Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-04-30
Rev. MR. VAN-FossEN, OF the NJ. L.
Church, preached in the Presbyterian
Church last Sabbath morning.

Church, preached in the Presbyterian
Church last Sabbath morning.
The THEME
of his sermon was the Presence of
God.
He said that nowhere in written
history is the presence of God 50
wonderfully made manifest as in the
history Of fsrdet God was with his
people Israel, from their earliest tribal
days, up to the time that they be-
came bondmen in Egypt, and all
through that down trodden state he
WAS present to direct them and pre-
pare them for national organiza-
ton, that was developed under the
rule of Moses, who WAS an instru-
ment in the hands of God In his
introductory he traced the presence
o. God up to tie time that he chose
Moses to lead Israel out of bondage.
He showed how familiarly God mani
Tested his presence to Moses, and
how Moses was moved to ask of God,
''SsOrC ne noD thy ray" The request
of the leader Of Israel was heard.
and God answered: {" Ny preSeace
shall 60 pith thee, and / w,H gire thee
rest" See Exodus SD chapter, 14th
verse.
The answer of God to Moses was
the text from which the Reverend
gentleman dwelt on the dehverance
OF Israel from their down-trodden
condition, and analyzed his sermon
'nto three grand divisions:
LIST. God acaS present in TIE Journey
of ISRAEL.
2nd. God ras present 10 indiridual
msnpbers Of Israel.
3rd God ras present, and is present
in tie rest that faith giUes.
The Presence Of God WAS manifes,
in the journey of Israel from Egypt,
from tine time that the hosts of Fha-
-aoh were destroyed in the Red Sea,
forty wears, till the crossing of the
river Jordan was accomplished, and
the walls Of Jericho fell down, and
the land Of promise was reached.
How wonderfully Gods presence was
revealed when Moses struck the rock
and the waters gushed forth. How
manifest it was when the mamma was
sent Eow grand and awe-inspiring
when it revealed itself in The cloud Ot
pillar of smoke By dag, and in the Pa
lar of fire By might Gods presence
Is manifest 70 his people to-day. not
perhaps Dy seemingly miraculous
physical changes, or appearances III
the rush of water from dry rock, in
cloud or pillar of fire. but in the com
fcrtinG assurance CT peace OF sou
that comes to every one who, Ike
Noses. asks. .-Show me now thy way.
2nd God Uas present TO iadiUIdQq'
mpmbers Of Israel. See how he Wa;
present with Joseph under the most
discouraging m:sfortuDes. He was
present in dreams, and upheld 10
seph in fortitude when, during his
long wait of two years, be WIS for
gotten by the Kings butler, whl
knew of how God was with Joseph
He w2s present With Moses in th'
burning bush. and all through his life
He was present with the prophets
and filed the cruise with OIL
and as the Reverend gentleman
worked his way under the seconC
head of the sermon he grew eloquent
and quoted great numbers OF slcrec
historical events, wherein the pres
ence of God WAS manifest to Israel
in both national and individual life
But Gods presence is not always fol
,he happiness of those to whom h'
appears. See how he appeared a
the feast OF the King Of Babylon
and wrote upon the wall. No peace
no comfort, no rest came from such I
manifestation Of his presence.
Bird. cod ras present, and as Presen
an the rest hat faith gires. When mel
ask believingly, as Moses the leade
OF Israel did, .Sho,D me noU thy tray,
the presence Of God VIII be manifest
1t never failed Joseph; 1t never falle'
Moses it never failed the prophets
ii never failed Israel as a nation Go'
was manifest to maintain them Il
every trial against their enemies; h
fought their battles, and he CAV
them an assurance of a rest beyon
the conflict. There IS rest IN tadt
The people of to-day have not tn
martyrdom Of the stake and the cro'
to endure to test their faith, and {
cause them to long for the rest this
an end OF personal, bodily persecl
ton gave, but they that have fait
have the presence Of God with thel
continually; no circumstances ca
affect them; they are always remirc
ed that what is, is for their good; n
external Circumstances Of life can d'
stroy the rest that faith gives. Oh
security IN life does not disturb then
Prominence before men does not e
alt them in their own minds an
hearts, for they know that If they na'
faith in Gods presence, his present
Will 90 with them, and that viii CIV
them rest.
Months ago six men, named Chas. Drew
Frank Stichler. Isaac Brandt, Isaiah Hun