The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-03-24

In a late sermon at Detroit, Mich,
Rev. Dr. Talmage took for his subject
the Crossing OF the Jordan by the
Children Of Israel. the text being from
Joshua iii. l.: And the priests that
bare the ark of the Covenant of the
Lord stood firm on dry ground in the
midst OF the Jordan. and all the Israel
ties passed over on dry ground, until
all the people were passed clean over
Jordan" Dr. Talmage said:
Washington crossed the Delaware
when crossing was pronounced inpos-
sible. but he did it by boat Xerxes
crossed the Hellespont with two million
of men. but he did it by bridge. The
Israelites crossed the Red sea, but the
same orchestra that celebrated the de-
Iiverance of the one army sounded the
strangulation of the other. This Jor-
-danic passage differs from all There
was no sacrifice Of human life-uot so
much as the loss Of a linch-pin The
vanguard Of the host, made up of
priests. advanced until they put
jheir foot at the brim Of the river, when
Immediately the streets of Jerusalem
were no more dry than the bed of the
river. It was as If all the water had
seen drawn Of. and then the dampness
had been soaked up with a sponge. and
then BY a towel the road had been
wiped dry. N0nder goes a great army
Of Israe.ites. the hosts in uniform: fol-
lowing them the wives. the children.
the Foclzs. the herds The people look
- r -
as they pass. and think what an awful
disaster would come 90 them if, before
they got u the opposite bank Of that
Aialou wall, that wall should fall on
them: and the thought makes the
mothers hug their ldren close TO their
hearts a. they swiiten their pace
Sitting on the shelved limestone. |
look of uuon that Jordan where Joshua
crossed under the triumDhal arch Of
the rainbow woven out Of the spray:
the river which afterward became the
baptistry where Christ was sprinkIed
CT plunged: -he river where the ak
the borrowed ax-miraculousIy swan
at the prophets order: the river illus
trious IN the history Of the world for
the heroic faith and omnipotent deliv-
erauce. and typical scenes vet TO trans
pire il your life and mine-sceues
enough 20 make Us. from the sole Of the
foot 70 the crown OF the head. Jingle
with infinite g.adnes>
Standing on the scene Of that az
f-i-hted. fugitive river Jordan. I learn
fo- myself anu YOU. first. that Obstacles.
when they are touched. vanish. The
text says that when these priests came
down and touched the vater-the edge
IF the water with their teet-lhe water
parted They did not wade in chin
deep. or waist deep or knee deep. but
as soon a. their feet touched the water
1t vanished And it makes me think
that almost al the obstacles Of life
need only 20 be approached II order to
be conquered Difficulties but touched
vanish T. = the trouble, the difficulty.
the obstacle far in the distance that
seems - huge and tremendous
The apostles Paul and John seemed
% dislike cross dogs. for the apostle
Paul tells L. Ia Philippians, "Bewar-
Of dogs aud John seems % shut the
gate % Heaven against all canine
species when lie says. Without are
those animals are furious If they come
at You. II rou viii keep Your eve on
them and advance upon them, they
viii retreat Whether that be so or
not. I cannot tel; but do know that
the vast majority Of the misfortunes
and trials and disasters Of your life
that hound YOUR steps, # you can only
get voC- eve On them. and keep your
eye on them. and advance upon them,
and cry, ''beEone they viii sink and
cover.
There Is a beautiful tradition among
the American Indians that Mauitou
was travelling in the invisible world,
and one day he came 70 barrier of
brambles and sharp thorns, which for
babe his going on. and there was a Wild
beast E.ariag a him from the thicket:
but. aS he determined 70 20 OF his way.
he did pursue 1t. and those bramb les
were found 70 be only phantoms, and
that beast was found 20 be a powerless
ghost. a-d the impossible river that
forbade him rushing 70 embrace the
Taratilda proved 70 be only a phantom
river. Well. nv friends the fact Is there
are a Erea- many things that look ter
-ibIe across our pathway, which, when
we advance upon them are only the
phantons, only the apparitious, only
the 6e.usions oflite Difficulties touched
are conquered
always sigh before begin 70 preach, !
At the greatness Of the undertaking.
but a. soon as start II becomes to me |
an exhileratiou- And any duty under
taken with a confident spirit becomes a |
pleasure and the higher the duty the |
higher the pleasure. Difficulties touched |
are conquered There are a great many |
people who are afraid OF death in the !
future There are a great many good |
people who shUdder in passing grave |
yard. and they hardly dare think Of |
Canaan because Of the Jordan that in !
tervenes; but once they are down on q |
sick bed. then all their fears are gone; |
the waters OF death dashing on the |
beach are Ike the mellow voice OF ocean |
shells-they smell Of the blossoms Of |
the tree Of life: the music of the heav- |
auly choirs comes stealing over the |
waters, and to cross now IS only pleas |
ant sail How long the boat Is comingi |
Come. Lord Jesus, come quickly. Christ !
the priest advances ahead, and the dy- |
ing Christian goes over dry-shod on |
coral beds. and flowers Of heaven and |
paths Of pearl
On could We Rake or doubts remove
Thos= gloomy doubts that rise,
And view the Canaan hat We love
Wiz vn5ecIou1e5 eyes-
Could ~ bit Climb where Noses stood
And view The I1lEscape Ger.
Not Jordan stream nor 6ea II : cold food.