The Washington times., 1894-10-08
SHADOWS OF LIFE.
They Should Only Stimulate Us TO Rs-
newed Efforts 10 Get into the
Bright Sunshine.

a Word to the deSpondelt' was The subject
Of the highly Instructive sermon which the
Rev. J. Russell Ve-Iryeke, pastor Of Curly
Memorial Presbyterian CEGreL. delivered yes
terday aorn inE. His text was selected f-OI
Joshua. vu:l0-"Get the up: wherefore lest
tn0U thus upon tuy face:
The greatest and n0blest natures, said
the pastor. ARE subiecctO human weaknesses
and lU1iFuiiles the SANE as the great mass Of
mansiad aud the highest exaItatiol and sue
cess often ends in the deepest detection. This
IS especially found 10 be true when man
turns away from God 20 trCst % his own Wis
dom and power. The end IS miserable failure.
We have found by our own hUctuatils dlspo-
sitiOns how susceptible. E0W LIckerlnC. and
how unsteady are our moods As the
barometer. Influenced by the density or the
raritv OF the atmosphere falls or rises. so are
human feelings affected and governed by en-
vironment and surrounding circumstances.
Let life be bright and PrOpitiCUs and our
spirit is exuljaut. But let adversiries arse or
the way be beset with difficulties and we be-
come depressed
Human life. subject 10 the prevailing dis
positions Of the mind. is a continual rise and
fall One moment We reach out eagerly for
the golden crown of life= the next We are
grovelng in the dust Of amusement. Joshua
was a great commander, but shortly after hs
had led the triumphant people IN that Won
derful charge through the walls OF the be-
sieGed Jericho he was down upon his face on
the ground.
a little success intoxicates. prides goeth
before a fall. The path Of every life crosses
the valley OF desPOndency before It's end is
reached. There ambition is wrecked hope
destroyed. Often the mind gives way and the
suicidal act hurries the soul from despOnd-
eney 70 worse despair.
During the present era there have been
hard times. Many men and women have lost
their positions or have been cut down. The
city is full of suffering and want and depres-
sion. The words OF the Lord 70 Joshua come
TO you to-day. Get thee up; wherefore hest
thou thus On thy iace3'
I'VE often get downcast because Of some
physical ailment. II we get these bodies Of
ours out Of order we are apt TO look through
pessimisIic eyes. Many cases OF spiritual
detection can he remedied by physicians
prescription. In these complex mechanismS
there is a strong mysterious sympathy be-
tween the body and the spirit.
Amid the myriad beautiful things and
pleasures OF this life the multitude of de-
spOndent ones is very great. The great
majority of failures result from over estima-
tion OF self-competency or self-reiiance and
| the possession OF too little Divine faith.
/ Great success in whatever sphere It may be
| often stands between Us and God. As has
I been said, Failure is often Gods own tool
I for carving some of the finest outlines in the
/ character OF mis- children; and ever In this
/ life bitter and crushing failures have often in
/ them the germs of new and quite unima-ined
\ happiness. Many man or woman has not
/ tested his or her ability until eCmpelled 10
! by some adverse circumstance. but there is
I developed that which might otherwise have
\ lain dormant forever"
/ The speaker recalled instances Of men who
have become famous 10y their persistency and
tenaeity of purpose. when narrowed by the
I most discOuraging circumstances and re-
/ verses. The conclusion of the sermon was q
plea 20 observe the inspiring motto. Press
on, press on Press on toward the Cross
of Christ There is more light and beauty in
its shadow than in all the world. Press on
toward the New Jerusalem, the City OF God,
where sin, darkness and gloom are all passed
I RWay >