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Exeter Times, 1896-9-3, Page 7JUSTIOE AND LOVE, THE TWO ASPECTS OF THE SAME QUALITIES IN ONE COURT -ROOM. Graphic iteport or a 'aria nor the Lire or a Soul -The Indientreett, the Testimony, the summing np melt t a Judgment. Wasbingtoa, Aug. 23. -The illustra- tions of this sermon are drawn• from the scenes in a courtroom, with which Dr. Talmage became familiar when he was studying law, before he studied for the ministry. The text is I. John di, 1, "We leave an advoeate with the Fathre, Jesus Christ, tile righteous." Standing in a courtroora you say to yourself, "At this bar crime has often been erraigned; at tbis witness stand the oath leas often been taken; at this jurors' bench the verdict has beenren- derci?at this judge's desk .sentence Jas een pronounced," But 1 have to tell you to -day of a trial higher than any oyer and terminer or circuit or supreme or chancery.- It is the trial of every Christian man for the Iife of his soul. This trial is different from any other in the fact that it is both civil and criminal. The issues at stake are tremendous, and I shall in my sermon show you first what are the grounds of com- plaint, then who are the witnesses m the cause and lastly who are the ad- vocates. When a trial is called on, the first thing is to have the indictment read. Stand up tbele, 0 Chrisnaii men, and bear the indictment of the court of high heavens against thy soul. It is an indictment often counts, for thou least direetly or indirectly broken all the Ten Commandments. Yon know bow it thundered on Sinai, and veleen God •came down aow the mountain rocked, and the smoke ascended as from a smoldering furnace, and the darkness gathered thick, and the loud, "deep trumpet uttered the words, "The oe ul that sinneth it shall die "1 Are you guilty or not guilty? Do not put in a. negative plea too quick, for I bave to announce that "all /save sinned and come short of the glory a God, There is none that doeth good. No, not one. Whosoever sball keep the whole law, yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all," Do not therefore be too hasty in pronouncing yourself not guilty. This lawsuit before us also charges yoi with the breaking of a solenan contract. Many a time did we pro- mise to be the Lord's. We got down on our knees and said, "0, Lord, I ani thine tithe and for ever." Did you keep the promise? Have you stood up to tbe contract? I go back to your tirst communion. You remember it as well as it it were yesterday. You know how the vision of the cross rose be - Core you. You remember how from the head, and the hands, and the side. •ne lie feet there came bleeding forth :hese two words, "Remember me." 3. cm recall how the cup of eommunion trembled in'your hand when you first eook it, and as in aaleashell you. may hear, or think you hear, the roaring of the surf even afcer the shell has limn taken from the beach, iso you lifted the cup of communion and you heard it in the surging of the great ocean a a Saviour's agony, and you came forth from that communion ser- vice with face shining as though you had been on the mount of Tranefigue ration, and the very air seemed trem- elms with tbie love a Jesus, and the ;mods and leaves and the grass and ehe birds were brighter and sweeter voiced than ever before, and you said down in the very depths of your soul, "Lord, Thou knowest all things; Thou knowest that 1 love Thee." Have you kept the bargain, 0 Christian man? Have you not sometimes faltered when you ought to have been trete ? Have you not been proud when you ought to have been humble? Have you not played the coward when pen ought to have been the hero/ I charge it upon you. and 1 charge it Ivan myself -we have broken the contract. Still further. This lawsuit claims damages at your hands. The greatest slander on the Christian religion is an inconsistent professor. The Bible says religion is one thing.We, by our m - consistency, say religion is some other thing, and what is more deplorable about it is that people can see faults others while they cannot see any in themselves. If you shall at any time find some miserable old gossip, with imperfections from the crown of her head. to the sole of her foot, a perfect blotch of sin herself, she will go tat- tling, tattling, tattling all the years of her life about the inconsistencies of 0 others, having no idea that she is in- e consistent herself. God save the world from the gossip, female and male! I aloe' the males are the worst. Now • he eliariot of Christ's salvation goes through the world, but it is our inconsisteneies, my brethren, that block up the wheels, while. all along d the line there ought to have been east h eothing but paltei branches, and the 11 shout should have been lifted, "Hoa- f • na to the Son of David!" e Now, yoo have heard tae indictment P read. Are you ready to plead 'guilty g O.T.' not guilty? Perbaps you are not a 'ready yet to plead. Then the trial will A go on. The witnesses will be called, a and we shall have the matter , decided, d In the name .of God now ma.ke pro- clamation: Oyez, oyez, oyez, Whosoever bath anything to offer in this trial, in which God is the plaintiff and the Christian soul the defendant, let him now step forth and give testimony in this solemn trial. The first witness call upon the stand in behalf a the peoseeution is tee: world, all critical and observant of Christian character. You know that there are people around you who per- petually banquet on the frailties of ?a -ores ebildren. You may know, if you neve lived in the country, that a crow :ares for, nothing so much as carrion. There aee thew who imagine that out Of the faults of Christians they can make a bridge of boats across the • stream of death, and they are going to try it; but alas, for the mistake) W hen they get midstream, away will go the bridge, and down Will go their souls • to perdition. 0, world of the greedy eye and the hard heart, eonse on the stend now and testify in be- half of the pro,secution againet this Christi/1,n soul on trial. What do you -know about ;this Christian man? "Oh," says the world, "1 know a great deal about bieu. He talks abeut putting hie treaseent Le heaven, but he is the st an/trent seers in 42 trade I ever knew. t He seems to want us to believe tha he is a child of God, but he is jus Lull of imperfections. I do not kno but I am a great deal better than he now, Oftentimes Ine .is very earthl and he talks so little about Chris and so much about himself. 1 a very ,glad.to testify that this is a ba Stop, Ca world, with the greedy ey and hard heart, I fear you are to much interested in t his trial to giv impartial evidence. Let all those wh hear the teetimouy of this witnes know that there is an old family quer rel between those two parties. Tlaer always has been a variance betwee the world and the enurch, and, whil the world on the witness stand to day has told a great deal of trut about this Christian man, you mus take it all with much allowance, x membering that they still keep the ol grudge good. 0, world of the greed eye and the hard heart; that will d Yen may sit down, The second witness I call in this ea is conscience. Who art thou, 0 con science ? What is your business? Wher were you born? What are you doin here? Oh,' says eoxiscience, " wa born in heaven. I came down to be friend this man. I leave lived wit him, 1 have instructed him. I hav warned him: I showed bim the righ and the wrong, advising him to talc the one and eschew the other. I bay kindled a great light, in bis soul. Wit a whip of scorpions I have seourge his weekedness, and have tried t cheer bine when. doing right, and ye I am compelled, to testify on the sten to -day that he has sometimes rejecte my mission. Oh, how many cups o life have I 'pressed to his lips the, he dashed down, and how often ha he stood with his hard heel ou th bleeding heart of the Son of God. I pains nee very much that 3: have t testify against tias Christian man, an yob 1 must in behalf a Him who wil in no wise clear the guilty say tha this Christian man has done wrong He has done a thousand .thixics h done a thousand, things be ought t have donee' That will do conscience. You can sit down. The third, witness I call in the ease iS an angel of God. Bright and shin- ing one, what doest thou here? What hast thou to say against' this man on trial? "Oh," says the angel, "I have been a neetenger to him. have giiarded him. I leave watched him. With this wing I have defended him, and oftentimes, when he knew it not, I led hira to green pastures and be - sale the still waters. .0 snatched from hira the poisoned chalices. When bad spirits came upon him to destroy hien. 1 fought them back with infinite fierceness, and yet I have to testify to -day that he has rejected my mis- sion. He has not done as he ought to have done. Though I came from the sky, he drove me back. Though with this wing defended hixa, and though with this voice I wooed him, I ..have to announce his multiplied. im- perfections. I dare not keep back the testimony, for then I should, not dare to appear again among the sinless oxies before the great white throne. There is only one more witness to be called on behalf of the prosecution, and that is the great, the holy, the august, the omnipotent Spirit ot God. We bow down before Him, Holy Spirit, knowest thou this mane "Oh, yes," says the Holy One, "I know hira. 1 have striven with him ten thousand tbnes, and though sometimes he did seem to repent, he fell back again as often from ids first estate. Ten tbou- sand times, ten thousand has he griev- ed ilee, although the Bible warned him, saying: 'Grieve not the Holy Ghost. Quench not the Spirit.' Yes, he has driven Me back. Though I am the Third Person of the Trinity, he has traxtipled on My mission, and the blood of the atonement that I brought with which to cleanse his soul, he some- tiraes despised. I came from the throne of God to convert and comfort and sanctify, and yet look at that man and see what he is compared with wliat, unresisted, I would have made him." The evidence on the part of the pro- secution has closed. Now let the de- fence bring. on the rebuttal testimony. What have you, 0, Christian soul, to bring in reply to this evidence of the _world, of the. conscience of the angel, and of the Holy Ghent? No evidence? Are all these. things true? "Yes. Un- clean, unclean," says every Christian soul. What? Do you not begin to tremble at the . thought of crendemna- tient We have come now to the most in- teresting part of this great trial. The evidence all in, the advocates speak. The profession of an advoaate is full of responsibility. In England and the United States there have arisen men Who in this caRing, have been honored by their raw and. thrown , contempt upon those who in the profession have been guilty of a great many meat- nesses. That profession will be honor- able as long as it has attached to it such names as Mansfield and Marshall and Storer and Kent and Southard and William Wirt. The courtroom hes. sometimes been the scene of very mar- velous and thrilling things. Some of you remember the famous Girard will ease, where one of our advooates pleaded the cause of the Bible, and hristianity masterly Angle...Saxon, very paragraph a thunderbolt. Some of you heve read of the fare- ous trial ine Westminster hall of War- ren Hastings, the despoiler of India by sple() ndid talents, by mirage, by bribes, by gigantic clishenesty. The whole w 18 y, 11 5- o. 86 cl 1 ought not to have clone, and lett un -orld has rung with appleu.se or con- eranation. Gathered in Westminster all, a place in which 30 kings had wn inaugurated was one of the most amonge audiences ever fathered: Por- ign ministers and princes set there eers marched in clad in ermine and aid. Itlighty me.n and women from 11 lends looked down upon the scene. in all that pomp end splendor, an,d mid an excitement each as has se:1- =1 been seen in any courtroom, Ed- mund Burk advanced in a speech which will la,st as long as the English. language, concluding with this burn- ing charge; 'which made Warren Has - tinge cringe, and cower: "1 impeach him in the name of the °anemone him in the name of the commons house of parliament, whose trust he has betrayed. impeach hitn in the name. of the English nation, whose ancient honor he has sullied. im- peach him in the naane of the people of India, whose rights he has trampled on and wh.ose country he has turned into a cleeert. And, lastly, in the name of human nature, in. the name of both sexe.s, in the name of every age and rank, impeach hie as the common enemy and oppressor of all." • 13ot, turn from the recital of these memorable occasions to a grander trial, and Ihave to tell you that in dale trial of the Clarastian for the life Of his S0111 the advocates are mightier, wiser and more eloquent. The evidence all be- ing in, severe and etern justice rites on behalf of the prosecution to make hie ilea. With the Bible open hi. his hand, he reads the law, stern aad in- flexible, and the penalty, "The soul that sinneth, • it shal 1 153 ' ' en he iys: "0 thou Judge and Lawgi\ or, 1118 is thine own statute, and ell the - evidence in earth and heaven agrees that the man has sinned against tbese enactments! Now, let the sward Jeep from its scabbard. Shall a 'Tian go througla the very flames of Sinai un- einged? Let the law he executed. Let Judgment be pronounced. Let 'him die. I demand that he die!" 0, Christian, does it not look very dark for thee? Who will plead on thy side in so forlorn a cause? Sometimes a man will be brought into a eourt of law, ancl he will have no friend and no money, and the judge will look over the bar and say, "Is thee any one who will volunteer to take this mates. case and defend him?" And some young man rises up and says, "I will be leis counsele. perhaps Start- ing on from that very point to a great and brillianut carat.. Now, in this matter of the will, as you have nothing to pay for counsel, do you think that any one will volunteer? Yea, Yes; 1 see one rising. He is a young man, only 33 years of age, I see his coon- tetionee suffused with tears and cover-. ed. with blood, and all the galleries of heaven are thrilled, with the spectacle. Thanks be unto Gad, "we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 0 Christian will, your case begins to look iietter. 1 think, perhaps, alter all, you may not have to die. The best advocate In the universe has taken your side. No one was ever so quali- fied to defend you. Ile knows all the law, all its demands, all its pepalties. He is always ready. No lam turn of the case can surprise Him, and He will plead for you for nothing as earnest- ly as though eou brought a world of treasures to His feet. leesicles that He has undertaken the case of thoa- sands who were as forlorn as you, and. He bas never lost a case. Courage, 0 Christian soul 1 I think that, after all, there may be some chance for you, for the great advocate rises to make His plea. He says: "1 adrxiit all that has been proved against My client. I admit all these sins -aye, more -but look at that wounded hand, of Mine -i and look at the other wounded hand o and at My right foot and at My left foot. But all these wounds I plead for his clearance., Count all the drops of my tears. Count all the drops of nay blood. By the bumiliation of Beth- lehem, by the sweat of Gethsemane, by the sufferings of the cross, I de- mand that he go free. On this arm he hath leaned, to this heart he hath flow, in my tears he hath washed, on My righteousness he hath depended, Let him go free; I am the ransom: Let him escape the lash; I took the scourgings. Let the cup pass from him; I drank it to the dregs ( Put on him the crown of lile, for I have worn the crown of thorns: Over against My throne of shame set his throne of triumph." Well, the counsel on both siles have spoken, and there is only one more thing now remaining, and that is the awarding of' the judgment. If you have ever been in a Courtroom, you know the silence and solemnity when Use verdict is about to be rendered or the judgment about to be given, About this soul on trial -shall it be saved or shall it be lost? Attention, above, around, beneath! All the universe. cries, "Hear, hearl" The Judge rises and gives this de- cision, never to be changed, never to be revoked. "There is, therefore, now no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus." The soul that an Jesus hath leaned for repose 1 will not, I will not, desert to His foes. That soul, though all hell should en- deavor to shake, never; no, never; no, never, forsake. But, my friends, there is coming a day of trial in which not only the saint but the sinner must appear. That day of trial will come very sud- denly. The farmer will be at the plow, the merchant will be in the counting room, the woodmen will be ringing his axe on the hickories, the weaver will have his foot on the threadle, the man- ufacturer will be walking amid the buzz of looms and the cloak of machinery, the counsel may be at the bar plead- ing the law, the minister may be in the pulpit pleading the gospel, the drunkard may be reeling amid his cups' and the blasphemer with the oathcaught between his teeth. Lo, the sun hides! Night comes down at raidnoon. The stars appear at noon to -day. The earth shudders and throbs. There an earthquake opens and a city sinks as a crocodile would crunch a child. Mountains roll in their sockets and send down their granite cliffs in avalanehe of rock. Rivers pause in their chase for the sea, and ocean uprearipg cries to flying Alps and Himalayas. Beasts bellow, and moan, and snuff up the darkness. Clouds fly like flocks of swift eagles. Great thunders beat a.nd boom and burst: Stars shoot and fall. The Al- mighty rising on His throne, declares that time shall be no longer, and the i arehangel's trump repeats t till all the living hear and the continents of _dead spring to them feet, crying: "Time shall be no longer!" Oh on that day will you be ready t X have shown you how well the Christian will get off in his trial. Will you get off as well in your trial? Will Christ plead on your side or against you? Oh, what will you do in the last great assize of your consoience is against you, and the world is against you, and the angels of heaven are against you and the Holy Spirit is against you, and the Lord God Al- mighty is against you? Better this day secure an Advocate. • • ECONOMICS. The present trouble is that there are too many men for the number of jobs, said the amateur lecturer on the ,situation. And that ain't all mister, in- terrupeed Dismal Dawson, Another trouble is that there is too much work to the job after a man gets it. Ninety-five thousand tons of Ameri- can apples are imported into England every year. • GOOD FOB, BISMARCK. It has not been an uncommon thing to hear Prince Bismarck /swiped of be- • ing fond of money, but 11 18 certain, says a gossip, that he is also oapable of giv- ing in a liberal manner when a fit- ting opportunity presents itself. It has Lately been leaened that for 30 years he has been paying three soldiers who last their eyesight at Koniggratz 300 marks a year each. THE PROGRESSIVE JAPS. Mr. Hurst, tbe British consul at Tai - nen, in southern Formosa, conclucles his latest -trade report by saying that the Japanese are showing great energy in the development of the internal com- munications oll the island, and during the five months that passed at the date of the report in March since they land- ed left more marks of 1:heie presence on the tace Of the toiletry than their prectetieesors effected in as many de - cedes EXETER TIMES HIE SUNDAY SCHOOL. INTERNATIONAL LESSON, SEPT. 6. "David's Love for tlogrs House." 1 elIMOn. 22, 6-10, Golden Text, Psalm 84.4. GENERAL STATEMENT. Wbile the responsibilities ef tbe mors- archy were still fresh. on Solomon's shoulders David lay pii his deathbed. He wile for Solomon; and eye may eas- ily reproduce in faacy the stately pro- gress of the messengers from the bed- side of the aged king to the tbrone room of his successor ; for amid tbe surround- ings of oriental royalty even such a simple call as this would be accompan- ied by imposing ceremony. The "charge" which David gave to Solo- mon becomes one, or t/ae landmarks of Hebrew history. David had made el- aborate preparations for the erection of the temple of God. 1. He was the per- sonal owner of dile hundred and fifty thousand men, mostly Canaanite by birth, who had been captured in the series of conquests which made David master a the the land, They had been held as royal bondmen ever since and they, first of all, were devoted to this boly work. He had registered them, or- ganized them, and thrived them into what, in modern phraseology, would be called reasous end hod -carriers. 2. He had made tontracts with "masons," that is, stonecutters, who were to hew tile quadrangular blocks used in the embankment of Mount, Mariall and in the foundations of the temple. Doubtless David secured these skilled laborers fram every part of his dominions, for he ruled over what bad been ten or eleven monarehies until he fused them in one. 3. He lead collected iron in abundance, which, though not used as extensively in ancient architecture as now, was more valuable than now. 4. Ile had gathered together brass "in abundance." This, like the iron, bad been probably taken from the stem - tuxes of conquered nations. It was not nearly so easy in antique. times to mine metal as it was to capture it., and Dav- id had all his life lawn a warrior rather tban an artisan. It should be added that tbe brass of Scripture is copper, or a kind of bronze made of copper and tin, 5. The Zidanians and Tyruins, that is, the Phoenicians, had broeght cedar wood to David, doubtless in exchange for the grain, wine, and. fruit of Pales- tine. There was little or no money in those days, and while the wealth of Palestine depended on the Phoenicians, the very life of the Phoenicians depend- ed on the Jews, whose country for ages was the basis of food supply for its na- tional neighbors. No contra*t of sup- ply for the building of the temple such as Solomon afterward made with Hiram had, however, yet been niade. All this David had done to carry out his lofty conception of making a house for the Lord "highly magoitical for name and glory in all countries." PRACTICAL NOTES. Verse 6. Called for Solomon his son David, in extreme old age, calmly awaits his death. Solomon sits on the throne of his father, and seriously forecasts his duties. Now he receives the great com- mission of his life -assumes the task for which he was providentially brought to the throne. Charged him to build a house. Tnis address and that of 1 Kings 2. 2-9, were probably given about the seine time, and may, indeed, be two parts of one long discourse. Tbe Lord God of Israel. Jehovah, the God of Is- rael. The building of this temple was not analogous to the erection a any oth- er house of worship since the world be- gan. And the difference is not merely that in many of these houses false wor- ship has been offered, or that in oth- ers a tuner revelation of truth has been proclaimed. The differ- ence lies here -that God. in his gradualrevelation accommodated. m hiself to.the Hebrew mind, and made the temple at Jerusalem the place of his actual residence ; and in the nature of things there could only be one such place on eaith. There were temples of Jupiter innumerable; for pagan tem- ples were merely shrines, places of wor- ship. There is no limit to the number of mosques and chuichese for they are simply plates for preaching and prayer and ritual service. But the temple at Jerusalem stood as God's abode. 7, 8. Ae for me. "If you ask why clid not do it myself." It was in my mind. Literally, "1, it was in my heart." The 'word of the Lord came unto me. This "word of the Lord" came doubtless in the necessities of the course of David's government, as well as by the voice of the prophet. When Nathan spoke he referred to 'David's wars only to emphasize God's assistance given to him; but the devout Hebrews segarded all providential leadership as the true command of -God. Rest shed blood abundantly. Thoroughly justifi- ably, also, as David doubtless believed; nevertheless to his higher ethical sense these earlier duties unfitted him for the performance of this holy task, which be had hoped would glorify the closing years of his reign, and whieh he now passes over to hie stiecessor. Then, too, the empire must be thorough- ly won and strengthened before the house of God could be safely founded. Made great wars. How "great!' may be seen when we recall that in thirty years the domain of Israel had been increased from nine thonsand to sixty - thousand square miles, and that. Da- vid bequeathed to Solomon authority over all the land between the Nile and the Euphrates. 9. Behold, a son shali be burn to thee. Better, "is born." A man of rest. Not, like David himself, a mail who conquer- ed peace, but a man who inherited peace. The fitness of his name, Solo- mon, Peaceful, is thus seen. Read 1 Kings; 5. 4 and the verses following for a description of the profoundpeace which Israel enjoyed under Solonaon's reign -a peace white' was disturbed, indeed, clueing his closing years by re- volts and conspiracies, but not until after his lapse into idolatry. 10. Compare 1 Chron. 17. 12 and the following verses. The lifework of Sol- omon was the erection of the temple on Mount Marble That building meant more to the world than any other edi- flee of human construction. No Chris- tian or Mohammedan or pagan shrine, no matter how famous, ever kept any other euch ehrine from becoming fam- ous; hut, as we have seen, Solomon's temple was exclusive there never could be another; there might be -there were later -many synagogues, but God could only have one house. Re shall he my son, ,and I will be hie father. Solomon was Godes sou in a pennies. sense. He was raised up for this one work, eepece jolly endowed ne do it, and specially cared for till it was done. I will establish the throne of his kingnOtil Over lerael forever. Like all God's promises this was conditioned on the faithfulaess of those to whom it was made. 11. The Lord be with thee. A very definite prayer. Often we are told in the sacred record that "the Lord wee with Davide' repeatedly we are told that the Lord steed by Paul. Beside every faitlifal disciple stands bis Lord. Prosper thou. Prosperity is measure - ably under the control of men. Build the lames of the Lord thy God, as be bas said of thee, As we have already seen, the erection of this house was Solomon's one greet life -task. 12. Only. Also, The Lard give thee. Better, "The Lord will give thw." Wisdom and /understanding. How well this patellae was fulfilled i8 shown 18 the third chapter of First Kings. Keep the law of the Lord. As Solomon's temple stood for Jehovah's worship, Solomon himself must stand.for Jehovah's law. 13. If thou take,st heed to fulfill tha statutes and judgments, etc. In- stead of "to fulfil" read "to do.", The language corresponds with many Pas- sagee so Deuteronomy, (See Deut. 4. 1; 5. 1; 7. 4, 11; 11, 32; 31, 6, (3; Jo. 1. 7.) No iniunetion is needed by the ordinary Cleristion more frequently than that of the closing words of this verse. To everyone to -day comes the command, Be strong, end of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed. spiritualThbesectotla ivngr of Christendom 'is 14. In tay trouble. Glorious as had been David's career, it had brought al - S' bitterness which his own heart only knew. Bat through all his anxieties and blunders and sine this one 'purpose had endured -to build a leouse for the Lord, and by straining every power be had prepared for it. .A liancired thou - send talents of gold, and a thousand thousand talents of silver. It is hard for us to understand for just how much wealth these figures stand. There were two sorts of "shekels" -the sacred and the secular; that is, the "Mosaic," and the "king's weight;" and it has teen assumed by some sabolars that the "king's weight" shekels were only half as weighty and half as valuable as the "Ielosatc." If the talent of silver was valued at three thousand shekels of silver, es is commonly sunposed, and if the "Monk" shekel of silver be taken, the entire sem of gold and silver gath- ered would amount to almost four bil- lione of &niers. This would. seem to be incredible. But the whole subject of Hebrew figures is wrapped in per- plexity. We know something of the extent of David's eonqueets; and from other records we learn what enormous sums of gold and silver fell rota the hands of the coneueeore of royal cities. One can hardly follow tlae record of A lexauder the Great and gaunt the thousands of talents of precious metals he captured without 11mm:1nn bewild- ered and dizzy; in Svrin, he found colos- sal idols of solid gold. Gold pins captur- ed from temples and palaces were used as ornaments On the boots of the pri- vate soldiers of .Antiocleus the Great. That the wealth gathered by David was enormous there is no doubt; but it would be foolish to attempt aecurate- iy to estimate it. Brasmeans copper; iron was of great value in ancient days. Timber also and stone bane I prepared. TIie. phraseology of the next verse may implythat David felled thn*her and quarried stone for the temple, whieb would imply that he had areleitectural plans already prepared; ant much of his stone and &alter and iron doubtless came from the stores of ern nrmished monarchs, who themeelves planned to build; for most of the ambitious kings of antiquity sought to make their farae endure by architecture as well as by warfare. Thou meyest add thereto. That Solomon did el IS made plain by the second chapter of 2 Chronicles. • 15. Timber, ... hewers... workers , cunning men. In ancient days there was much more room for the person- al ingenuity of a workman, than now. The line 'between the artist and the mee.hianie was not clearly mark- ed; the designer w -as often the finisher, and the stonenutter was a seulptor as well, holding himself in reaclinese to do any work in stone, heavy or fine. So that among the various "'cunning men" who had been Resembled by David, and afterward gathered by Solomon. there awere doubtless many artisans of inde- pendent genius whose detailed skill was afterward combined by the master mind of 13e.zaleel. 16. Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no num- ber. The amount was so great that it could not be counted. It certainly cannot be counted. by us. Arise there- fore, and be doing. Promptitude is as necessary in sacred as in secular acti- vity. Those who possess God's trea- sures are called to use them in his ser- vice. Tbe Lord be with thee. The pre- sence of God is a surety of success in any undertaking. • LEADS A CHARMED LIFE. Indian coolie Who Deftly Bandies a Poisonous Cobra. • There are ceitainly many people who have occult power over snakes. We have here an Indian coolie who is insane from the blow on the head, says an East Indian correspondent. He is harm- less and yet a tearor to his countrymen, as he always has one or more venom- ous eerpente about lis person, and these he will handle and gabble to by the hour. We have a coral' snake, bright scarlet, known as the kora. It is dead- ly in its bite and vicious in temper, fighting to the last, yet M the coolie's hands ie is inert, and makes no attempt to bite; but if he puts it on the ground, it will attack anything in the wayeltill- ing chickens wen oue dart. It is a horrible sight to see the coolie come in with a gray cobra, six feet long, coiled around "his neck, its bead erect and striking at everything that comes near. So much to bis griea, Shainul was told, under penalty of a thrashing, not to bring any more snakes nit° the compound. There is one very curious reptile here, fortunately not very com- mon. IL is not venomous, about seven feet long, and when angered it emits a horrible odor that is, fairly suffoca- ting twenty tint away. It is said to paralyse its prey in this manner, and is much dreaded by the natives. Than we have a very active black snake that preys on the poisaa snakes exclusively and is not affeeted by their bite, as I tried by putting a poison snake and a black snake in a large box. The viper bit the other several times, but ens quickly cruehed. ''TOMMY ATKINS," Tbe term "Tommy Atkin," is applied to British soldiers, Its origin arose from the fact that on one occasion tbe War Departmeet sent to each trooper O little pocket -book or ledger in wench was to be entered the name, age, date of enlistment, wounds, medals, etc., of each soldier. With each ledger went a printed form, showing the blanks were to be filled out and the fictitious name aged on these forms was Tommy Atkins. The little books came to be called Tommy Atkin,s, and it "WgS not long before t.he name was transferred to the soldiers themselves ... WHAT UNCLESAM i gi LOVE 14, morrow Weenie; Was SOHO, mad Spo For seven monthe .cer ITEMS OF INTEREST ABOUT THE' Karaaene, wao/esple butober duce mercbant of Nos. 72 ta Street, Brooklyn, MY, was Miss Enelice Ruddiman, of NO., borue street. It was arranged It should 18 married in the illetrep Saenger Hall on Sundays a.nd they war after much unheard-of diffieulties. The • bride wore a necklace of pearl's. Hon father isr a. produee neercbant and la BUSY YANKEE.. chain:I/may interest in Ms Doings-hiatters of Moment and Girth Gathered from His Daily Record. The Iladson river from its source to the ocea,n is 400 miles in length. A cat with eight feet belongs to Miss Edna Webster, of Delaware, Obio. A. lady in Nebraska advertised for a husband, and announced: "I own a good job printing office and can set type." A Winnega,nee, Me., woman recently proved her expertness with a gun by bringing down two large guile at a siogle shot. A flawless stone weighing eight tons, 21-2 feet at the base and 22 feet long, was taken from a, quarry in Eureka. Vt., the other day. Twenty new paperneaking machines are to be added to the Netv England mills this year, eacb 'machine having a capacity of 15 tons daily. Miss Fannie McKinnon, a composi- tor be a newspaper office in Superior, Wis., has jest received $40,000 from a gold mine stock investment made ten years ago. A New York dentist employs a WOnnal assistant, wno goes from house to house and cleans teeth. The charge is 50 cents a mouth and she does a big business. The Liberty, Mo., blacksmith wbo of- fered to shoe a horse all around in 15 minutes, has perforraed the eeat in nine minutes and his wife is as good a blacksmith as he The Maine Bible. Society has, during the past year, found 055 towns in the State without religious worship, and half the families visited were found to be without religious influences. Women of Efiawatba, an,, leave or- ganized a target company and have Progressed ea their tratturig so far as to be able to fire rifles without shut- ting their eyes and screaming. In Harbor Springs, Mich., there is a large and floarishing Weed toothpick industry. White birch is exclusively used in the manufacture of tbe tooth- picks, and about 7,500,000 are turned out daily. In 1880 there were 66,407 "civilized" Indians; in 1890 there were 58,800. The uncivilized Indians are not enumerated. In 1880 there were 105,465 Chinese in the United States, and in 1890 there were 107,475. Four old street cars are used by John V. Bohannon, of Baltimore. as a home for himself and familyThey are on suburban ground, for which he does not have to pay rent., They east him ten dollars each. Some enterprising youngelectricians Brooklyn have been tapping .the trol- ly wiees a.nd supply electric lights to storekeepers. Every montis tbey regularly collected the bills for the stolen lights. The famous collection of violins owned by the late R. D. Hawley of Hartford, has been sold to a California man for $20,000. The collection consiste of 12 instruments, which are among the fest in the world. Two women were asleep on a feather bed in their home a Bonne Terre, Md., when lightning struck the house and set fire to the shuck mattress un- der tha bed, but the women were un- harmed. The feathers repelled the ele- ctricity. The very latest flying machine is the invention of a Washington boy, 16 years old, who is believed to have a re- markable talent for this sort of work. He has built a model which flies and which descends easily when the motive power is exhausted. Current Literature gives the amounts of money spent yearly by 20 of the leading libraries of tha country. The Boston publie library leads, with an in- come of 3170,000, and Chicago is second, with 3.125,000. After these two leaders there is a great gap, and Minneapolis comes third with 355,000. Founder Jaime A. Bradley, of AsharY Park, has declared against shortening the hours for Sunday bathing at that summer resort. He says that to those who regard cleanliness as next to godlinese it is only right and proper that the privilege to bathe on Sunday should be accorded there. For more tha.n 20 years Bowinans- ville, Pa., has had what is known as a village bell. It• 18 swung between two high u.peightpoles and was paid for by public subscription. Every day the bell is rung three times -at 5.30 onloek a. m., 11 o'clock a.m., and 4 o'clock in the afternoon'The leading object of its ringing is to announce to farmers and other working .neople the time of day. The first bell en the morning at Bow- mansville is the signal for the people to arise, and in summer most of the residents are out that early, The 11 o'clock bell announces that 1.1 18 the time to leave the fields and prepare for dinner. At 4 o'clock in the after- noon they prepare fpr supper. CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE. A. gentleman in a country town, re- cently became conscious of most sus- picious glances cast upon him by his neighbors and acquaintances. Then he became aware- that his footsteps were dogod. A constable was .occasionally seen round his house, and subsequently a stranger, who afterward turned out to be a detective. Tortured and troubled the gentleman at last asked a friend the meaning of it aall. Don't you know? said lie. That they suspect you of murder. Of murder? said the horrified mean. What do you mean? You received a, postal card last, week? Very likely I received a dozen. But on this one were written these words: Be sure and save the son, but kill the lather, and the postmaster read—" But et this a smile, ending in a laugh broke in upon the dialogue. The, postal card had come from a theatrical mana- ger, for whom the gentleman had writ- ten a play, which the manager wanted ameni ded n certain partieulars. A RAY OE HOPE. My son, asked Farmer Goshley, what is it that causes tlae rotary motion of the earth? • I'm sure I don't know, father. My sun, °wee to my arniS. You have been six raotths at college and there is one thing you are sure you don't knoev! Per the fit four raontbe of this year the losses by fire in the United States have averaged e336,879 per day. reputed to be worth $250,000. Every-, thing wee going on ewimmingly, witen at 4 e'clock, the high contracting par- ties presented themselves for a. life union before Rabbi Winchinsky, of Brownsville. The bridegroom, how- • ever, bad a rabbi of bis own from New York, and the Brooklyn mart re- tired with srale. "Now," .said. Mr. Rudd/man, father of the expectant bride, "that this lat- ter obstacle has been surmounted, will you kindly proceed with the oeremenerf The weather is very bon" "Excnee me, Mn. Ruddiman," Said Mr. Roraaine, "but beteee the thing goes any further I woulki like to have that financial affair settled." "Sir," *aid Mr. Rudelemen, "you in- sult me. Is ray word riot as good as my bond?" sure it is," said Roraceine, "but your bond is more convenient just now." Mr. Rnsicliman etepped aside and eat down at the rabbi's table. Ile took a blank check from his pocket and filled it out, payable to the order of Morris Romaine for $5,000. "That," lee said, throwing down tbe check, "will satisfy yote." But it did not, Roraaine turned the cbeek over and over anti then handed it back. "I would like spot cash," be said. "This is an insult," said Mr. Reuldi- man, "and tbe marriage is ofL" Inds announceraent tad a, grave ef- fect on the friends of the bridegroone and bride, and invited guests generally. The bride threw berself into the arras of ber maids and, sigbing deeply, fainted dead away. When the bride- groom saw this his heart smote bine and ee rushed to her rescue. "Stop, sir." sheared tne prospect-ive father -m -law, "touch her not on your peril. Ste is not you.re." Than the bridegroom sank into a seat, and from the seat to the floor. Tim consternation that followed was fear - fol. Thc bridesmaids swooned, and many excitable young men present fol- lowed. their example from eyinpatby. The rabbis, who had been hitherto gaz- ing at each other askance, came to- gether, and in the excitement a the mornent thought it good pollee% to call in the police. Acting Captain Keleor arrived en short artier with tevp detec- tives, but on realizing the situation withdrew, saying that the affair was none of his businese. "But," said Mr. Ruddiroaa, "see, Ro- maine is leaving the ball. He is leav- ing my daughter a 'widow." "Can't help it," said the acting Cana tain, over his shoLder, as he retired. Romaine went out and jumped into a carriage. Great confusion folbeereeleen "I will give $20," cried Mr. Ruddi- man, "to the man who will bring' him back," joseph Goetz, a cabman, gave these to Romaine in his eab and overtook him near the base ball grounds. He jerked him from his carriage to his own, took him back, and Mr. Ruddiman, Saving paid over 3350 in cash and 34,- 650 in good checks, the ceremony pro- ceeded, and Brownsville never witnessed such a wedding feast that followed, GOOD THZeGe TO KNOW. It is difficult for persons in good health to conceive se -hp suicides should choose such a frightfully painful medi- um for their purpose as carbolic acid. It is not, generally known that to this vi- cious acid. vinegar is a good antidote. Wheu applied. to a cutaneous or mucous surface which has been burned. by the acid, the characteristic whitish appear. ance produced by the caustic, at once disappears and subsequent scarriwis' to a great extent preventecte Vinegar is an equally efficious remedy when the acid has been taken froxa the stomach, and it is recommended that the patient should. as soon as possible, drink some vinegar mixed with an equal part of water, after which other measures may be taken to more fully counteract the poison. TeeR LAinel RISING. The water in the Niagara River Is remarkably higher this season than it was last summer. Rocks and many spaces that were nearly dry last year are now covered, and it cau plainly be seen at Prospect Point that the volume of water going over the American Falls is a great deal heavier. Between Goat Island and the first Sister Island, where there has been nothing but dry rocks for two summers, there is now quite a streani of water running, and everywhere the evidenoe is plentiful of mare water. It is said that the water in the lakes is a foot higher than last year. POPULATIONS 100 YEARS HENCE. Some writer has given the following figures for the populations of the vari- ous European touttries 100 years froin now, figtuang on the same relative growth as for the past century: Russia, 250,000,000; Great Britian and Ireland 100500,000; Germany, 95,500,500; Aus- tria-Hungary, 75,000,000; France, 45,- 009,000, and Italy 45,000;500. The Bri- tish subjects eleewhere an the globe at that time should make England, rank teitb, Ruesia, and there would be but two greet powers in Europe then. LIGHTING A TI/NNE'L. A. novel way of illuminating a tunnel has been devised in Paris. Reflectors throw light from many eleetrie lamps 16' feet above the rails to the sides of the tannel, where it, is again reflected by burnished tin, a. soft read. aereeable light. The trains automate:illy turn the current on and off in entering an' leaving the tunnel. A.. REMINDER, So, said IVIr. Seingeyman as he found hit coat unznendad 1 find that I have married a 'ivoraan of .the funnel No, said his \Ina', eedly, 1 em e eee maxi of the peasent, bee eieee- 1 mar - seed yea I 118185 eat. %tee. '