New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-03-15
LESSONS FROM GODS DEALINGS WITH
ISRAEL

The Rev. c. r. Deems. D. d.. al N CArreh o)fb Sranor@
The congregation at the Church of the
Strangers yesterday OF such size that all available
standing room was occupied. The preached
by the Rev. c. r. Deems. d. D.. who choose as his text
Joshua. chapter kill beginning with the 18th verse
and finishing the chapter Among the remarks OF the
preacher were the following:
There are no ties or passions strong and tender as
those which exist between religious leader and his
followers whom no Is trying to bring to the promised
land This feeling extends to the family when there Is
religious belief in the members Of that family Aside
from the natural love father feels for his children.
comes tonder anxiety for their spiritual life. One OF
the tOncng sights of these times Is observed wien
a pastOr takes leave of his people. lie mas married
them baptized them. and they nave 50 to speak, grown
up under his guidance and tnon, and when ne comes
10 away from them deliver his farewell sermon, the
occasion becomes cad indeed They have learned TO look
upon him father. and the parting comes IKE sep
and look again at joshua as ne was psrlng Ioh us
people He was an ancient religious leader going 70 a,e.
lie was an Arab born slave and brought up under the
rod born shortly after Moses ana the lsrleites
was leading tue people Canaan, Joshua was growing
up with the rest under tho eaIe OF their leader Lneh
ershp of the people. He Conducted them safely through
war and famine and trouble and after al came peace
inc text treats there only other man living out
OF all those who ont Of Egypt together. All the
manner mar the children Of Joshua. Joshua is the
only man mentioned in the Old Testament whose
record has no stain His name signlhed the
sane as Jesus. Now. what was the spirit 1
actuating his words at the time of his deathi Self
Jorgetuiness and soncitude for tue welfare OF his
ppOnp He did not speak OF his faitbfulnes 10 them OF
what he had done for their benefit He ONLY expressed
a desire their welfare IN their future Tnen SEQ an
other thing He specially charged them to be careful
and Keep law Of Moses, who was dead He might
nave forgotten the former leader and Land down laws OF
his own bu; he faithful 10 his trust There was In
MS expression a tender religious ieehng tnat
for what Almighty God had done for him. Note his
socude for OretreH. Let me tell you, who are In
the church. that we are to be giuged by our soici
te for our brethren That whore Josnuas character
shows its strongest light His wish was that they
might not fail away when he was gone. The lesson
which good for his people is good Tor u.s. and have
come here say VITA all soemnity that every man
danger Of sin Tnls whole chuieh Is III danger
OF all thugs to be dreaded IN the Christian life and
the Christian Cburch apostasy the worst On 10 nave
the gospel to have taken from the people Their
dread Of deatD to nave raised tnen 10 true CHRISTIAN
most horrible thought! We ought to warn one another
away from this preeipice No people eyer nsa 50 mucn
done for them the lsrdeites GJd1lIed then rect
out of the brick clay OF Egypt He parted the Red Sea
for them TO pass thI0uGn, and wschel over the 1
patl through the Vllerqes'l piesslng mem as they
EonI Re made tlcif record TO shine above tna of any
other nation TIE morning papeis OF those times were
what along line road, and It was through those
channels that naoas heard the wondTods tale OF tue
and gaaraed over by pillar OF fire cloud Of
vapor, For that people to aposasze was
i iips ''' walls Of Jericho and had done ali
for them. Was not their falling away horrible indeed
NV brethren God never did much for that people
lie has done or lie has made no cloudy pavilion
for us lie sent His son through the thorny pain
that might be saved. III ~ was q horror ior inc
Jews 10 forsake God, wnat shall 1t be u we are ship
wrecked the barren coast OF SIN NO. no. u must
nof he But now is il 10 be avoidcdi Brethren, here
are the words Joshua. study them well, and they
will make GEAR the patti! way 10 lIfe eternal.
one OF the greatest calamies of the present time Is
the caelessness Of people for their souls THINK OF ms
impressvely People are not careless or thelr physca
health Every Is more careful III that respect tnan
ever before No goes out ~ cold or damp weather
before carefully covering all exposed parts OF the body
than ever before. We so through the wor,u
with hardly sense OF having Soul. We
adjusting rubbers to feet, but we plunge headOng
into the slums of the world with our souls fuly e1
everlasting misery. Brethen, how often did occur
yesterday That you mad "A soul 10 be saved or
lost, be in heaven or in MELT We should beware OF
bad associates, no matter what Is our Deralty There
Is kind OF li0eralty that mast he checked SuppOslng
a man afflicted with the smallpox should
into my house. People might say | inbeIa
II him away. Would 1t be illibcralily1 Lst
| see, / might the disease. Probably | should
We'll, should 90 about among NV companions and 50
spread the disease. causing death TO follow Broth
fippant way OF talking about religion aud preach
ing and holy things worse than the small pOx. The
evils OF society greatly due 10 tbe fact Of liberal
ity When meet who Is witty aud asreeable In
conversation you Ike his company, but his wit turns
on your religion. 20 away and leave hun. He sneer
IL would be better for YOU 10 be
You would fame quickly enough IL should speak
hgnty of the chastity OF your mother
hgon should be more sacred than either OF these.
If God had cleared all the sinners from the Jewish
people, Israel mignt stIi have been HIS people
| We must clear the stu from whole sOns TINS
hallway religion IL hurting all. Give THE whole Ia nd
God The next thought which appears In the text
| "a wish 70 cultivate love for God Let lis do that We
cannot love GOD according 10 rule SuppOsng two poo
ple married under contract and set OF agreements
Could they live happily No. A marriage should be
not dare TO show rs face. IL win God. Joshua
says that what Is wanted in religion Is love. Think OF
Gods fidelity to His promises aud how they come Ia
pass. ana you must love Him. Toe remaining point In