Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1902-02-15

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WASHINGTON. Feb. 0.-In this subject
DR.. Talmage puts glow OF glndnesi
aud triumph upon passages Of life that
are usually thought to be somewhat
gloomy: text. Zecharlah xiv. 7. "At
evening time II shall BE- light"
While might" In all languages is the
symbol for gloom and suffering. 1t ID
often really cheerful. bright and I'M
pressive. speak not Of such nights as
come down with no star pouring light
from above or silvered wave tossing
up light from beneath--purky. hur-
tllnS. portentouA but such as you often
see when the pomp and magnifcence
OF heaven turn out on night parade,
and 1t seems as though the song which
the morning stars began so long ago
were Ginning yet among the constella-
tlons and the sons OF God were shout
Ing for Joy. Such nights the sailor
blesses from the forecastle. and the
trapper on vast prairie. and the belated
traveller by the roadside. and the SOL
der from the tent. earthly hosts gazing
upon heavenly and shepherds guarding
their locks afeld while angel hands
above them set the silver bells airing
Ing. GLORY to God In the highest and
on earth peace; good will toward men,"
What solemn and glorious thing is
night In the wilderness! Night among
the mountainsl Night on the oceanl
Fragrant night among tropical grovesl
Flashing night amid arctic seventies!
Calm night on Roman campagna! Aw-
full night among the cordIlleras. Glori-
Gus night mid sea after a tempest!
Thank God for the night! The moon.
and the stars which rule II nre light
houses on the coast toward which I
hope we are oil sailing. and blind
mariners are we II. with so many beam
ing. burning. 6aming glories TO guide
US. we cannot find our way into the
harbor.
My text may we'll suggest that. as the
natural evening is often luminous. 80
1t shall be light In the evening OF our
sorrows. Of old age. OF the worlds his
tory. of the Christian life. AT even
time 1t shall be light"
when the Sun Sets.
This prophecy will be fulfilled In the
evening Of Christian sorrow. For
long time It is broad daylight. The
sun rides high. Innumerable activities
go ahead with a thousand feet and
work with q thousand arms. and the
pickax struck mine. and the battery
made a discovery. and the investment
yielded its 20 per cent. and the book
came TO its twentieth edition, and the
farm quadrupled In value. and sudden
fortune hoisted TO high position. and
children were praised. and friends
without number swarmed into the fam
lily hive. and prosperity sang in the
music and stepped In the dance and
glowed In the wine and ate at the BAN
Quet. and all the gods Of music and
ease and qualification gathered around
this Jupiter holding In bis hands so
many thunderbOts Of power. But ev-
cry sun must set. and the brightest day
must have its twilight. Suddenly the
sky was overcast. The fountain dried
up. The song hushed. The wolf broke
into the family fold and carried Off the
best lamb. \ deep howl OF woe came
crashing down through the joyous
symphonies. ~ one rough twang OF
the hand OF disaster the harpstrings
all broke. Down went the strong busi-
uess firm. Away went long established
credit. Up few flock Of caIumnies.
The new book would not sell! a patent
could not be xecured for the invention.
Stocks sank Ire head. The insurance
company exploded! How much" says
the sheriff. will ron bid for this pi-
amor How ruch for this library? How
much for Cis family picturei How
much; VIII you let II 20 at less than
half price, Going going gone"
Will the grace Uf GDd hold one up In
such circumstances? What has become
Of the great multitude of Gods chill
dren WHO hate been pounded OF the
fail aud crushed under the wheel
and trampcd under thc hoof! Did
they lie down In the dust. weeping.
wailing and gnaShlng their teeth? Did |
they when they were afflicted like Job i
curse God und want to dIei When the
rod Of fathcrly chu5tlsement struck |
them. did they strike buck? Because
they found one bitter cup on the table
of Gods supply. did they upset the
whole table, Did they kneel down at |
their empty money vault and say. "All |
my treasures are gomez" Did they |
stand by the grave OF their dead. say
ing. "There never will be a resurrec.
tionT"
Did they bemoan their thwarted
plans and say. ''rhe stocks are down;
would God | were deadT" Did the i
night OF their disaster come upon them
moonless. starless dank and bowling.
and choking their life outf
No. no! at evcntidc 1t was light. The
swift promises overlook them. Tho
eternal consultations. from their cir
cult about Gods throne. poured down
an indn!te luSter. Cnder their shining
the Ll!lows CT trouble took on crests
aud p,umcs OF gold aud jasper and am
ethyst cnd 1auc. Al the trees Of life
rustled la the midsummer Of Gods
love, The night blooming assurances
Of Chrst's g. inpathy filled all the at
mospherc with heaven. The soul at
every step seemed TO start up from Its
feet bright winged joys. warbling heav'