The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-07-17
THE BRAVE GENERAL.
A Sermon by Allen j. Van WaR-
ner, at the Congregational
Church, Sunday Morning.

The pastor of the Congregational church
is giving series of sermons on the Book Of
Joshua. The following il a condensed re-
port of the third in the course:
Under the leadership of Joshua the chill
dren OF Israel haG crossed the Jordan, and
camped at Giigal, five miles distant. The
first thing done was TO build an altar of
stones, which Twelve priests had brough.
with them from the midst of the river Jor-
dan. This was to commemorate their de-
liverance from the rolling flood. 1t was to
remind them, and their descendants, Of
GODS KINDNEs, AND MERCY
in the hour of the need. They then re-
vived the old ceremon Is of circumcisiO u
and the passover, which had been neg
lected for forty years. This performed, the
mighty task of cOnquering the land of
Canaan pressed upon them. 1t was
denseIy populated, contained many
large cities, defended by high
walls and armed men Their foes were far
superior to them i'm numbers, wealth, wea-
pons of warfare, and were inIrenched in
walled cities. A leader of less faith and
courage than Joshua would have been
filled with despair. The first point to al
tack was the city of Jericho. 1t was the
key to the whole country. To capture it
was necessary to success. 1t was but two
miles away, beautiful for situation, strong
ly fortified, and abundant In resources.
Joshua left the camp and went near the
city to
PLAN MODE OF ATTACK.
While thus engaged, Behold. there stood a
drawn in his hand" Brave old Joshua
lal hat jc
actual, supernatural appearance Tor sppas
ition, which seemed real to HIM and said !:
cart thou for US, or for our adversaries?"
and the reply came. "Nay, but as the cap
tain of the host of the Lord am now
come" Joshua then fell down and wor-
SHIPPED this appearance in the
shape of a clad warrior. From Him
he received instructions how to
take the city, aud these institutions be
faithfully obeyed, and on the seventh day
his army entered it in triumph.
From this history let us learn to remem-
her our mercies, blessings and deliverances
in the past
The Israelites set up stones of memorial
to keep forcibly in their minds, and their
the mercy and kindness of God
in delivering them from Jordsn's food. In
this they are an example for us. How
prone We are 10
FORGET PAST MERCIES AND BLESSINGS.
Past disappoinlm.nts and sorr VS. we
bul the blessings aud mrrcIes OF
years that are gone we seldom recall l Ibis
is not right. We owe it to God to call up
his goodness in the pas.. To do So will
keep i've our faith in Him. Ii will greatly
comfort and cheer us in the present. We
ought not to let The pleasures and joys, the
happy hours and days die out of our
We should live them over
again. The more trying our
situation now, the more We
should do this. Whatever We
lack in the present, We should not permit |
to be robbed of the Sunshine and
song of the past. You are sg,d now, and
The children arc scattered. Yes, but call |
hem around you again and in imag nation |
witness their play, hear their prattle, clasp |
hem TO your hearts and hush them to |
,iumber as in other days 1t will do you
,ood. You arc in poverty now; you live |
n small house. Call up better days. |
Call up the old home
REMEMBER THE DAYS OF YOUR PROSPERITY. |
It has not always gone hard with you.
Live over your ,riumphs u, ill treated
wife sit down now and then and think Of
your childhood's home; of the tenderness
# mother and the love of father; OF broth
rs and sisters with whom you played
when every hour was happiness. Let the
past rise before you as beautiful picture,
md retire often into the chamber-gallery of
-our soul to gaze upon it. Remember your
nercies in the past. Tell them TO your
children. Recount them to your
brethren. Be witnesses to Gods
GOODNESS and kindness in days that
Ire gone.
Then, if we have neglected any christian
bservances or duties, We should not delay
them.
The Israeli;es again observed the cere-
ponies of circumcision and the passover.
hey revived neglected duties. We should
initiate them.
YOUR CHILDREN.
Are you doing your duty by your chill
rem? Once YOU instructed them in Gods
7ord. Once you taught them to pray, and
rayed with them.
HOW IS 1T NOW?
Are these not neglected duties you should
axe up for your children? The Lords
upper is one passover. Are not some who
nee gathered at the Lords table absent to-
ay? Once your voice was heard in prayer.
Iou had a family altar? Your interces-
ions assembled as sweet incense in the
rayer meeting. Has not the family altar
cen broken down in some of your homes,
nd are not some of you missed? "Where
rayer is wont to be made" should you
OF renew these duties?
GOD In HISTORY. II
Let us be taught by this thrilling scene
, Joshua's life that God is in history.
There appeared to him . messenger
ON God, saying, II am captain OF the
ost of the Lord. have given into thine
and Jericho" God. after all, was the
omm ander-in-chief of the army of the L. ,
,elites; Joshua was only an instrument
cd led the way, planned the campaigns.
on the victories. God is in history, my