Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1902-02-28

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 23.-This discourse
OF DIR. Talmage is fun of inspiring
thoughts for those who find life a
struggle and shows that we have many
celestial sympathizers; texts. Hebrews
XII, 1. Seeing we also are comprised
about with so great cloud of swit-
nesses;" Corinthians Nv. %, Il have
fought with beasts at Ephesus."
Crossing the Alps by the Mont Cents
pass or through the Mont Cents tun-
mel, you are in few hours set down
ut Verona. Italy, and I'm few minutes
begin examining one of the grandest
ruins Of the world. the Amphitheater.
The whole building sweeps around you
in circle. You stand in the arena
where the combat was once fought or
the race run, and on all sides the seats
rise. tier above tier, until you count
forty elevations, or galleries. as I shall
see fit TO call them. in which sat the
senators, the kings and the $4,000 ex-
cited spectators. At the sides of the
arena and under the galleries are the
cages in which the lions and tigers are
kept without food until, frenzied with
hunger and thirst, they are let out up
on some poor victim, who, with his
sword and alone, is condemned to meet
them. I think that Paul himself once
stood in such 4 place and that it was
not only figuratvely. but literally. that
he had fought with beasts at Ephe-
sus."
The gala day has come. From all the
world the people are pouring into yero-
ma. Men, women and children, orators
and senator's, great men and small,
thousands upon thousands come, until
the first gallery is full. ard the second.
the third, the fourth, the fifth-all the
way up to the twentieth, all the way
up 20 the thirtieth, all the way up to
the fortieth. Every place is filled. I'M
mensity of audience sweeping the great
circle. Silence. The time for the contest
has come. A Roman official leads forth
the victim into the arena. Let him get
his sword with firm grip into his right
hand. The $4,000 sit brcathlessly watch
ing. / hear the door at the side of the
arena creak open. Out plunges the half
starved lion, his tongue athirst for
blood, and with a roar that brings all
the galleries to their feet he rushes
against the sword of the combatant.
Do you know how strong stroke q
man will strike when his life depends
upon the first thrust of his blade? The
wild beast. lame and bleeding, sinks
back toward the side of the arena;
then rallying his wasted strength he
~
terrible roar than ever, only TO be
driven back with a fatal wound, while
the combatant comes in with stroke
after stroke until the monster is dead
mt his feet, and the $4,000 clap their
hands and utter n shout that makes
the city tremble
Sometimes the audience came to see
race; sometimes 10 see gladiators
fight each other. until the people. COM
passionate for the fallen, turned their
thumbs up as an appeal that the van
quished be spared, and sometimes the
combat was with wild beasts.
All Have Lions Go Fight.
TO one of the Roman amphitheatrical
audiences OF 100000 people Paul refers
when he says. 1--WE arc comprised
-sNNSe Nfsh ~ sACsiN a NlONu VI MAllttS-
cs." The direct reference i'm the last
passage is made TO n race; but else
where having discussed that. / take
now Paurs favorite idea of the Chris
tan life as combat
The fact is that every Christian man
has lion to fight. Yours is bad tenn
per- The gates OF the arena have been
opened. and this tiger has come out TO
destroy your soul. 1t has lacerated
you with many a wound. You have
been thrown by II time and again, but
in the strength of God you have arisen
TO drive IL back. l verify believe YOU
Will conquer. l think that the temptn-
zion is getting weaker and weaker.
You have given IL so many wounds that
the prospect is that IL will die, and you
shall be victor, through Christ Cour-
age, brother! DO not let the sands of
the arena drink the blood OF your soul!
Your lion is the passion for strong
drink. You may have contended
against 1t for twenty years: but il is
strong of body and thirsty of tongue.
You have tried to fight IL back with
broken bottle or empty--ayiue flask
Nay. that is not the weapon. WIZ one
Horrible roar he will seize thee by the
throat aud rend thee limb from limb.
Take this weaponss sharp and keen
reach UP ans get 1t from Gods armory
the sword OF the Spirit With that
thou mayest drive him back and con-
quer:
But why specify wbea every man
and woman has aS4f6n to fight? II
there be one hero who has no besetting
sin, let HIM speak out, for him have /
offended. 4 you have not fought the
lion, 1t is because you-lsa We let the lion
eat you up. This very moment the con-
test goes On. The Trajan celebration,
where 10000 gladiators fought and
1900 wild beasts were slain, was not
so terrific struggle as that which at
this moment goes on in many a soul.
line combat was for the life OF the
body; this is for the life of the soul. |
That was with wild beasts from the
jungle; this is with the roaring lion of
hell.
Men think, when they contend against
an evil habit, that they have to fight it
all alone. No! They stand In the GEN. |
ter OF an immense circle OF sympathy. |
Paul had been reciting the names OF !
Abel. Enoch, Noah. Abraham, Sarah,
Isaac, Joseph, Gideon and Barak and |
then says, Being comprised about |
with so great cloud OF witnesses"
A Cloud of witnesses.
Before / get through will show you |
that you fight in an arena, around |
which circle, in galleries above each |
other, all the kindling eyes and all the |
sympathetic hearts Of the ages, and at |
every victory gained there comes down
the laundering applause of great
multitude that no man can number.
Being compassed about with SO great
a cloud of Witnesses"
On the first elevation of the ancient
amphitheater, on the day Of celebra-
ton, sat Tiberius or Augustus or the
reigning king. So in the great arena !
I,of |