Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1900-06-01
THE VICTOR'S SHOUT.
Or. TAlMAGe ON THE JOY OF OVER
COMING DIFFICULTIES.


Successful Outcome OF His Earthly
WASHINGTON. May 27.-In this dis
course DIR. Talmage shows in an I'M
usual way the antagonists that Christ
overcame and finds a balsam for all
wounded hearts; text. John xviii 4, II
have finished the work which thou CAV
est me To do
There is a profound satisfaction in
the completion of anything we have
undertaken. We lift the capstone with
exultation, while, on the other hand,
there is nothing more disappointing
than, after having toiled in certain
direction. 10 find that our time is vast
ed and our investment prodtless. Christ
came to throw up n highway on which
the whole world might If it chose.
mount into heaven. He did il. The
foul mouthed crew who attempted 10
tread on him could not extinguish the
sublime satisfaction which he express
cd when he said. II have finished the
work which thou gavest me to do"
Alexander the Great was wounded.
and the doctors could not medicate his
wounds. aud he seemed 20 be dying,
and in his dream the sick man saw a
plant with a peculiar flower. and he
dreamed that that plant was put upon
his wound and that Immediately ii was
cured. And Alexander waking from
his dream. told this TO the physician.
and the physician wandered out until
he found just the kind Of plant which
the sick man had described, brought it
to him, and the wound was healed.
Well, the human race had been hurt
with the ghastliest of all wcundS-that
OF sin. 1t was the business of Christ
to bring q balm for that wound-the
balm Of divine restoration. In carry
Ing this business to successful issue
the difficulties were stupendous.
In many of our plans we have our
friends to help us; some TO draw a
sketch OF the plan. others to help us
in the execution. But Christ fought
every inch OF his way against bitter
hostility and amid circumstances all
calculated TO depress and defeat.
In the first place. his worldly occupa-
ton was against him. 1 find that he
earned his Livelihood by the carpen-
ter's trade, an occupation always to be
highly regarded and respected. But
you know as well as do that in order
TO succeed in any employment one
must give his entire time to It. and l
have to declare that the fatigues of
carpentry were unfavorable 10 the OK
ecution OF mission which required
all mental and physical faculties.
Through high. hard, dry. husky, insen-
safe Judaism to hew a way for n new
and glorious diSpensaton was a stu
pendous undertaking that was enough
TO demand all the concentrated ener-
gies even OF Christ. We have great
many romantic stories about what men
with physical toll hare accomplished
In intellectual departments. but you
know that after man has been toiling
all day with adj and saw and ham
mer, plane and ax. about all he can do
Is to rest. \ weary body is an unfa-
vorable adjunct 10 n toiling mind. You.
whose life is purely mechanical. II you
were called TO the upbuilding Of n
kingdom. or the proclamation of a new
code of morals, or the starting OF q
revolution which should upturn all ma
tons. could get some idea of the inco-
herence of Christ's occupation with his
heavenly mission.
Christ's Humble Apparel
In his fathers shop no more inter
course was necessary than IS ordlna-
rily necessary In bargaining with men
that have work to do yet Christ. with
hands hard from use OF tools OF trade.
was called forth TO become n public
speaker. TO preach In the face OF mobs.
while some wept, and some shook their
lists, and some gnashed upon him with
their teeth, and many wanted him out
OF the way. To address orderly and
respectful aSsemblages is not so easy
rs IL may seem. but IL requires more
energy and more force and more con-
centration to address an exasperatcd
mob. The villagers Of Nazareth heard
the pounding Of his hammer but all
the wide reaches of eternity were TO
hear the stroke OF HIS spiritual up
building.
So also his habits OF dress and diet
were against him. The mighty men OF
Christs time did not appear in apparel
without trinkets and adornmcnts. None
or the Caesars would have appeared I'm
citizens apparel. Yet here was man.
here was a piofessed king. who always
wore the same coat. Indeed IL was far
from shabby, for after he had worn II
long while the gamblers thought IL
worth railing about but still IL was
far from being an imperial robe. 1t
was a coat that any ordinary man
might have worn on an ordinary occa-
sion
Neither was there any pretension in
his diet. No cupbearer with golden
challce brought him wine TO drink. On
the seashore he ate fish, first having
hroiled it himself. No one fetched him
water TO drink; but bending over the
well In Samaria. he begged q drink.
lie sat at only ere banquet. and that
not ut all srmptuous, for TO relieve the
awkwardneSs OF the host one OF the
guests lad TO prepare wine for the
company.
Other kings ride In a chariot. no
walked. Other kings as they advance.
have heralds ahead and applauding
subjects behind; Christ's retinue was
made up OF sunburned fishermen 9th
er kings sleep under embroidered cam
opy; this one on n shelterless hill. rid
ing but once. as far as now remem-
Der, on colt, and that borrowed.
HIS poverty was against him. 1t re-
quires money TO build great enter
prises. Men of means are afraid of n
penniless protector lest n loan be de-
manded. 1t requires money TO print
books. to build institutions. TO nav in
structors. No wonder the wise men of
Christ's time laughed at this penniless
Christ. Why" they said, who is to
pay'for this new religion? Who Is to
charter the ships to carry the mission
aries! Who is to pay the salaries OF
the teachers? Shall wealthy, establish
ed religion be discounted by a penni-
less Christ" The consequence was
mat most of the people that followed
Christ had nothing to lose. AfIluent
Joseph OF Arimathea buried Christ, but
he riSkel no social noSit;o,, l., 1T