St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-12-31
CROSSING THE kUPHRATES.
The Old Year ompared TO Abra-
ham, the Ancient.

IS-Ahs INV %hbSANhN'
At Westminster church last evening,
Rev. d. j. Burrell preached an eloquent
sermon from Joshua xiv, 3.
Abraham, dwelling in Ur Of the
Chaldees, was divinely called to go
forth into a country which he was after
wards to receive as an inheritance, and
"by faith he obeyed and went forth not
knowing whittier he went" He jour
neVed 400 miles in a nOrthWeSterly
direction and then halted on the bank
of the Euphrales. This river at that
time formed the boundary of the Known
world. 70 pass beyond it was to enter
an unknown country; but the patriarch,
hearing the voice from heaven, made
the passage and so became the fatheHof
the Hebrews, or the people who pass
over" The boundary between the
years seems like this river dividing the
known from the unknown. Ere we
enter on another twclVemOnth OF duty
and responsibility there are certain CON
SideratiOnS which my protitably engage
our thought.
First-We should have q clear record
with the past. 1t is safe To say that
Abraham left 10 unpaid debts behind
him when he went out from Ur of the
AIldlNCtS. lCCDl dulJ dlt
terms. A man who enters 1889 with a
back account of unmet moral Obllga-
tions is handicapped at the outset.
What are we going to do about our
shortcomings, our unmet duties, our
tranSgreSs. ons? Do you say? whats
done cannot be undone; let by-gones be
by-gones?' That is unworthy of us;
and besides, bygoneS will not be by
cones at our bidding. We may ignore
them, but they will confront us at the
Judgment. Or shall we undertake to
wash away our sins with tears? This
also is vain endeayor. Sorrow has no
expiatory virtue Then III turn over
new leaf" Vain again. Good reso-
lutions are like pushing ahead the
hands of a diSordered watch-the
trouble is constitutional. and no real
Improvement is to be looked tor until
the Matchmaker gets his hand in among
the wheels and springs. The best plan
of dealing with a mSlived past is the
one suggested by the Lord Himself:
Come now, saith the Lord, and let
us reason together: Though your sins
are as scarlet they shall be white as
snow, and though they be red like
crimson they shall be as wool" he Will
blot out the record of sins and short
comiIgs if YOU will have it SO.
SecOnd-We should enter on the new
year with a definite purpose. To live
without purpose is like shooting with
out taking aim. during the Franco
PruSsian war million Germans crossed
over into France and remained there
seven months. During that time 100
600 Frenchmen were slain. That is,
every tenth German killed one of the
enemy in seven months. Why was so
little execution done? 1t was due to
random firing. Lies failures are gen
orally traccable to lack of purpose.
Aim, therefore. and aim high. The
highest aim is not to please self, to make
money, to enjoy life or TO make name {:
1t is Ito glorify God and TO enjoy Him"
How little we think of enjoying Coo. ~
We dread His presence, we grow weary
of His worship, His "hoSannas languSh
OH our tongues" Yet true son of the
Father should enjoy walking and talk
ing with Him as Adam did in the cool of
the day in Paradise. This is the grand
est ambition possible to any man tn find
his employment in doing good and his
pleasure in loving God.
Third-H Having squared ourselves
with the past and formed a definite pur-
pose we should make suitable prepare
lions for the journey before us. Abra-
ham had Voice and a Presence with
him all along the way. The divine
Voice speaks to us in the Bible; and if
we are to be good Christians during 1888
we must give much of our time and
energy to the searching of the Scrip
ureS. The divine Presence is manifest
at the mercy seat; and if We would live
holy and useful lives during the incom-
ing year we must be constant in prayer.
The man who loves his Bible and the
trysting-place cannot go far wrong.
Let us now 20 forth by faith into the
unknown country. And may God be
with rs