groan. No mercy! Kill, kill!
But while the ivory floors of the PAL
ace run with carnage and the whole
land is under the shadow OF a great
horror a feet-footed woman, clergy
mans wife, Jehosheba by name.
stealthily approaches the imperial
nursery, seizes upon the grandchild
that had somehow as yet escaped mas
sacre, wraps it up tenderly but in
haste, snuggles 1t against her, flies
down the palace stairs. her heart in
her throat lest she be discovered In
this compassionate abduction. Get
her out Of the way as quick as you
can, for she carries a precious burden,
even a young king. With this youth
full prize she presses into the room Of
the ancient temple, the church Of olden
time, unwraps the young king and puts
him down, sound asleep as he Is and
unconscious of the peril that has been
threatened. and there for six years he
Is secreted in that church apartment.
Meanwhile old Athaliah smacks her
lips with satisfaction and thinks that
all the royal family are dead. But the
six years expire. and 1t Is time for
young Joash to come forth and take
the throne and to push back into dis
grace and death old Athaliah.
The Growing of Joash.
The arrangements are all made for
political revolution. The military come
and take possession of the temple,
swear loyalty to the boy Joash and
stand around for his defense. See
the sharpened swords and the bur-
nished shields! Everything is ready.
New Joash. half affrighted at the arm
ed tramp Of his defenders. scared at
the yoclferation Of his admirers. is
brought forth in full regal.a. The
scroll of authority is put in his hands.
the coronet of government Is put on
his brow, and the people clapped and
waved and huzzaed and trumpeted.
What is that?" asked Athaliah.
What is that sound over in the tenn
ple?" And she flies to see. and on
her way they meet her and say, why
haven't you heard? You thought you
had slain all the royal family, but
Joash has come to light" Then the
royal murderess. frantic with rage,
grabbed her mantle and tore 1t to tat
tiers and cried until she foamed at the
mouth: You have no right to crown
my grandson. You have no right to
take the government from my Shout
ders. Treason. treason!"
While she stood there crying that
the military started for her arrest, ana
she took short cut through a back
ioor Of the temple and ran through the
royal stables, but the battleaxes OF the
military fell on her In the barnyard,
and for many day when the horses
were being unloosened from the char
lot after drawing out young Joash the
fiery steeds would snort and rear pass
ing the place as they smell the place
Of the carnage.
Cannot He Extinguished.
Well, my friends. just as poor q
botch does the world always make Of
sxtinguishing righteousness. Super
stition rises up and says. II will lust
put an end to pure religion" Domi-
,ian slew 10000 Christians. Diocletian
flew $4,000 Christians. And the
scythe Of persecution has been swung
through all the ages. and the flames
Kissed, and the guillotine chopped, and
the Bastille groaned, but did the foes
OF Christianity exterminate 1t? Did
thew exterupinafe Alhan the first Brit
lsh sacrifice. or zwingli. the Swiss re-
former, OF John Oldcastle, the Chris
tian nobleman. or Abdallah, the Ara
bian martyr. or Anne Askew. or San
ders. or Cranmer? Great work Of ex-
termination they made Of it. Just at