Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-28
OBSTACLES OVERCOME.
HOW DIFFICULTIES ARE CONQUERED
Obstacles when They are Touched Vanish
The Distant Troubles are Those
which Seem irge-Trial and
Anxiety Must Precsde
Worldly Success.
SERMON BY REV. 7. De Wit IAl-
MAGE.

Z
MAGE.
The Completeness of Everything THAI
God Does Battle Against AL Obstacles
Special Dispatch to the Register.
New YoRK, February 9th.
BROOKLYN Tabernacle had its usua
large and attentive congregation this
morning.
The opening hymn was;
There i u land Of pure delight
Where saints immortal reign.
Subject Difficulties Conquered.
TEXr: Joshua iii, lS-l7.
Washington crossed the Dl'aware
when crossing was pronounced lmpos-
sible, but he did it by boat. Neixes
crossed the Hellespont with two mil
lion men; but he did it by bridge. The
Israelites crossed the red sea; but the
same orchestra that celebrated the de-
liyerances OF one army, sounded the
strangulation OF the other. This cross
ing Of the text differs from all. There
was no sacrifice OF human life. Not so
much as the loss OF lynch-pin. The
vanguard OF the host, made up OF the
priests, advanced until they put their
feet at the brim OF the river, when im-
mediately the streets of Jerusalem were
no more dry than the bed OF that river.
Ii was as il all the water had been driv-
en- of, and then the dampness had been
soaked Up with a sponge. and then by
towel the road had been wiped dry.
Yonder 20 the great army OF the Israel
ites-the hosts in uniform-following
them, the wives, the children, the
tlocks, the herds The people look up
at tue crystal wall of Jericho as they
pass and think what an awful disaster
would come TO them, if before they got
to the opposite bank OF Tamarisk and
Oleander and Willows, that wall
should fall upon them, and the thought
makes the mothers hug their children
closer to their hearts, and to switten
their race. Quick now. Get them all
upon the bank-armed warriors, wives,
children, hOcks, herds, and let this won
derful crossing of the jordan be COM
pleted forever. Seated this morning on
the shelving of limestone, | look oil
upon that Jordan where Joshua crossed
under the triumphal arch OF the rainbow
woven out the spray-the river hlch
afterwards became the baptistry where
Christ was sprinkled or plunged, the
river where the borrowed axe-head
mirsculously swan at the prophets or
der-the river illustrious in the history
OF the world for heroic faith and omni.
potent deliversnce, and typical oil scenes
vet to transplre in your life and mine
scenes enough 10 make US from sole OF
loot 10 crown OF head to tingle with INT
mite gladness.
Standing on theIscene Of that alright
ed and fugitive river Jordan, learn
for myself and for you. First, that
obstacles when they are touched van
ish. The text says that when these
priests came down and touched the
edge of the water with their feet the
water parted. They did not wade in
chin deep, or waist deep, or knee deep,
or ankle deep, but as soon as their
feet touched the water il vanished. And
il makes me think that almost all the
obstacles OF life need only TO be ap'
preached in order to be conquered.
Difficulties Touched, VANISH
Ii is the trouble, the difficulty, the oh.
stacle there in the distance that seems
so huge and tremendous. The apostles
Paul and John seemed to hate cross
dogs. The Apostle Paul said in Philip.
plans: beware OF dogs and John
seems to shut the gates OF heaven
against all the canine species when he
saws: without are dogs But | am
told that when these animals are furi-
Gus and they come at you, II You will
keep your eve on them and advance
upon them. they will retreat so the
most Of the trials OF life that hound
your steps, il you can only get your
eye upon them, and keep your eye upon
them, and advance upon them, crying,
"Begone.
There is beautiful tradition among the
American Indians that Narration was
travelling in the invisible world, and one
day he came 10 barrier of brambles
and sharp thorns, which forbade his GO
ing on, and there was wild beast glar.
ing at him from the thicket; but, as he
determined TO 20 OH and did proceed,
the brambles were found to be only
phsntoms, and the beast was found to be
a powerlsss ghost, aud the impossible
river that forbade him rushing TO the
embrace OF his dusk Garatelda proved TO
be only the phantom of river. Well,
my friends, the fact is that many things
that cross our pathway are
Only the Phantoms. Only the Delusions,
of l. fe.
Difficulties touched are conquered. Put
your feet into the brim OF the water, and
Jordan retreats. You sometimes See a
great duty TO perform; it is a very dis
agreeable duty. You say: IL can't 20
through it: haven't the courage; |
haven't the Intelligence TO 90 through
il" Advance upon il, and Jordan will
fiy. always sigh before | begiE 10
preach. at the greatness OF the under
taking, bat as soon as | start,it becomes
to me an exhilara,ion; and any duty un'
dsrtaken with confident spirit becomes
a pleasure, and
The Higher the Duty the Higher the
Pleasure.
Difficulties touched are conquered.
Jordans advanced upon vanish. There
are a great many people who ne afraid
Of death in the future. John Living
stone once, on q sloOp coming from
Elizibethport TO New York, Was dresd.
fully frightened because he Thought he
was going to be drowned, q sudden gust
coming up. People we're surprised at
him. II there was any man in all the
world ready to die, il was good john
Livingstone. So there are now great
many good people who shudder in pass
ing u graveyard, and they hardly dare
think of Canaan because OF the Jordan
that intervenes; but once they are down
on a sick bed, all their fears are gone
The waters OF death dashing on the
beach sound like the mellow song OF
ocean shells. The departing ones smell
the blossoms OF the tree OF life.
The Music Of Heavenly Castles
comes stealing over the waters. Cross
ing now is only pleasant sail. How
long the boat is coming, Come, Lord
Jesus, come quickly. Christ, the priest,
advanced ahead, and the dying Christian
goes over dry-shod on coral beds and
flowers Of heaven and paths OF pearl.
"Oh. could we make our doubts remove
These gloomy doubts that rise
Aud view the Casnan that we love
With unotclouded eyes