University of South Carolina Libraries
REV. DR. TAL11AGE. THE BROOKLYN' DIVINE'S SDNDAY SERMON. Ifiubject: '*Our Possessions." Preached in London. / Text: " All are yours."?I Corinthians ffii., &i. ^ The impression is abroad that religion (puts a man on short allowance; that when ithfl SIllp sauing neavenwaru cuun uu mo shining wharf it will be found out tbat all ;the passengers bad the hardest kind of sea fare; that the soldiers in Christ's army (march most of the time with an empty haversack; in a word, tbat only those peop.e > Ibave a good time in this world who take itipon themselves no religious obligation. J I want to-day to find ouc whether this i s 180, and I am going to take account of stock; <1 am going to show what are the Christian's liabilities, and what is bis iDcome.and what :are his warrantee deeds, and what are his [bonds and mortgages, and I shall find ouc [before I finish just how much% he is worth, and t shall spread before you the balance sheet in time to warn you all against the religion of Jesus Christ if indeed it b9 a failure, and in time for you all to accept it if Bndeed it be a success. I turn first to the [assets, and I find there what seems to be a roll of Government securities?the empire of heaven promising all things to the possessor. |The three small words of my text are a warJrantee deed to the whole universe when it ttays "All are yours." t In making an inventory of the Christian's jpossessions I remark in the first place tbat ice owns this world. My text implies it and 'the preceding verse asserts it?"whether jPaul or Apollos or Cephas or the world." iNow it would b9 an absurd thing to suppose that God would give to strangers (privileges and advantages which He would deny His own children. If you have a largS - monainn beautiful fountains. ?>, , stalking deer and statuary, to whom will you give the first right to all these possessions? To outsiders? No, to your own children. You will say, "It will be very /well for outsiders to coine in and walk these paths and enjoy this landscape, but the first right to my house, and the first right to my statuary, the first right to my gardens shall ba in the possession of rav own children, i Now this world is God s park, and while Be allows those who are not His children, land who refuse His authority, the privilege iwalking through the gardens, the possession of all this grandeur or park and mansion is in the right of the Christian?the flowers, the diamonds, the silver, the gold, the morning brightness and the evening shadow. The Christian may not have the title deed to one ere of land as recorded in the clerk's office, he may never have paid one dollar of taxes, but he can go up on a mountain and look off upon fifty miles of grain field and say, "All thia is mine; my Father gave it to me." "Ail re yours." i A lawyer is sometimes required to search titles, and the client who tninks he has a good right to an estate puts the papers in Eis hands, and the lawyer goes into th9 public records and finds everything right "? fnur nr fir? v?&r-? back; but 1U1 bUICO V4 *VH* v. ? J ? after awhile be comes to' a break in the title, to a deficit, to a diversion of the property; so he finds out that the mm who supposed he owned it owns not an acre of the ground, while somebody else has the full JSght to the entire estate. Now I examine Se title to all earthly possessions. I go back a little way, aud I find that men of the world?bad men, selfish men, wickei menthink they have a right to all these possessions; but I go further back, and I trace the title from year to year and from century to century, until I find the whole right vested in God. Now to whom did He give it? 'lo His own children I "All are yours." The simple fact is, that in the last days of the world all the architecture, all the cities, all the mountains, all the villages will be in the possession of the church of Christ. 'The meek shall inherit the earth." Ships of Tarshish shall bring presents. "The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." "All are yours." "But," you say, "what satisfaction is there in that when I haven't possession of them?' These things will come bet ore the Supremo Judge of the universe and He will regulate the titl<? and He will eject these squatters upon the property that does not belong to them, and it shall be found that "All are yours." 80, again, the refinements of life are the Christian's right. He has a right to as good 1 "" oHnrnmonk to as Bppv Ol, commodious a residence as the worldling. Show me any f>assage in the Bible that tells the people of the world they have privileges, they have glittering spheres, they have befitting apparel that are denied the Christian. 1 here is no one who has so much a right to laugb, none so much a right to everything that is beautiful and grand and sublime in life as the Christian. "All are yours." Can it be possible that one who is reckless and sinful and has no treasures laid up ui heaven is to be allowed pleasures which the sons and daughters of God, the owners of the whole universe, are denied? So I remark thaS ail the sweet sounds of the world are in the Christian's right. There are people who have an idea that instruments of music are inappropriate for the Christian's parlor. When did the houde of sin or the bacchanal get the right to music? They have no right to it. God, in my text, makes over to Christian people all the pianos, all the harps, all the drums, all the jcornets, all the flutes, all the organs, reo[ple of the world may borrow them, but tfa.ey only borrow them; they hare no right or ititle to them. God gave them to Christian people in my text, when He said, "All are yours," David no more certainly owned the harp with which he thrummed the praise of (rod tban the church of Christ owns now all chants, all anthems, all ivory keyboards, all organ diapasons, and God will gather up these sweet sounds after awhile, ani He will > mingle them in one great Harmony, and the Mendelsshons and the Beethovens and the k Mozarte of earth will join their voices and ^-*<beir musical instruments, the soft south wind and the loud-lunged euroclydon will 6weep the great organ pipas, and you shall see'God's hand striking the keys and Goi's loot tramping the pedals in thj great oratorio of the ages! So all artistic and literary advantages are in the Christian's right. I do not care on whose wall the picture hangs, or on whoso pedestal the sculpture stands, it belongs to Christians. The Bierstadts an 1 the churches are all working for us. 4 'All are yours." "'1 T I T ..II t-ho. rrn I _ iuo uuAeiuuum ^3, tuo uvufic, ?.** wuo jcaileries of Naples and Rome and Venice?they are all to come into the possession of the church of Jesus Christ. We may not now have them on our wall9, but the time will come when the writ of ejectment will be served and the church will possess everything. Ail parks, all fishponds, all colors, all harvests?all, "all are yours." Secondly, I remark that the right to full temporal support is in the Christian's nam?. It is a great affair to feed the world. J ust think of the fact that this morning sixteen hundred millions of our raca breakfasted at ! God's table 1 The commissary department of a hundred thousand iu?a in any army will engage scores of people, but just think of the commissary department of a worldt Think of the gathering up from the rice swamps, and the tea fluids,and the orchards, and the fisheries! No one but God could tell how many bushels it would take to feed five continents. Then, to clothe all these people, how many furs must be oaptured ana how much flax broken and how much cotton picked. Just think of the infinite wardrobe where sixteen hundred millions of people get their clothes! God spreads the table first of all for His children. Of course that wou d be a very sel 11911 man wiiu ivuuiu uui c*?iKjrt utuu pcwjiio to come and sit at the table somecimss; but first of all, the right is given to Christian people, and therefore it is extreme folly for them ever to fret about food or raiment. Who fed the whales sporting off Cape Hatteras this morning? Out of whose hand did the cormorant pick its food? Whose loom wove the butterfly's wing? Who hears the hawk's cry? If God takes care of a walrus, and a Siberian dog. and a wasp, will He not take care of you? Will a father have more regard for reptiles than for his sons and daughters? If God clothes the grizzly bear, and the panther, and the hyena, will He not clothe His own children? Come, then, t.Viin morning, and get the key of the infinite storehouse. Come and get the key of the infinite wardrobe. Here they are?all the keys. "All are yours." So all the vicissitudes of this life, so far as they have any religious profit, are in the right of the Christian. If you should stand among the Alleghany Mountains, especially near what is called tho "Horseshoe," you would find a train of cars almost doubling on itseir, and sitting iu one oao* ear you sea a locomotive coming as you look out of the window, and you tbialc it is another train when It is only the front of the train in which you are riding: and sometimes you can hardly tell whether tha train is going toward Pittsburg or toward Philadelphia, but it is on the track, and it will reach tha depot for which it started, and all the passengers will be discharged at the right place. Now there are a great many sharp curves in life. Sometimes we seem to be going this way and sometimes we seem to be going that way, but if we are Christians we are on tne ngno irau* mm *? o <uo ^ come out at the right place. Do not get worried, then, about the sharp curve. A sailing vessel starts from New York for Glasgow. Does it go in a straight line?" Oh, no. It changes its track every little while. Now you say, "This vessel, instead of going to Glasgow, must be going to Havre, or it is going to Hamburg, or it is going to Marseilles." No, no. It is going to Glasgow. And in this voyage of life we often have to change our tack. One storm blows us this way, and another storn blows us that way; but He who holds the winds in His fist will bring us into a haven of everlasting rest just at the right time. Do not worry, then, if you have to change tack. One of the best things that ever happened to Paul was being thrown off his horse. One of the best things that ever happened to Joseph was being thrown into the pit. The losing of his physical eyesight helped John Milton to see the battle of the angels. One of the best things that ever happened to Ignatius was being thrown to the wild beasts in the Coliseum, and while eighty thousand people were jeering at his religion he walked up to the fiercest of all the lions and looked him in the eye, as much as to say, ' Here I am. ready to b? devoured for Christ's sake." All things work together for your goo 1. If you walk the desert, the raanna will fall and the sea will part. If the feverish torch of sickness is kindled over your pillow, by its light you can read the promises. If the waves of trouble dash high above your girdle, across the blast and across the surge "An thn nrnmino ?? CVhpn thnn nass eth through the waters I will be with thee." You never owned a glove, or a shoe, or a hat, or a a coat more certainly than you own all the frets and annoyances and exasperations of this life, and they are bound to work out your present and your eternal good. They are tae nana, the hammers, the files by which you are to be hewn and cut and smoothed for your eternal well being. Here is a vessel that goes along the coast; it hugs the coast. The captain of that easel seems chieflr anxious to keen the paint on his ship from being marred or the sails from being torn. When that vessel comes to port, nobody looks on it with any interest. But here is a vessel that went across the sea with vast product and comes in with vast importation?sails patched, masts splicei, pumps all working to keep out the water: it has come through the hurricane which has sunk twenty steamers. The bronzed men are cheering among the rigging. Now the men-of-war anchored in the harbor boom forth their welcome through the portholes. So there are some Christians who are having an easy time. It seems to them smooth sailing all ths way. When they get into heaven there will be no excitement, there will be very few people who will ever find out they are there; but those Christians who have gone through a hundred mianignt nurricanes?storm to the right of them, storm to the left of them, storm all the way?when they come up the harbor of heaven, all the redeamed will turn out to greet them, and bid them hail and welcome. I go further, and tell you that the Christian owns not only this wor.'d, but he owns the next world. No chasm to be leaped, no desert to be crossed. There is the wall; there is the srate of heaven. He owns all on this side. Now, I am going to show vou that he owns all on the other sideDeath is not a ruffian that comes down to burn us out of house and home, destroying the house of the tabernacle, so that we should be homeless forever. Oh, not He is only a black messenger who comes to tell us it is time t o move, to tell us to get out of this hut and go up into the palace. The Christian owns all heaven. "All are yours." Its palacas of b9auty, its towers of streryjth, its castles of love. He will not wall; in the eternal city as a foreigner in a strange city, but as a farmer walla over his own premises. "All are yours." All the mansions yours. Angels your companions. Trees of life your shade, fl ills of glory your lookout. Thrones of heaven the place where you will shout the triumph. Jesus is yours. God is yours. You look up into the race of God and say, "My Father." You 1 ? Af -Tflono anH aav V IW& up &UIAS IUO lavo vi. vvvua brother." Walk oat upon the battlements of heaven and look off upon the city of the sun. No tears. No sorrow No death. No smoke of toiling warehouse curling on the air. No voice of blasphemy thrilling through that bright, clear Sabbath morning. No din of strife jarring the air. Then take out your deed and remember that from throne to throne, and from wall to wall, and from horizon to horison "All are yours." Then get up into the temple of the sun, worshipers in white, each wita a palm branch, and from hign gallery of that temple look down the thousands of thousands, and the ten thousand times ten thousand, and the one hundred and forty and four thousand, and the great "multitude that no man can number," and louder than the rush of the wheels, louder than the tramp of the redeemed, hear a voice saying, "All are yours!" See the great procession marching around the throne of God. Martyrs who went up on wings of flame. Invalids who went up from couches of distress. Toilers who went up from the workhouse, and the factory, and the mine. Ail tbe suffering and the bruised children of God. See cue caariocs or salvation: in them those who were mors than conquerors. See them marching around about the throne of God forever and for J * 4i-.ll ever, auu kuuw tum> O ye who have pains of body that exhaust your strength and wear out your patience, 1 hold before you this morning tha latjd of eternal health and of imparishab'a beauty, and "all is yours!" O ye who have hard work to get your daily bread, hard work to shelter your children from the storm, I lift before you the vision of that land where they never hunger, and they never thirst, and God feeds them, and robes cover them, and the warmth of eternal love Alls them, and all that is yours i Oh. if there be any present who are yet enemies of the Cross of Christ, I beseech them at once to be reconciled to God! Remember if you are not found among that white robed army who follow the Saviour in His victorious march, your part must be with those concerning whom it is said, "Tha Lord Jesus shah be revealed from heaven in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power when He shall come to be glorified in His saints, and to be admired in all them that believe." The Mysterious Doable Cocoanat. After years of vain negotiations the Royal Botanical Society of London has at last obtained a specimen of that rarest of Oriental rarities, the coco de mer, or double cocoanut. ror nunaren3 ot years, ana even in the year 1S92, the origin of the coco de rner 13 a mystery that is yet to be explained. It is unknown to cocoanut growers and gatherers, and, according to credible testimony, has never been seen except when washed upon the shores of some tropical country by a mighty storm. Lilly, the famous astrologer, owned a small one, and Camac, of Paris, another. To these uncanny nuts the ignorant masses of the seventeenth century attributed many of the supernatural feats said to have been performed by their owners. They were and are supposed to have wonderful powers in the way of curing diseases. At one time it was reported that there was a soecies of cocoanut tree growing on the Island of Sepchelies which grew nothing but these wonderful nuts. Williams, It. X., exploded the story, and the coco de mer is still a mystery.?New Ysrk Journal. . The bicycle fever has invaded Sweden. A club of ladies has been organized there, and they are reported is enthusiastic. ft J f. RELIGIOUS READING. I heard an old farmer talk one day! Telling his listeners how In the wide, new country far away The rainfall follows the plow. ''As fast as they break it up, you see, And turn the heart to the sun. As they open the furrows deep and free And the tillage is begun, The earth grows mellow, and more and more It holds and sends to the sky A moisture it never bad before. When its face was hard and dry. ''And so wherever the ploughshares run The clouds run overhead. And the soil that works and lets in the sun With water is always fed." I wonder if that old farmer knew The half of his simple word, Or guessed the message thiit heavenly true, Within it was hidden and heard. It fell on my ear bv chance that day, But the gladness lingers now. To think it is alwavs God's own way That the ranefall follows the plow. ? [Mrs. A. D. T.Whitney. _____ SUNDAY IX THE HOME. In many families the problems of the other six days in the wee'< sink into utter insignificance when compared with that ever-recurring and seldom uuswered question, "What shall we do with the chi dren on Sunday?" Perhaps the old wav? of keeping the Sabbath day were too strict, perhaps the new ways are too lax?there are any amount of perhapses, but ,thev don't count for much beside the undoubted fact that, in most homes, Sunday is an unsatisfactory day for both parents Mid children. Some excellent words by Elizabeth M. Kowland, in the C'ongregationalist, bear on this subject: "No child wants to rest on Sunday. By the time he is through with a late breakfast he is rested to death, and wants to begin living again. Now what shall the parent do? ' Take the little ones to church, so young and so constantly that the habit will be spmnri nntnpp. StiDnose thev are restless, there are worse states. Suppose they get tired ; let them sleep?their fathers often do. As thry pet older, accept no cxcuse that would not keep them from a picnic or a Christmas tree, and encourage them to be regular at the evening service also. Don't delay buying the needed boots, and if the new dress isn't done put on the old one. To be sure this would oblige the parents themselves to go in all weathers, whether the wardrobe pleased or the minister interested, just as they did when they first joined the church?which is another way of saying, 'We must be better Christians ourselves.' "The Sabbath seems to be the natural time for Bible study at home. By this Is not meant settling a dispute between two children, sending one upstairs to learn the fir?t Psalm, and seating the other on a cricket by your side to a^udy the Beatitudes. No exact rule will apply, but the broad principle can be held up tnat God's day is the fitting day for the study of God's Word. ' Is it behind the times to plead for the oldfashioned habit 'of committing to memory'? In the Sunday-schools of thirty and forty years ago we'said our verses,'and that was all. Our lessons are more interesting now-a-daya, our classes better taught, but what do our scholars carry away? Again, not to know many of our standard hymns is to be deficient in religious education. Most children sing a little, and since 'singing is the only accomplishment we take to Heaven,' we ought to encourage it more on earth. "The children will study every Sunday more willingly if too much is not required at a time. They are restless and fond of variety, and mustn't be expected to be so much better students than their parents."?[Golden Rule. THE ASSURANCE OF THE ASCENSION. What change took place in tfte body of Jesus as be ascended through tbe air we may not be able wholly to tell. That there was change we know, for flesh and blood cannot inherit tbe kingdom of God. It assures us that the putting off of this earthly tabernacle does not affect the spirit. Tbe real change from earth to heaven is shown in the ascension. Jesus talked with bis friends up to the moment of parting. He was the same in bis love, bis interest, bis devotion, bis thought, his words, as he rose out of sight. They perceived no change. Had some strong teleseope been in their hands they might bave pursued his ascent still further and proved tbat distance did not change the character of tbe spirit. He was the same during the first moment out of sight as before; so the second And the third; bad he come again into sight by the scattering of the cloud, he would have been the same. The height of heaven does not make one another person nor does the transit from earth to heaven. And that which vias true of Christ is true of our friends and will be true of ourselves. A living man with all bis characteristics passed into heaven in sight of mortals. There is then assured one living porsoniu heaven who is as when he was on earth. The disciples would bave been tbe same bad they nscended in a bcidv. The removal of our spirits from the earthly to the heavenly body, from earth to heaven, will be as little shock as is here discerned and with as little diminution of power or conscious life. We may all take sublime satisfaction for ourselves in the as ' - - ? *l?? nnfll ??nln OO w- nf t P cennion as pvnrai iug Uic naimwiun u> life in heaven and the fact that we pass the border line, wherever it is, without jar or friction or change in the quality of our babifcs: with the woman who loses her self-respect and that of others; with a roin who ends a respectable life with some deed that is dishonorable; with all who follow any course that brings its penalty of shame, suffering, and death. It is the first little step that does all; and it may not be so very baa a step in itself?only a little wrong. It mav be only a mistake, indeed, but the end comes all the same. Let every boy and girl remember this. Just as itdesnotdo to make a mistake at the head of tbe stairs, so it will not do to make even a mistake in the beginning of life?especially a mistake of the sort that leads to evil?for it often brings oue to the bottom at last.?[The Myrtle. * GUIDANCE. We are guided by the Providence of Goa, 6y the Word of God. and by the convictions of the Holy Spirit. I do not say impressions, because that does not 1:0 deep enough. I say convictions. An impression may be upon pa[ iC[J3doid ajs uo.f mqi aas [[tA\ 'oiqurpoaj pun atqnmq no.{ jt 'pjoi aq; pu? h-icaq ,ino<? uodn juidg aqj jo suoijoia -uon aqj j|nsuoo pup 'pJOAY. s.pog unsuoD pub 'aou.ipiaoj,i s.poo ijnsuoa'pa| AjauiAjp aq oj iubm noA uaq.\V snotuouuBq sabm(b 3J8 aouvpinS atitAtQ jo siuaiuaia aajqj asaqi ;Bqi 055 *)mhI$ jo pao^v aqi oj jC-iBijaoa sa apmS ioii soop aauaptAOJj pint ta.-niap lAOJfj* 0| AJUJinoa Rn eap;n3 joasu pjo_\V 3II.L "PJ0AV 8,H 0) ajbj)uoo sn sapinfl J9a5u ' ISO iff) a [OH aijx *J.?qio aqi qiiAi ptyuoo oj 8 sUujqj osaqi ;o aao so^bui jjasu pioq aqx 5 sn spso[ ' poo os pay *s|nos aj3a Jtio sb da-?p bb aju J ?Bt[j sn uodn suotpuuoo jnd uro isoq;) X|oji J oqx 'Muarasuoa aqi oj nMop j?d[a saifuis uotiDiAuoo i! wq 'ajnjuu |?moa||ajut ji'ioX ( inner being. Let us turn from the ascen- ' sion like the earthly disciples and return to | duty with great joy.?[Dr. S. H. Virgin, in , New York Observer. ] the first kal.se step. ( It is the first false step that tells. You j know that when yon tumble down stairs, i Oh. if you only had looked where you set i your foot, you never would have had all j that rolling and tumbling, beyond your con- ; trol. until you found yourself at the bottom. < So it is with everything else in this world? i with the man who falls into dissipated i Legs are appraised higher In Penn- ; sylvania than heads in Illinois. A ( man lost, liis let; Dy tiie eareiessness or ; a Pennsylvania railroad company, and a jury gave hiin $15,000 damages. If he had lost his head at a grade crossing in Chicago his heirs would have got but $5,000. This seems strange. But it is in accordance with the law, and as the roads are satisfied there is no use grumbling. A friknd In need i9 a friend who generally strikes you for a Quarter. SABBATH SCHOOL. INTERNATIONAL LKSSON FOR AUGUST 7. Lesson Text: "The Apostles' Confidence in God," Acts iv., 10-31 ? Golden Text: Acts iv., 31? Commentary. 19. "But Peter and John answered and said unto them, whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God. judge ye." Remember that these are two Galilean fishermen, unlearned and ignorant men (verse 13), standing in the Sresence of the greatest dignitaries of the ews' religion, even in the presence of at least two of the very men wno had Jesus put to death (verse 6), but they have no lear. They are like the friends of Daniel in the presence of the kioer of Babylon and see only one thing to do (Dan. iii., 16-18), and are ready to do it. The preaeuce of Jesus is more to them than the presence of any or all of these men, and by His grace they will do right in His sight. 20. "For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and neard." When Jeremiah was reproached for the Word of 'Jod he said hastily that he would speak it no more, but it was a tire in his bone?, and he could not keep quiet (Jer. ix., 8, 9), So it was with these men and with Paul (I Jobni., 1-3; Acts xxii., 15). If then we can easily keep quiet, the question is have we seen in Jesus nothing worth mentioning? If so, how different from that man of Gadera, who published through the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him (Luke viii., 31). 21. "So when they had further threatened them they let them go, finding nothing how they might punish them, because of the people?for all men glorified God for that which was done." How often the people are ready to believe but are kept back by the rulers. There would be many more believers in a full Gospel to-dav if they wore not kept back by the blindness and falsa teachings of many preachers. As in Jeremiah's day the prophets lied in the name of the Lord and perverted His words, so it la now (Jer. xziii., 16, 21, 25, 26). And like those rulers they would fain shut up these who speas the whole truth. 22. "For the man was above forty years old on whom this miracle oC healing was shewed." Je9us healed people who had been afflicted twelve, eighteen and thirty-eight years (Luke viii., 43; xiii., 16; John v., 5), but this notable case tie lett for Peter and John; a handful on purpose for these {cleaners in His field (Ruth ii., 16). There is nothing toe hard for the Lord (Jer. xxxii., 17), and when we meet a special difficulty let us see in it a great opportunity for God to work and glorify Himself. 23. "And being let go they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them." They knew just where to find their friends, and without hesitation they seek those who were gathered in Jesus's name, and who were perhaps praying for the prisoners. Think of Jesus at the age of twelve, not found with the other boy9, but with the learned men in the temple, and probably asking some wondertu. quiStioni'(Luke ii., 46). 24. "And when they heard that therlifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, Lord, Thou art God, which hast made heaven and earth and the sea, and all tnat in them is." They think at once of their $>reat and faithful Creator to whom Peter in one of his epistles teaches us to commit our souls (I Peter iv., 19).Compare Isa. xxxvij., 16: xl., 28; xiii., 5, 6; Jer. xxxii., J". They evidently believed that their liod bad power to do as He pleased both in heaven and on earth (Dan iv., 35). 25. ";Who by the mouth ol thy servant David hast said, W by did the heathen rage, and the peoplelmagine vain things?" Observe that it vras David's mouth bdt not David's word p. The words were the words of God. Compare Ex. iv., 12: II Sam. jxiii..Jer. l, 9* John xii., 49, and he foolish enough in roe eyes of earth's wise men to believe in verbal inspiration. 26. "The kings of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ." See in the third verse of this second psalm from which we are quoting how He that sitteth in the heavens laughs at all man's vain and puny efforts against Him. Compare Isa. viii. 9. 10, xxxvii., 3SM5: Ex. xiv., ?1. \\ hen will men learn thai ait thoughts against God are vain thoughts and must perish? Surety it is very evident "the carnal miud is eunnty a^aiust G-aa" (Rom viii., 7i. ST. "For a trufh against Thy holy child, Jesus,whom Thou bast anointed,both Herod and Pontius Piiate, with theGenciles and the people o. Israel, were gathered together." There was a tulallment of part of Ps. ii. in the treatment or Jesus by Jews and Gentiles at His crucifixion. So surely shall ver3e 6 be luifilied when Jesus shall sit on David's throne at Jeriualem (Luke i., 32, 33', and versi s 8, 9 shall also be lulfllled when He comes lu glory, t-roiging all nis saints wuu Him (Rev. 2tf, 27). 28. "For t-j do wuatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel uetermioed before to be done." "God dtciares the end trom the beginning, ana trom ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do alt my p-easure'^lsa. xlvi., 10). Ami yet men are <ree to accept or refuse His gracious invitations of mercy (John v., 40; Luke xiv., IS; John ill., lGi. As surely as Christ suffem , to >ureiy suaii He reign but only j-ucd as suiter with nim shall reigu with Him (II Tim. u, 1 t. 2!). "And now. Lord, behold their threat onings, and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy word!" It is the Word of the Lord that shall do the work, for it is the same word that made the heavens (P?. xxxiii., 6). The Word of God in the power of the Spirit ia the Fird and Hammer that breaks the rock in pieces (Jer. xxiii., .9). As to all threatening words or letters, we have only to say, Lord, behold them! Just spread them be tore Him, and let Him see to it (Isa. xxxvii., I 14; Ps. xxxvii., 5). 30. "By stretching forth Thine hand to heaJ; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy Holy Child Jesus." They remembered His promise concerning signs and wonders in Mark xvi., 17, 18. vx/Kort *har ha.il nrAVft.l thft place was shaken where th?y were assembled to^e^ier, and thoy were all tilled with the Hoiy G Host, and they spake the word of (ion with boldness." An immediate answer to their prayer, as in the case of Daniel and Elijah (Dan. ix., 21; I Kings xviii., 37,38). The topic upon waich they spake is given in verse 33, and makes us long to know Him and the power of His resurrection, but it cannot be apart from the fellowship of His sufferings (Phil, iii., 10). Yet tremble not at the thought, for the glory will far exceed the sufferiugs (Rom. viii., IS), and where His love leadetii we surely cannot fear to follow. ?l^vsou Heloer. rivals for the bar-rooms. A glance at the bar-rooms of th? groat loteis of the city will convince the most skeptical that the saloon of to-day spares no jains or ex Dense in catering to the finer astes of its patrons, says Rev. Thomas Dixon, Jr., in Frank Leslie's Weekly. Men become drunkards often under protest. I'housands of young men go to tin devil because there seems to be nowhere else to zo. Jjuppo.se the ten thousand saloons in New i'orK were opposed by five thousand coffee louses on the style of thu I'uglish establishments. Suppose they were fitted up as landsomely and situated as well, and filled ivith good cheer, would not drinking be reduce! to a minimum;' I do not mean so many dingy stores where coffee and other temperance drinks, creams, **"-1 IfLr/i n ? ,? tamra I Whif I niMnn r.tiat thsy should be fitted in handsome style ts social centres, witu fres reading rooms, lunch rooms, smoking rooms and issembly rooms. In other words, >nL}' suppose we snonM put torth tne same labor and outlay toward saving and elevating men as is now put forth to damn them wich alcohol. It would be a big job, I graut. The decorations aloue in fitting up of the Vendome barroom cost about ?40,000. There are siug.e paintings among the ricli treasures of arc that adorn She Hoffman House bar valued as high as $00,000. 1 have yet to hear of the every- lay young man who buys a keg; of beer or whisky, takes it up to his cheerless room, sits down over it, and drinks merely for the sake ot' drinking. The recent census of the tenement house population of New York taken by the Board of Health shows that 1,23'J,000 of our 1,600,000 inhabitants live in second and third oass tenements?that is, they are homeless. Is it not time that we recoguizi the fact that the saloon has built itselt into tne social structure of modern life, and that we must seek here for one o? the most important secrets of Its power? TEMPERANCE. it's mt treat. Three younz men were walking along on th? street; 'Come, fellows!" said Tom with the best of intenr, "Let's all have a drink?it's my pleasure to treat;" And into a tiar-room they merrily went? For sons will treat and mothers mu3t weep Ind habits be sown that will misery rea^ At the gilded bar a-groaning. FHrao vniincr mon whnsA f.hiPQtl hflfl hAan queoched by one glass And wanted no more lingered still at the bar: "Now takfl one with me," exclaimed Dick, for, alas. He thought it the way to keep honor at par? ' For men will treat for no reason at all Except from a fear to look stingy or small At the tempting bar a-aioaning. Three young men who hated the liquor they quaffed Stood yet at the bar though they wanted to go; "It's my turn to treat," ''fill 'em up," Harry laughed And down their throat3 slid the demon of woe? For men will treat and be treated until They love what at first was a nauseating ill At the deadly bar a-groaning. If young men would sensibly sit down and tbink How foolish this custom of treating becomes And how it induces the habit of drink That ruins their lives and destroys their sweet homes, Wives, mothers and sisters no longer would weep. For those, being tempted, long agonies reap At the heartlesf bar a-moaning. if fpnm crnrvA nutiiro unnnff narvtns miisfc treat Then let them give what will be good to the end; A book or a paper or something to eat Will neither be harmful to them or a friend? For long as men treat fellow-men to the worst' Themselves and their dear ones will ever be cursed At the devil's bar a-groaning. ?H. C. Dodge, in Chicago Sun. oatkial"vs. beer. Beer as a sustaining beverage for workmen has received a severe blow Irom oatmeal water. Five thousand men employed in reducing 200 miles of English broadguage track to narrow guaga were given oatmeal water only to quench their thirst, and the work was completed in thirty-four hours. It was thought impossible t.? accomplish the I oat without giving the men their regular allowance of beer. WOMEN WHO DRINK. It has been pointed out that indulgence in wine and spirits is lamentably on the increase among fashioaable women. Many, I am aware, says a writer in the Gentle Woman, eschew every other drink for braDdies and soda?, which they call for at all hours, and imagine they do no barm, because they take nothing thAt can ''clash" with au excellent pick me up. In country houses fagged out hostesses offer their guests sherry and seJtzar in lieu of tea. Others, again, pin their faith to half a bottle of dry champagne as au antitrt faHmic* Kafnpn nr? off/ar a hflP/i Af ATI ing's work. Now, too, that there is something of a reaction against tonics and medicines of all kinds, women who once contentedly quailed their iron and quiuine, cry instead for two glasses of port or Burgundy at 11 o'clock in the morning. The rate at which we live, the nervous pressure and excitement have everything to do with this unfortunate craving for stimulants, and though it is a wicked and ungrateful act to blame tne kind family doctor, still it must be concede.! that he should ba a little more chary than he is of recommending half a wineglass Jul of brandy just when one feels 'that sinking sensation," or of prescribing Burgundy in its bottles or even half bottles a day. FREE TO ABSTAIN. The Sunday-school Times concludes a recent valuable article, entitled "A Sensible View of Total Abstinence," as follows "To-day it is evident that there is a danger in wine drinking. Unlike other articles of food and drink, alcoholic beverages so invite to excess by their very use that their user is exposed to a peculiar temptation to indulge in them more and more freely, until his appetite is hopelessly subject to their control. As a matter of prudence, therefore, it is manifestly safer to abstain from wine drinking than to run the special risks that it involves. No man can say that he is above temptation or beyond peril in this matter; for if he will but stop and look at the facts in the case, he will see that men fully his equal in intellectual power, in personal character, in strength of will, in social standing, and in spiritual attainments, I have already succumbed to the temptation to drink to excess, while * no men who was a total abstainer ever became a drunkard. Moreover, in view of the dangers to others, who are under tho influence of his example, in his family or in the outside community, the man who can abstain from wine driuking ought to do it for the sake of those who loos to him for wise leading. Grantad, for example, in another spnere, cnac mere oe no sm in lue imm, in the making of one's home, with one's family, in a house where poisonous sewer gases find their way through the drain pipes into the living rooms; granted, also, that some dwellers in that house have remained alive, while others had died from the poisonousladen atmosphere, would it be wise or right to seek a home there for one's self or one's loved one'?, with the ris? involved, while another house, of lilce advantage?, aud of no higher cost, that is wholly free irom suca perils, is open to his caoice? "In short, even though the Bioie does not explicitly command total abstinence as the duty of every child of God, the Bible evidently leaves it free to every child of God to be a total abstainer if he wishes to be; and therefore it is for tha Christian believer to do, and to deem it his duty to do, that which, In the lijrht of all that he sees and knows, is the best and safest thing to do. Looking around him everv man sees that better men than himself have become drunkards through attempting to be moderate drinkers; and he knows that there is I no certainty t .at he will not drink to excess it tie drinks at an, wnne oe is peneutijr ?io so long as he remains a total abstainer?as he is privileged to reaiaio. Every man sees, moreover, that his example in this matter is sure to influence some who are obviously weaker than himself, therefore that, if be I drinks at all, he may lead these persons to drink to excess. Having the choice between ariuking and abstaining, and knowing that by drinking ha imperils himself and imperils others, while by abstaining he secure safety for himself and for others, how can b? choose drinking without sinning?" TEMPSl'.ANCa NEW.* A.NO VOTES. Nine counties of California are successfully enforcing prohibitory and restrictive ordinances against the liquor traffic. The Joliet (III.) Woman's Christian Temperance Union distributed 15.'K) bouquets at the penitentiary on flower mission day. The trust distilleries of Illinois are shortening their output of whisky, but they say it is not to shorten the supply, and that prices will not be allected. John E. Thornton, sixty-flva yeirs old, was hanged at Fort Smitb, Ark., recently for the murder of his daughter, wuile drunk. Before bis execution he appealed to the spectators to abstain from the use of liquor. The Louisiana Women's Christian Temper ance Union has had a successful year and is Anlrnvrini? its borders in every direction. strong ami earnest workers have been enBused an i will spare no pains to advance white-ribbon interests in New Orleans and the State generally. Tiie Secretary of the Navy has approved the finding of the court martini, which recently tried Chiflf Engineer Bur.lette C. Go wing, at Now York, up-jii tue charge of drunkness while on duty. The court found him guilty anil imposed a sentence of two years' suspension irom duty. A beer sa'oon on wheels is the latest invention in Portland, Me. A hack stands by the curb, as if waiting for a passenger. A ma" who is in the secret, gets m, and the hack starts on a trip around the block. Theoccupant lifts the front seat, finds a bottle and a glass, takes a drink, and puts the money in a box ami closes the trap. When th9 vehicle gets back at the starting place the men gets out, and the hack is ready for the next customer. THE REALM OF FASHION WHAT TO WEAB AND HOW TO MAXE IT. Striped Wool Crepe. In Steel and Gray With Chenille Trlmmlngi ? A Lawn Tennis Costume. A J* VERY stylish gown is dei icted in the inY_r itial illustration. It is ^ ^ made of striped wool crepe in steel and sill ver erav. with silk. UlimM the yoke and sleeves being finished with a /? chenille netting and 11 WrraLS bodice being edgII lllnl1^ ed with ribbon,which k\ l\l\\| passes quite arot'nd unl ll \\\ 11 the back; also a ril>y%Hl\\ll\\I Ribbon garniture /7?iAil\I\\l\ maititaiu its popna//jlnl\\ lWll ulanty throughout J//V? U\H1* the summer, at times (IIIlkjLUiXllij' plain,at others rever\UJ' tfv sibie> in two colors, a stylish gown*, moire ,and satin for edging purposes. Equally popular are embroideries laid on Hat. The mossaic yokes either in black or in color are often seen. The large jet nail head has completely disappeared. Later we shall have the small oblong jet plaques. One of the crazes of the moment is the multicolored pearl ornament, emerald, sapphires, rubies, opals, turquoise, gold, silver, steel, catseyes?you see them all in this passementerie. Much of the embroidery is laid on over a lace foundation. * j TWO PRETTY COROXtt FOT HOT-WEATHER WEAR. The illustration presents a charming picture of the young matron and h er younger, self. The mother wears a green foulard dotted with white, the skirt being set off with a deep flounce, the head of which is held by a ribbon. The jacket corsage has a fiJhu of muslin chiffon made as indicated, one end of which extends in a ruffle to the lower edge of the jacket. The . little daughter is dressed in a Scottish plaid, red LAWK TBKKIS COSTUME. and blue on ivory ground. The skirt has a ruffle on the bottom. The color of the corselet and braces should be in harmony with one of the colors of the plaid. The yoke and the puffed sleeves are cut straight. The puffs.and lower corsage are bias. In the illustration you find the red-cheek 6a, rOUUSL gin at a iabci nuui 111 tuc uaj, rigged for a game of tennis. She looks even flJSgl TWO PRETTY COSTUMES. prettier than she did in her neat and natty promenade costume. In fact, she is the verj personification of feminine vigor and grace Her features may not be classic, and her nose may be tip-tilted, but when she laughs there is such a deep, round, hearty, musicai outburst of spirits and vitality that all eje.* look upon the white teeth and cherry lip? with mingled envy and admiration. Attired as she is, her dress is made up of plaid and striped woolen stuff, the stripe being i blue on a white ground. The skirt is a blm serge, but in some cases she wears a red skirt. The skirt revers are edged with silk and held back by a button simulating a ball. The collar of the blouse is of the same stuff as the skirt, and is tied with a silk cord. - oL-irf The culls arc-in narmony ?im i?*v revere and so is the collar of the blouse. The very picturesque hat is of straw, embroidered with a peacock feather. On some of her hats the embroidered ornament is a racquet. A leather belt and low tennis shoes, displaying stockings in harmonious tone, complete this outing costume. In the picture the figure on the right shows a very charming out-door costume for the tiny miss. The materials necessary to fashion it are two kinds of woolen stuff, one plain and?the other lozenge-dotted. The plastron, which is the same back and front, ' > | and the epaulets and cuffs are of the plain material. The ribbon belt is tied on one side. The hat which goes with this costume is a red straw, trimmed with white crepe in a band around the crown, and also set crestwise on top of the the crown. The figure on the left is clad in a gray princess walking dress, trimmed with galloon, aa indicated. The hat worn with this dress is an opeir-work straw, bise brown, garnitured with a garland of mauve flowrets. At the front there are jet wings and lace aigrette; at the back a bow of mauve velvet and strings of same material. > You will find a specimen of still life at a summer resort pictured in the il ustration. Tee mother in this case is clad in a very pretty morning dress of striped muslin delaine, garnitured with ribbons. The scalloped and toothed effects mu?t be kept in the perfect harmony here indicated, and MORNING DRE3SES FOB MOTHEB AND CHILD. care must also be taken to carry oat th? smallest detail the application of the ribbon garniture, me cuuureu wear a cnarming little dress of white crepe with embroidered yoke and cuffs. The draped effects of the corsage need to be done upon a dress form, and then sewed to the yoke. They should* drape over the waist line somewhat. The plastron is laid upon the corsage. The skirt has three tucks. Cleopatra'* Statue. About two miles east of Alexandria, Egypt, is the plain of Eleusis, now a saltjnarsh and shallow lake, the result of /subsidence of the soil, which at some remote period is believed to have occurred over a large area in tne neighborhood of Alexandria. In old times there stood on this plain a temple to Ceres Proserpine,' in front of which was placed, as described by ancient writers, colossal statnes of Mark Antony and Cleopatra, the former represented as the god Osiris and the 'latter as the goddess Isis. These statues are described by Mahmud Falaky, an Egyptian astronomer and savant, in hit book, published twenty yean ago, on ji(Ancient Alexandria." He had seen . < thorn ten years previously when making researches to find the Oanopic road and to get material to be used by the late Emperor Napoleon in his "Viede Cesar." Since that time they had disappeared, iprobably covered over again during tbe leveling of the ground for cultivation. Daninos Pasha, an energetic local archaeologist, lately began excavations, and at a spot strewn with large numbers of granite blocks and columns found, as ' he believes, the remains of the temple. Close by he dug out a much-mutilated colossal statue in gray granite, repre- \ senting the head and torso of a woman wearing tbe insignia and coiffure of Isia.; iThe nose is mutilated, but the prominent eyes, the contour of the cheek, and the firm rounded chin show the characteristic traits of the Ptolemies. The head alone is more* than a metre high. The sculpture is of high order and finish, probably the work of an able Greek artist. A large detached fragment represents a portion of a man's right haudthe thumb grasping the fingers of a female hand, which are of proportions corresponding to those of the statue. Daninos Pasha identifies his find as cer tainly the statue of Cleopatra, and considers it to be probably a portrait statue of the famous Queen. If so, it is unique and of very great interest. He is continuing the search for tho companion statue of Mark Antony, which is believed to have been moved to a considerable distance, thrown into a hole, and covered up. If the search should be successful, these two statues wilt be among the most valuable and interesting relics of ancient Alexandria.?London Times. r A Daring Escape. "It has been calculated that for every 800 bullets fired during the Civil War a {man was killed, but I saw a regiment* of Mississippians who prided themselves on 'their marksmanship* send that many I bullets after one man and fail to get him," said Major Jame3 Huxley to the writer. "We were at Corinth, aad had captured a smooth-faced young Yankee, convicted him of being a spy, and sen- , tenced him to be hanged. He was marched out of camp to where a rude gallows had been hastily erected, and the regiment detailed to see him into the next world formed a hollow square. The prisoner was a slight, girlish-looking fellow with a babyish face, and I felt that he should be spared and sent home Co his mother instead of being strung up as a spy. I expected to see him break down and beg for his life, and was nerving myself for it, when we were treated to a spectacle of quite a different kind. Just as he mounted the gallows with a guard on either side of him and two behind him, he slipped his small nands through his jewelry and let out right and left, knocking the first two guards sprawling. The iwo behind him stood two steps below him. He turned, ......itoH nver their he?dq_ and before the square could come to a charge-bayonet3 had Oroken through it and was running like a scared wolf. The regiment broke into an impulsive cheer, and it was nearly a minute before the order to fire upon him was obeyed. Then a scattering volley was sent after him. I don't know how the others aimed, but I can make oath that my bullet did not come within a dozen rods of him. We gave chase, but it was like trying to ruu dowa a streak of lightning. Once the young daredevil turned and waved his handkerchief, then ded onwards towards the Federal lines.'"?St. Louis Globe-Democroc. Don't induce any one to tell you his secrets. You will be very much better off without them. Wiiex a man longs ror some one to anderstand him, he means some one who will say his faults are virtues.