Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-02-14
wAsnINorox. Feb. On this srh,ec,

EtG!sS=s--E>djELS
WASHINGTON. Feb. ON this subject
DR. Ta,mage puts slow of gladness
= I'd sr'an.pa upon Passages OF life that
Gts usually .thonght to be somewhat
bieom-s text. Zeehariah xiv. 4. SAT
evening tire i; shall be liglf.r
&c night IN all languages is the
- nl'tJl ( "a yiOom and suffering. IL is
os-en ress;y cheerful. bright and im-
prsssive. ] speak not of such nights as
come down Msth 10 star pouring light
from aaore or savered wave tossing
t. ngtt oE Overwhelmingly, hur-
t'Eg. rorten Gus. but such as you often
see when the pomp and magnificence
OF heaven turn out on night parade,
and it seems as though the song which
the morning stars began so long ago
We're Ginning yet among the constelia-
tons 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 flocks afield, 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 wildernessl Night among
the mountainsi Night on the cceani
Fragrant night among tropical groves!
Flashing night amid arctic severitiesl
Calm night on Roman campagnai Aw-
full night amonGsthe cordillerasi Glori-
Gus night mid sea after tempest,
Thank God for the night The moon
and the stars which rule it are light
houses on the coast toward which
hope we are all sailing, and blind
mariners are we If. with so many BEAM
ing, burning, flaming 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, so
it shall be light in the evening of our
sorrows, OF old age. of the worlds his
tory. of the Christian life. AT even
time it shall be light"
when the sun Sets.
This prophecy will be fulfilled In the
evening of Christian sorrow. For n
long time it is broad daylight The
sun rides high. Innumerable activities
so ahead with thousand feet and
work with a thousand arms, and the
pickax struck mine, and the battery
mnde 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 I'm 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 his hands so
many thunderbolts 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 OF, the
best lamb. \ deep howl OF woe came
crashing down through the joyous
Symphonies At one rough twang of
the hand OF disaster the harpstrincs
-nll broke. Down went the strong bust
ness tirin. Away went long established
credit! Up few flock of caIumniesl
The new book would not sell, A patent
could not be secured for the inventioni
Stocks sank like leadi The insurance
company exploded. How much" SAYS
the sheriff. will you bid for this pi-
amor How much for this library? How
much for this family picture? How
muchg VIII you let IL 20 at less than
haIt price! Going-golng-goneT
VIII the grace Of God hold one up I'm
such circumstances? What has become
or the great multitude OF Gods chill
dren who have been pounded OF the
nail and crushed under the wheel
and trampled under the hoof? Did
they lie down in the dust, weeping.
wailing and gnashing their teeth? Did
they when they were afflicted like Job
curse God and want TO die? When the
rod or fatherly chastisement struck
them, did they strike back? Because
they found one bitter cup on the table
OF Gods supply, did they upset the
whole tabley 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 resurrec-
tion?" ..
Did they bemoan their thwarted
plans and say, The stocks are down.
would God / were deadY Did the
night OF their disaster come upon them
moonless, starless, dank and bowling
smothering and choking their life out?
NO, no! AT eventide ii was light. The
SWIFT promises overlook them. The
eternal consultations, from their cir
cult about Gods throne, poured down
an INFINITE luster. Under their shining
the pillows OF trouble took on crests
and plumes OF gold and jasper and am
ethyst and fame. All the trees OF life
rustled In the midsummer of Gods
love. The night blooming assurances
OF Christ's sympathy filed all the at. |
mosphere with heaven. The soul at |
every step seemed to start up from its |
Feet bright winged joys. warbling heav-
onward. ut is good that have been |
afdictedT cried David. 'aThe Lord |
gave. and the Lord hath taken awayp' |
exclaims Job. ''Sorrowful, yet always |
rejoicing" says st. Paul "And God |
shall wipe away all tears from their |
eyes" exclaims John in apocalyptic Vi |
sion. At eyentime IT was light. Light |
.ioni tne cross! Light from the prom
ises! Light from the throne! Stream
ING Joyous. outgushing, everlasting
light
The Glory of Old Age.
Again, the text shall find fulfillment /
In the time OF old age. 1t is a grand
thing to be young, to have the sight
clear and the hearing acute and the
step elastic and all our pulses march
ing on TO the drumming of a stout
hearr Midlife and old age will be de-
nleu many of US, but youth-we ali
know what that is. Those wrinkles
were not always on your brow; that
snow was not always on your head;
tnat Drawny muscle did not always
punch your arm; you have not always