DR. TALWAGE'S SERMON.
HAPPINESS FOUND IN CHRIST.
The Sermon as Delivered by the Brook-
% : lyn Divine
© Text: “Behold, the half wasnot told me.”
~ Kings x., 7. :
* Solomon bad resolved that Jerusalem
~ should be the centre of all sacred, 1 and
commercial magnificence. He set himself
{to work and monopolized the surrounding
idesert as a highway for his caravans. Hs
{built the city of Palmyra around one of the
{Jiincipal. wells of the east, so that'all the
‘long trains of merchandise from the east
were obliged to stop there, pay toll and
- deave part of their wealth in the hands of
_iSolomon’s merchants. He manned the
: ‘fortress Thapsacus at the chief ford of the
‘Euphrates, and put under guard everything
_ that passed there.
The three great products of Palestine—
{wine pressed from the richest clusters, and
celebrated all the world over; oil, which in
~ that country is the entire substitute for but-
ter and lard, and was pressed from the olive
* branches until every tree in the country be-
{came an oil well, and honey which was the
entire substitute for sugar—these three
jEreat products of the country Solomon ex-
‘por and received in return fruits and
precious woods and the animals of every
. je. 2
. i He went down to Ezion-geber and ordered
a fleet of ships to be constructed, oversaw
| ithe workmen, and watched the launching of
‘the flotilla which was to go out on more than
a year’s voyage to bring home the wealth of
the then known world. He heard that the
‘Egyptian horses were large and swift, and
Jong maned and round Jimbed; and he re-
solved to purchase them, giving eighty-five
dollars apiece tor them, putting the best of
. these horses in his own stall and selling the
3 lus to foreign potentates at great profit.
~~ He neard that there was the best of tim-
ber on Mount Lebanon, and he sent one
- ‘hundred and eighty thousand men to hew
_ down the forest and drag the timber through
the ‘mountain gorges, to construct it into
_ raits to be floated to Joppa, and from thence
$0 be drawn by ox teams twenty-five miles
“across the land to Jerusalem. He heard that
| there were beautiful flowers in other lands.
He sent for them, planted them in his own
gardens, and to this very day thera are
lowers found in the ruins of that city such
gs are to be found in no other part of Pales- -
tine, the lineal descendents of the very
flowers that Solomon planted. He heard
that in foreign. groves there were birds of
richest voice and most luxuriant wing. He
sent out people to catch them and bring them
there, and he put them into his cages.
Stand back now and see this long train of
"camels coming np the king’s gate, and the
ox trains from Egypt, gold and silver and
* precious stones, and beasts of every hoof,
and birds of every wing, and fish of every
scale! See the peacocks strut under the
ceaars, and the horsemen run and ths char-
iots wheel! Hear the orchestra! Gaze
upon the dance! Not stopping to look into
the wonders of the temple, step right on the
causeway and pass up to Solomon’s palace.
. Here we find ourselves amid a ‘collection
of buildings on which the king had lavished
the wealth of many empires. The genius of
Hiram, the architect, and of the other
_ artists is here seen in the long line of corri-
dors, and thesuspended gallery, and the ap-
proach to the throne. Traceried window
opposite traceried window. Bronzed orna-
ments busting into lotus and lily and pome-
granate. Chapiters surrounded by network
of leaves in which imitation fruit seemed
suspended as in hanging baskets.
* Three branches—so Josephus fells us—
three branches sculptured on the marble, so
thin and subtle that even the leaves seemed
toquiver. A laver capable of holding five
hundred barrels of water on six hundred
brazen ox heads, which gushed with water
and filled the whole place with coolness and
crystalline brigntness and musical plash.
Ten tables chased with chariot wheel and
lion and cherubim. Solomon sat on a throne
of ivory. Atthe seating place of the throne,
on each end of the steps, a brazen lion.
Why, my friends, in that place they
trimmed their candles with snuffers of gold,
and they cut their fruits with knives of gold,
and they washed their faces in basins of gold,
and they scooped out the ashes with shovels
of gold, and they stirred the altar fires with
tongs of gold. Gold reflected in the water!
Gold flashing from the apparel! Gold blaz-
‘sing in the crown! Gold! gold! gold!
+ Of course the news of the affluence of that
place went out everywhere by every cara-
‘wan and by wing of every ship, until soon
: the streets of Jerusalem are crowded with
«curiosity seekers. What is that long pro-
«cession approacaing Jerusalem? I think
from the pomp of it there must be royalty in
the train. Ismell the breath of the spices
“which are brought as presents, and I hear
“the shout of the drivers, and I see the dust
«<overed caravan showing that they come
from far away. Cry the news up to thes
palace. The Queen of Sheba advances. Lab
all the people come out to see. Lat the
mighty men of the land come out on the
palace corridors. Let Solomon come down
the stairs of the palace before the Queen has
alighted. Shake out the cinnamon and ths
por Sig and the calamus and the frankin-
cence and pass it’ into the treasure house.
Take up the diamonds until they glitter in
the sun.
The Queen of Sheba alights. She enters
the palace. She washes at the bath. She
sits down at the banquet. The cupbearers
bow. The meatsmokes. You hear the dash
of waters from moltensea. Then she rises
from the banquet, and walks through the
‘conservatories, and gazes on the archi-
tecture, and she asks Solomon many strange
‘questions, and she learns about the religion
of the Hebrews, and she then and there be.
<omes a servant of the Lord God.
She is overwhelmed. She begins to think
that all the spices she brought, and all the
precious woods which are intended to bs
turned into harps and psalteries and into
railings for the causeway between the
temple and the palace, and the one hundrad
and eighty thousand dollars in money—she
i to think that all these presents
amount to nothing in such a place and she is
almost ashamed that she has brought them,
and she says within herself: ‘I heard a
great deal about this wonderful religion of
the Hebrews, but I find it far beyond my
highest anticipations. I must add more
that fifty per cent. to what has been re-
dated. It exceeds everything that I could
have expected. The half—the half was not
‘told me.”
. Learn from this subject what a beautiful
thing it is when social position and wealth
surrender themselves to God. When religion
comes to a neighborhood, the first to recsive
it are the women. Some men say it is be-
cause they are weakminded. I say itisba-
| cause they have quicker perception of what
is t, more ardent affection and capacity
for sublimer emotion. - After the women
have received the Gospel then all the dis-
tressed and the poor of both sexes, those who
have no friends, accept Jesus. Last of all
come the people of affluence and high social
4 Alas, that it is so!
are those here to-day who have
been favored of fortune, or, as I might bet-
ter put it, favored of God, surrender all you
have and all you expact to be to thes Lord
who blessed this Quzen of Sheba. Certainly
you are not ashamed to be fouud in this
queen’s company. I am glad that Christ
has had His imperial friends in all azes—
Elizabeth Christina, queen of Prussia; Maria
Feodorovna, queen of Russia; Marie, em-
of France; Helena, the imperial moth-
onstantine. Arcadia, from her great
) in Fable batns in Constanti-
ng or the alleviation of the
uneen Clotilda, leading her husband
‘three thousand of his armed warriors
baptism; Elizabeth, of Burzun-
her jeweled glove to a beggar and
great fortunes among the dis-
mes Albert, singing “Rock of
r castle, and Queen Victo-
reading the Scriptures to a
thron
ting all its pic-
its statuary, and
its pillars, and couquast all
the queens of the earth, in
ance, frankincense Hiking the
air and the camels laden with gold, shall a
roach Jerusalem, and the gates shall - 2
in ted, and the great burden of splendo
shall be lifted into the palacs of this greater
than Solomon.
Again, my subject teaches ms what is
earnestnessin the search of truth. Do you
know where Sheba was? It was in Abys-
sinia, or some say in the southern part of
Arabia Felix. In either cise it was a great
way off from Jerusalem. To go from thera
to Jerusalem she had to cross a country in-
fested with bandits and go across blistering
deserts. Why did not the Queen of Sheba
stay at homeand send a committe? to inquire
about this new religion, and have the dele-
gates report in regard to that religion and
wealth of King Solomon? ’ :
She wanted to see for herself and hear for
herself. She could not do this by work
of committees. She felt she had a soul worth
ten thousand kingdoms like Sheba, and she
wanted a robe richer than any woven by
oriental shuttles, and she wanteda crown
set with the jewels of eternity. Bring out
the camels. Pat on thespices. Gather up
the jewels of the throne and put them oa the
caravan. Start now. No time to be lost.
Goad on the camels. WhenT see that cara-
van, dust coverad, weary and exhausted,
frudging on across the desert and among
the bandits until it reaches Jerusalem, Isay,
*‘There is an earnest sesker after tha truth.”
But there ars a great many of you, my
friends, who do not act in that way. ou
all want to get the truth, but yoa want the
truth to come to you; you donot want to go
to it. There are people who fold their arms
aud say: *'[ am ready to bacome a Christian
at any time. If I am to be saved I shall ba
saved, anditf I am to ba lost I shall bs lost.”
Ah! Jerusalem will nsver come to you; you
must go to Jerusalem. The raligion of the
Lord nd Christ will not coms to you; you
must go and get religion. ring out the
camels. Put on all the sweet spicss, all the
treasures of the heart's affection. Start for
the throne. Go in and hear the waters of
salvation dashing in fountains all around
about the throne. Sit down at the banquat
—the wins pressed from the grapes of tna
heavenly Eschol, the angels of Gad the cup-
bearers.
Goad on the camels; Jerusalem will never
come to you; you must go to Jerusalem.
The Bible declares it: “Tha queen of‘ ths
south” —that is, this very womanIam speak-
ing of—*‘the queen ot the south shall riss up
in judgment against this generation and
condemn it; for she came from ths uttermost
parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of
Solomon; and, bahold! a greater than Solo-
mon is here.” God hslp me to break up the
infatuation of those people who ars sitting
down in idleness expecting to bes saved.
*‘Jtrive to enter in at the straight gate.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye
shali find, knock, and it shall be opened fo
you.” Take the kingdom ol heaven by vio-
ience, Urge on the camels!
Again, nly subject impresses me with the
fact that religion is a surprise to any one
that gets it. This story of the new religion
in Jerusalem, and of the glory of King Solo-
mon, who was a type of Christ—that story
rolls on and on and is told by even traveler
coming back from Jerusalem. The news
goes on the wing of every ship and with
‘every caravan, and you know a story en-
larges as it is retold, and by the time that
story gets down into the southern part of
Arabia Felix, and the Queen of Sheba hears
it, it must be a tremendous story. And yet
this quean declares in regard to it, although
she had heard so much and had her antici-
pations raised so hizh, the half —the half was
not told her.
So religion is always a surprise to any one
that gets it. The story of grace—an old
story. Apostles preached it with rattle of
chain; martyrs declared it with arm of fire;
deathbeds have affirmed it with visions of
glory and ministers of religion have sounded
it through the lanes and the highways and
the chapels and the catnedrals. It has been
cut into stone with chisel and spread on the
canvas with pencil, and it has been recited
in the doxology of great congregations.
And yet when a man first comes to look on
the palace of God’s mercy and to see the
royalty of Christ, aud the wealth of this
banquet, and the luxuriancs of His attend-
ants, and the lovliness of His face, and the
joy of His service, he exclaims with prayers,
with tears, with sighs, with triumphs, *The
haif—the half was not told me!”
I appeal to those in this house who ars
Christians. Compare the idea you had of
the joy of the Christian life before you be-
camea Christian with the appreciation of
that joy you have now since you have be-
come a Christian, and you are willing to at-
test before angels and men that you neverin
the days of your spiritual bondage had any
appreciation of what was to come. Youare
ready to-day to answer, and if I gaye you
an opportunity in the midst of this assem-
blage you would speak out and say in re-
gard to thediscoveries you have made of the
mercy and _the grace and the goodness of
“Tha half —the half was not told mei”
i
ell, we hear a great deal about the good’
time that js coming fo this world, when itis
to be girded with salvation. Holiness on ths
bells o: the horses. The lion’s mane patted
by the hand of a babe. Ships of Tarshish
bringing cargoes for Jesus, and the hard,
dry, barren, winter bleacnsd, storm scarred,
thunder split rock breaking into floods of
bright water. teserts into which drome-
daries thrust their nostrils, because they
were afraid of the simoom—deserts bloom-
ing carnation roses and silver tipped
es,
It is the old story. Everybody tells it.
Isaiah told it, John told it, Paul told it, Ezs-
kial told it, Luther told it, Calvin told it,
John Milton told it—sverybody tells it, and
yet—and yet when the midnight shall fly the
hills, and Christ shall marshal His great
army, and China, dashing her idols into the
dust, shall hear the voice of God and wheel
into line: and India, destroying her jugzger-
naut and snatching up her little children
from the Ganges, shall hear the voic2 of
God and wheel into line. and vine covered
Italy, and all the nations of tha earth shall
hear the voice of God and fall into line; then
the church which has bean toiling and strug-
gling through ths canturies, robad and gar-_
landed likea bride adorned for her husband,
shall put aside her vail and‘look up into the
face of her Lord and King, 'and say, “The
half —the half was not told me!”
Well, there is coming a greater surprise to
every Christian—a greater surprise than
anything I have depicted. Heaven is an
old story. . Everybody talks about it. Thera
is hardly a hymu in the hymn book that
does not refer to it. Children read about it
in their Sabbath-school book. Aged men
put on their spectacles to study it. We say
it is a harbor from the storm. We call
it our homes. We say itis ths houses of
many mansions. We weave together all
sweet, beautiful, delicate, exhilarant words;
we weave them into lettars, and then we
spell it out in ross and lily and anaranth.
And yet that placsis goinz-to b> a surprisa
to the most intelligent Christian.
Like the Queen of Sheba, ths raport has
come to us irom the far country, and many
of us have started. If is a desert march, but
we urge on the camels, What though our
feet be blistered with the way? o are
hastening to the palace. We take all our
loves and hopes and Christian ambitions, as
frankincense and myrrh and cassia to tha
great King. We must not rest. We must
not halt. The night iscoming on, and it is
not safe out herein the desert. Urge on the
camels, I see the domes against the sky,
and the houses of Lebanon, and the tem-
ples and the gardens. Ses the fountains
dance in the sun, and tae gates flash as they
open to let in the poor pilgrims.
Send the word up to the palaca that we
are coming, and that wa are weary of the
marchof the desert. Tha King will coms
out and say, ‘‘Welcome to the palace;
bathe in these waters, recline on these
banks. Take this cinnamon aud frankin-
cense gad myrrk and pub it upon a censsr
and swing it before ths altar,” And yet, my
friends, when heaven bursts upon us it will
be a greater surprise than that—Jesus on the
one hundred and fort
the great multitudes t!
ber, will cry, world without end,
—the half was not told us?’
TEMPERANCE.
FAREWELL TO THE BOWL.
Farewnll, gay companions, past follies, and
tno man can
*:The
-nume
half
Farewell, gay enchanter, the bowl,
Farewell, ye deceitful and sinful decoys,
The light has just dawned on my soul,
Ye promised me pleasure, while laughter
went round.
Till ye led me to ruin’s dark brink, °
{ believed, I partook, I enjoyed, and I found
The road to misfortune is drink.
My strength had departed, the bloom ere L
thought
Had fled unperceived from rpy face,
“My substance was wasted, tae pleasure I
sought
Soon ended in sin and disgrace.
My friends do not know me, and seldom
they name,
And if they once name, with a blush,
'Tis to speak of my errors, to grieve for my
shame,
And to tell to what ruin I rush.
But now I’m resolved, with the succor of
race
To arise, and do all I can
My lite to reform, my steps to retrace,
And become quite a temperate man.
I fear no relapse, though old habits are
strong,
If for help I but fervently pray;
I believe in the maxim too old to be wrong,
That *‘Where there's a will there’sa way.”
And when I shall die, keep my memory
green,
And my epitaph deeply engrave:
¢‘Here lies a true soldier whose motto had
een,
‘Who conquers bad habits is brave.”
-Rev. J. Casey, in Sacred Heart Review,
INDUCING JOCKEYS TO DRINK.
In speaking of jockeys and their charac-
teristics and weaknesses, a horse owner
made the following comments yesterday:
“Boys that spend their nights in the city
become unfit to ride. They get in bad com-
pany, everybody tries to induce them to
arink, and when thev need nerve it’s gone.
Jockeys think they can stand anything, but
boys that I take an interest in 1 keep away
from liquor. The jockey of the future will
come from the ranks of boys who behave
themselves, and have a care for their health
as well as for their mounts.”—New York
Commercial Advertiser.
INTEMPERANCE IN RUSSIA. :
The Russians are, of all nations, the most
addicted to drunkenness. I respect and like
the Russians, who are the most hospitable
pzople on the face of the earth—hospitable
not because they wish to show it, but be-
cause itis their nature, and they are per-
fectly sincere in it; for a Russian will
willingly share his last morsel with you,
and will be offended if you do not accept
it.
But strong liquor is the weakness of the
lower classes, who will give their last kopeck
for a drink of wodki (raw brandy). No mat-
ter whether he is hungry or thirsty, happy
or miserable, whether he feels cold or hot, if
he goes to a funeral or a wedding, the first
thing he thinks of is a glass of wodki, that
being the cheapest drink he can obtain.
The wodki the poorer classes drink isnot
distilled, it is pure alchol (when I say pure I
mean raw.\
In Russia, beside Sundays, there isa great
number of holidays, which if taken together
with the Sundays, make from 115 to 120
days in the year, so that the laborer works
only eight months in the year and’ is drunk
the rest of the time; for a Russian peasant
will never call Sunday or a holiday by its
proper name if he be not brought home in-
sensible,
The middle classes, although they do not
get insensibly drunk, also like to feel the
jolly state. The higher classes and the aris-
tocracy can afford to drink the purest, dear-
est and so-called ‘'bsst” drinks, such as old
wine, brandy and champagne, all of which
in their effects are as injurious as alcohol.
During the past year meetings have been
held to discuss tae question of intemperance
among the lower classes, but as yet no means
have been found to stop it, or in any way to
prevent its increase. It has become a general
opinion that it is the business of the Govern-
ment. Alas, what mockery’
The clergy have undertaken this difficult
task, the Government giving no aid what-
ever. The priests are something like the
House of Commons in England; they talk,
argue and reason, but do nothing. Have
they tried anything? No they keep on
talking and wasting time time, and adjourn-
ing ‘‘until another day,” and the evil con-
tinues. x !
The causes of: intemperance in Russia‘'are
first, ignorance, and second, the indifference
of the Government to the liquor traffic.
Private institutions may, in some way, pre-
vent intemperance, but in Russia the Gov-
ernment is the only body that can stop it.
The only way to prevent the spread of in-
temperance in Russia is education. Educate
the child, let him read; let him reason; give
him a good example, and instead of follow-
“ing the example now set him he will see the
error of his parents’ ways.
The Russian peasant is a rough, ignorant
fellow, but many a noble heart lies hidden
under an unpromising exterior, and if he
could only be made to understand his social
and political value, be taught to work not
only with his hands, but also with his head,
he would see the richez of his country;
and if the Government aided but a little to
make him a man instead of a beast, as heis
now, Russia would soon become one of the
richest countries ot the world, for there is,
so to speak, gold at every step you make,—
Demorest.
TEMPERANCE NEWS AND NOTES.
A temperanes society has been established
in Harvard College. .
Take the money out of the whisky busi-
ness and it couldn’t live a year
Seventy women in New York are said to
be engaged in the saloon business.
The “horn of plenty” never falls to the
lot of the man who takes plenty of ‘‘horns.”
There are 10,000 teetotallers in the railway
service of Great Britain, apd 12,000 among
the sailors in the naval service.
Carroll D. Wright, the well-known sta-
tistician, is authority for the statement that
for every dollar paid in by the saloons for
their licenses about $21 is paid out by the
people.
The Yale faculty has prohibited the editors
of all the college periodicals from publish
ing the advertisements of saloon keepers
and liquor dealers. Both the editors and the
liquor dealers show resentment.
The committee of the British Medical As-
sociation on legislation for the inebriate has
reported in favor of endowing propar author-
ities with power to compel 1nebriates to be
Placed in retreats where they will be treated
y physicians employing the most approved
methods.
The Swedish Government is employing a
novel cure for drunkenness. . It consists in
confining the patients and giving them noth-
ing but bread and wine to subsist upon.
The result is that the patient soox becomes
nauseated and abhors any intoxicating
liquor, No water is allowed during the
treatment. .
Congressman Hatch is said to have cured
himself of a strong taste for liquor ten years
ago by adopting Edmund Burke's cure-all of
hot water, He drank quantities of it, and
thinks he derived great venefit trom it. It
stimulated him without any of the reaction~
ary effects that follow stimulation from
drinking alcoholic liquors.
SONDY SCHOOL,
“Downfall of Judah,” Jeremiah xxxix.
1-10. Golden Text: Matt. xxiii,--38.
Commentary.
1. “In the ninth year of Zedekiah. king of
Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchad-
nezzar, king of Babylon, and all his army
against Jerusalem, and they besieged it.” In
chapter lii. and in II Kings xxv. we have this
same story of the downfall and captivity of
Judah. hen the Holy Spirit causes the
same record to be written three different
times He certainly asks our special atten-
tion to it, and must have some great
reason for doing so. The ten tribes’had
been in captivity over 100 years, and for
that perioc, as well’ as for the more than
200 additional years sinca the death of
Solomon,-God had been bearing with them,
pleading with them and warning them
that unless they turned to Him sincerely
this judgment would come upoxu them (Hos.
ii., 11-13; Joel i., 5-7; Amos iii, 1, 2, an
the precaptivity prophets everywhere). See
also Lev. xxvi., 27-35, and consider what a
long warning they had, and how the false
prophets taught the people to laugh at and
despise it. io
9. “In the eleventh year of Zekiah, in the
fourth month, the ninth day of the month,
the city was broken up.” uring a part of
three years, or an actual period of eighteen
months, including the short interval of last
week's lesson, did the siege continue and
then the city fell, as God had said. He may
lovingly and patiently show His long suffer-
ing, but His Spirit will not always strive.
3. **And all the ° princes of the king of
Babylon came in and sat in the middle gate.”
The enemy sits in the gate of the holy city—
what a contrast to the blessing of Judah,
“Thine hand shall be in the neck of thine
enemies,” and the promise to Abraham,
“Thy seed shall possess the gate of his ene-
mies’ (Gen, xlix., 8; xxii, 17). It was
promised to Israel that one should chase a
thousand, and two put ten thousand to
flight, and that no man should stand before
them’ (Deut, xxxii., 30; Josh. i., 15), but un-
belief and turning away from God brings
all this trouble upon them.
4, “When Zedekiah, theking of Judah,saw
them and all the men of war, then they fled,
and went forth out of the city by night.”
All this was seen in vision by the prophet
Ezekiel at Babylon, and was shown to the
ple of Israel, who were there in an object
Pe by the prophet. (Ezek. xii., 1-15.)
5. ‘But the Chaldeans’ army pursued
after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the
plains of Jericho and brought him to Neb-
uchadnezzar.” It being the purpose of God
that Zedekiah should bs taken, it was there-
fore impossible for him to escape. Perfectly
safe even amidst the greatest dangers are
all whom God promises to protect, but there
is no hiding place and no safety for any who
rebel against Him. They may be sure that
their sin will find them out. = (Num. xxxii.,
o;
€. “Then the king of Babylon slew the
sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes;
alsothe king of Babylon slew all the nobles
of Judah.” If the children follow the sins
of their father and walk in his ways they
will suffer punishment with their father;
but who can describe the feelings of a father
compelledto witness the sufferings of his
children because of sins into which he led
them? Let ungodly parents consider this
ere it be too late.
7. ‘“*Moreover, he put out Zedekial’s eyes
and bound him with chains, to carry him to
Bebylon.” Thus was Jer. xxxii., 4, and
Ezek. xii., 13, literally fulfilled, although at
first sight it might seem difficult for them to
have a literal fulfillment. Zedekiah went to
Babylon, he saw the king of Babylon, but he
never saw Babylon. It is always perfectly
safe to take God at His word, and take Him
to mean just what He says. As soon as we
tegin to give His word some other meaning
than that conveyed by the plain grammati-
cal sense of the words, we are in danger of
perverting it (xxiil., 36).
8. “And the Chaldeans burned the king's
house, and the houses of the people, with fire,
and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.”
Thus the Lord swallowed up the habitations
of Jacob, and cast down the beauty of Israel;
thus He did what He had devised, and ful-
filled His word commanded in the days of
old (Lam. ii., 1, 2, 17). Although it was ap-
parently the hand of the king of Babylon,
it was really the hand of the Lord upon His
rebellious people. Nehemiah, speaking of
the testimony of the Spirit of d in the
prophets against lsrael, says that God gave
them into the enemy’s hands because they
would not hear (Neh. ix., 30).
9. “Then Nebuzar-adan, the captain of
the guard, carried away captive into Bab-
ylon the remnant of the people.” Some had
been taken to Babylon for their good, such
as Daniel, Ezekiel and others, but these for
their hurt, to be a reproach and a prcverb,
a taunt and a curse in all places (Jer. xxiv.,"
5-10). The same event may prove to some a
bleshing and to others a curse. *‘All things
work together for good to them that love
God” (Rom. viii., 28, 29). 3 :
10.. “But Nabuzar-adan, the captain.of
the guard, left of the poor of the people,
which had nothing, in the land of Judah,
and gave them vineyards and fields at the
same time.” Or, as in the margin, ‘'in that
day.” It is evident, then, that there
may be a time when it is blessed to *‘have
nothing.” Weare reminded of Zeph. iii,
12, “i will also leave'in the midst of thee an
efilicted and poor people, and they shall
trust in the name of the Lord.” Also,
Luke vi., 20, **Blessed be ye poor, for yours
is the kingdom of God.” Though we may
not have this world’s goods, if we have Jesus
we are rich for time and eternity, and are
heirs with Him; and when the unbelievers
are cast out we shall inherit all. Even the
captain of theguard (‘‘chief executioner”—
see margin), cruel to many, cau only bring
us blessing. May Jesus be all tous; then we
will be well content to wait and suffer with
Him this little while, proving ourssives pil=
grims and strangers here. ike Abraham
we will contentedly sojourn in the land of
promise, owning not a foot; of it except per-
haps a burial place, while we look for the
city which hath foundations, whose .builder
and maker is God. Or, like Moses, having
respect unto the recompense of the reward,
we will esteem the reproach of Christ great-
er riches than the treasures in Kgypt (Heb.
xi., 9, 10, 26; Acts vii, 5). There is such a
thing as laying up treasure in heaven whether
we have much or little here,and thereissuch a
thing as being rich hers and awfully poor in
eternity (Math. vi., 19, 20, Luke xii., 20,
21). The writer earnestly desires for all
who read these notes that the spirit and pur-
pose of Jeremiah and of Paul may bein
them; or, better still, the spirit of Christ
Himself, for that is the fullest measure, that
od may be glorified.—Lesson Helper.
-DRUNKENNESS DESTROYS LOVE FOR GOD.
Mark the drunkard coming out of one
place when he has been filled; he goes into
another saloon for more. Well, Isayany
man who gives drink to one he sees already
under its influence is, a soul-murderer; words
of condemnation are not strong enough on
him. Behold the drunkard coming out of
one of those low places, letting fall from his
lips oaths the most shocking, blasphemy the
most revolting, that would make the very
devils in hell shudder. Looking around the
church Sunday morning, Wwe see a poor
‘woman, hidden, perhaps, in some corner of
the church, ashamed to be seen because of
the poverty of her clothing or some other
such reason. Ask her whers is her husband,
oro: as faithful as she to come to church.
What is her answer? He is at home in bed,
sleeping off the effects of a Saturday night
drunk, or, perhaps, rising Sunday morning,
goes away again to one of those vile piaces
to continue the debauch of the previous
day.—Father Nicolt, O. M1.
Ex-UNITED STATES SENATOR HENRY W.
Brair, of New mpshire, has deciared
kimself a Presidential candidate. Chairman
Churchill, of the Republican State Commit-
tee, has received a letter from Mr, Blair
making the formal andouncsmsnt. ;
FORGIVEN.
The dew of the Blood of God
He washed me clean 3
As the daisy star on the sod,
The singing brook on the green,
The young dove snowy and bright,
The silver cloud in‘the sky.
His scarlet has washed me white—
TI could sing with the bird on the bough
A little innocent song;
I could leap like the young lambs new
The fleecy mothers among;
His lamb, even I.
I could langh so careless and wild, °
‘With the yonngest child in the sun,
I, with the heart of a child,
Christ’s little one.
Hark! how it flutters and sings,
Clothed in white,
The soul that hath known dark things,
Somewhere, far out of sight!
As a bird goes home to its nest,
I fly with never a word
"To His breast that will give me rest—
Christ’s singing-bird.
— [Katharine Tynan
WHICH IS EASIER?
An upright is always easier than a stoop.
ing posture, because it is more natural, and
one part is better supported by another. So
it is easier to be an honest man than a knave.
It is also more graceful.—[Shelton.
PUT AWAY ALL MALICE.
There 1s a spirit of bitterness wherewith
some come before the Lord, in religious
duties, living in malice and envy, and which
some professors entertain against others,
because they outshine them in holiness of
life, or because they are not ef their opinion
or way. his, wheresoever it reigns, is a
fearful symptom of an unregenerute state.—
[Boston (Feur-fold State.) Y
HAPPINESS.
Noihing is purer than honesty—mnothmng
sweeter than charity—nothing brighter than
virtue—nothing warmer than love—and
nothing more steadfast than faith.
united in one mind form the purest, the
sweetest, the richest, the brightest, the ho-
liest and the most steadfast happiness.
WHEN GOD REFUSES TO HEARKEN.
“He will not hear those who have not a
steadfast belief in His promises.”” He de-
serves our confidence, and He requires it.
“Nor will He hear these who come into
His presence full of worldly feelings.” We
must love God supremely, and allow neither
our houses, our stores, our ships, our stocks,
our money, our: goods, ‘to occupy the
thoughts that should be given to Him.
‘‘He will not hearken to those whe ask the
things they do not sincerely desire.” Some
go through a round of petitions without feel-
ing a need of the things they ask, or without
any strong desire to obtain them. :
*‘He will not listen to those who ask with
perfect selfishness, and without any regard
to his glory.” Our prayers must be disin-
terested. e must not implore for things
to pamper our appetites, promote our own
ease and indulgence, or the worldly prosper-
ity of our families. We must not petition
for objects that will not increase our spiritu-
ality, Christian activity, and carefulness.
We must bave a supreme regard for the
glory of God in all we ask of Him.
¢‘He cannot consistently hear us when we
cry to Him for things he has told us he can-
not consistently with his glory grant.” It
is an insult to God to ask him for what he
has told us he cannot and eught not to give.
Such prayers are an abomination in the
ugh of a benovelent God. Thy will be
one.
“He will not regard the prayers of those
who supplicate for things without using the
means necessary for their attainment.” God
helps them who help themselves. He con-
fers blessings through human instrumental-
ity. We must do our part, or God will with-
bold his aid.
‘It is inconsistent for God to hear the
prayers of those who pray without relying
on the blood and righteousness of Christ.”
All the blessings eonferredon us are the
purchase of the atoning Saviour. We must
plead his righteousness and the great atone-
ment he has made. “Behold, O God, our
shield, and look upon the face of thine an-
nointed.”
PRAYING AND BELIEVING.
“Have faith in God,” is the language ot
our blessed Redeemer. Again, ‘What things
soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that
ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
If these are promises made by Him “who has
all power in heaven and on earth;” and not
the power only, but is willing to confer these
favors upon us, then why do we receive so
few answers to prayer? We are told that
“we ask and receive not, because we ask
amiss.” ‘We sometimes ask in rather a care-
less manner, feeling that we desire ‘the
things for which we ‘ask, yet so intensely as
to lead us to earnestly seek for them. In
this case we cannot expect to receive an an-
swer to our prayer.
Again, we sometimes ask and really desire
God’s blessing more than anything else; but
then we look at our own unworthiness to re-
ceive and dare not expect so great a blessing;
thus we limit God’s power and goodness ta
our worthiness to receive. But though un-
worthy, may we not, through faith in Hing
“who is worthy,” expect to receive an-
swers to our feeble petitions ? He has said,
“according to your faith, so be it unto you”;
and again, “ask and receive, that ycur joy
may be full? The more I contemplate tue
lan of salvation through faith, and try to
ook into its mysteries the more I am con-
firmed in the belief that there is an infinite
tullness to be enjoyed by all God's people.
O for more of the life-giving power of faith
in the church, then would her converts
be multiplied, and she. might truly
appear as “a city set upon a hill, whose light
sannot be hid.” ~ Itis said that ‘eye hath. not
seen, nor ear heard, neither hath’it - entered
the heart of man to conceive what God hath
prepared for them that love Him.” ‘This, no
doubt, has reference, in part, to the glories
of the future state; vet I believe that there is
sufficient evidence in God’s word to induce
us to beleive that God designed that we
should enjoy great blessings in answer to
rayer. *‘Only believe; all things are possi-
Ble to him that believeth.” And agair, ‘all
is yours, and ye are Christ’s and Christ is
God’s.””. Now we see that we may cust all
our care upon Him, with the assurauce that
He careth for us; and:also that ¢‘if we abide
in Him, and His words abide in us, we may
ask what we will and it shall be done unto
us.” When we come to Him and ask that
our children may be converted, and made
pljaze in His church, is it not our privi-
ege to feel the assurance, as Cornelius did,
that our prayers are come up before him,
and that in his own time he will grant our
request; that though “the vision tarry, we
may wait for it’’? We read that ‘Abraham
believed God, and it was counted to him for
righteousness.” 1s it not our duty even to
believe his promise, ag: Abraham did, though
against the natural probability of the thing,
and wrestle until we prevail, as Israel did,
and till our family and friends are converted
to God, his Church revived, and the day
hastened when the *‘ heathen and the utmost
parts ‘of the earth shall be given to him for
an inheritance.”
When we thus believe His promise and
trust our all to Him, then will he fulfilled in
us the saying, that ‘the kingdom of heaven
is righteousness and peace and joy in the
Holy Gbost,”’ *‘For behold the kingdom of
God is within you.” “0 Lord, increase our
“aith.”— [Morning Star.
Dr. Lesuie E. KegLEy, of Dwight. Tl,
has concluded to contract with tha Unitad
States Government to purchase his remadies
and treatment for the cure o! the liquor and
opium habits in the army, :
and driver, whose future work will
the . eadville kite track, purchased tk
George Wallace Delamater residence for
William A. DeFralin & Son's chair fac
at Mt. Union was entirely consnmed Uy
Loss about $22,000; insurance, $8,500.
Sentence of death was pronounced on
Martin Reed, the poisoner of alexander
Chappel, ‘at Washington. ‘the court refused
a new trial. : :
The mother of State Treasurer Boyer died
Thursday, She had been ill, - bit wa
thought to be recovering. Be
Austin Cawley, a glassworker at Phillips-
burg, fell from a coke car on the Pittsburg
& Lake Erie at Woodlawn and was in tly
killed. Sk
John Cloak, of Templeton, while gunnin
for foxes, shot both barrels of a gun Sh
himself by accident, inflicting mortal 1
ies. LE
The comptroller of the currency has de-
clared a dividend of 30 per cent in favor ©
the creditors of the Corry National ban
of Corry, on claims amounting to $518,
Edward Funkhauser, a quarryman, was
fatally injured in an explosion near Beaver
alls. :
John Rhodes, aged about 65 years, "an oil
roducer of Oil City, was killed at Pioneer
v a Western New York & Pennsylvania
train. 3h
John Itle was caught in a belt at the West
Newton paper mill on Tuesday and badly
injured. As a boy he narrowly escape
death in the Butchers Run flood, whic
swept him several rniles from home. |
Mrs. Gi Cunningham died inHuntingd
having been a bri only fi
hours. Her maiden name was Ju
McAlevy, voungest daughter
John E. McAlévy, proprietor of the Hall
man house, and she was only 15 years of age
Lonie Cohn, 12 years old, was fatally
erused in the grist mill at Lycippus, W
moreland county, Wednesday night.
Sherman Ferguson, of Cokeville, West-
moreland county, fell from a loaded wag
~which passed over him injuring him te
bly. His eyes were torced from their
sockets.
When the day watchman of the
vacant Glen rolling mil buildin
at Allentown reached his ~~ post
Friday morning he found the watchman’
box burning and the charred the
night watchman, James Young,
old, lying oa the floor.
Charles Marvin, the great horse train
£12.000. He got the place at about oue:
third its value. %
According to the will of Asa Packer, ti
monetary endowments to LehighUniversity
Library and St. Luke’s hospital, Bethlehem,
are $1,500,000, $400,081 and $300,000
spectively. According to the terms of th
agreement with the Reading railroad, th
guaranteed income of each institution w
be increased 40 per cent. ‘The Lehigh Valley
last year paid a 5 per cent’ dividend. Next
year the income will be 7 per cent. This
will increase thé income of the university
$30,000 and make it $105,000. ‘The total in
come of the Packer's South Bethlehem 1
stitutions will next year, according to this
estimate, be $154,000. Should the full limit:
of the dividend—10 per cent.—be earned by
the Reading and paid to the Lehigh Valley,
the total income would be $220,000. !
Walter Glenn.engineer at the Oliver Bros.
coke works near Uniontown, went under
the engine platform to tap a steam pipe.
While he had the pipe oper someone turned
on the steam and the poor fellow was scald:
ed and cooked to death before he could be
rescued.
Michael McGraw of Greensburg, was in-
stantly killed by the premature discharge of
dynamite.
The Dietz well on the Hess farm, near
Logans Ferry, took -an erratic turn and
blew the tools which were fast in the hole
over :0 feet above the ground. The lond
roar made by the escaping gas can beh
for several miles,and it is said to be a bigger
gasser than anyawell ever struck in the Mur-
raysville field. This fortunate strike promi-
ses anew field and a bright future for this
section of Plam township.
Peter Kinney, aged 17, was killed on the
Valley road near Kennerdell. He was on a
freight train and is supposed to have been
jerked from the caboose on the sidetracks
and run over by a passing train.
. Burglars and firebugs still keep Altoona
in a state of terror,
Two Italians were run down and killed by
a train in Saxman’s cut, near Latrobe.
Geo. Allen, son of
Allen of Harrisburg committed suicide by
cutting his throat with a pen knife. He was,
a clerk in the Pennsylvania Steel Works.|
The suicide was due to a disordered mind, !
caused by illness. | :
‘The bodies of Frenk Farrell and James
Martin, the boys drowned in Sandy
creek at Reynoldsville, were recovered.
‘William McWilliams, aged 69 years, a
printer, known all over the State, died at)
Greensburg. He founded the Raltsburg:
Press, and for 20 years was editor of the
Kittanning Democrat.
Geo. C. Marshall a Un’ontown coke opera-
tor, assigned to benefit his creditors, having
$50,000 liabilities.
Grant Johnson, aged 22, of near Beaver,
fired a shotgun into his face becauseof a'
love quarrel. He will live.
Frank Hivpsnstell. of.Center Valley, was.
bitten by a dog three weeks ago. Rabies
developed causing frightful spa:ms.
cannot recover. :
There is a seven-mile ice gorge
Beaver river, from its mouth up to Rock
Point. It is feared that some damage may
follow its break-up.
The total valuation of proterty in Somer-
set county is about $9,000,000, and the levy
has been reduced from 6 to 5 1aills.
The assessed valuation of property in
Fayette county isabout $30,000,000,as against
$26,000.000 returned three years ago.
Mrs. Ann Fletcher McKeage, the last of a
historic family and the oldest resident of
Hollidaysburg, died at the age of 95 years.
- At Mifflintown James Cole's barber shop,
T. B. Auker’'s marble and tombstone works,
‘Wm. H.Rollman’sjewelry store,John North's
shoe store, B. F. Burchfield’s law office and
the office of Insurance Agent Werdman were
destroyed by fire. Loss about $30,000; partly
insured. Supposed to be incendiary. :
+
Pennsylvania will send 30 Representatives
to the lower house of Congress this year, the
largest delegation she has ever chosen.
Owing tothe failyre to redistrict the State, 28
of them will be chosen from the present!
districts, formed in 1887, and the two addi-:
in the
ex-Representative =
Lick! |
tional members will be elected at Jarge on
the Stateticket. The present delegation
contains 18 Republicans and 10 Democrats,
Already the candidates are announcing!
themselyes and getting their forces into line.
In someof the districts there will be hot
contests, for aspirants are numerous, and
each county seems earnest in pressing its
claims for.?ecognition in the conferences.
Francis C. Wade, a well known citizen of
Meadville, dropped’dead Saturday. He was
‘a philanthropist and was 60 years of age.
Eighteen of the 34 engineers employed by
the Pennsylvania railroad ut Conemaugh,
are confined to their homes with the grip. ~~
x