Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1900-12-10
A WAY OVER JORDAN.
DR. TALMAGE SAYS THE LORD WILL
SEND A BOAT

Eternal Life-He Bids Us Have No
Fear. For the King VIII BE on
Board.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-From an unno-
ticed incident of olden time DR.. Tai
mage in this discourse draws some
comforting and rapturous lessons. The
text is II Samuel xix, IS, And there
went over ferrybOat to carry over the
kings household"
Which of the crowd is the king
That short man, sunburnt and in ia
tigue dress. 1t is David, the exiled
king. He has defeated his enemies and
is now going home to resume his pal
ace GOOdt L always like to see David
come out ahead. But between him and
his home there is the celebrated river
Jordan, which has to be passed. The
king is accompanied to the bank of the
river by an ariStocratic old gentleman
of so years, Barzfllai by name. who
owned n fine country seat at Rogelim.
Besides that, David has his family
with him. But how shall they. get
across the river? While they are stand
ing there l see ferrybOat coming from
the other side, and as it cuts through
his household brighten up at the
thought of so soon getting home. No
sooner has the ferryboat struck the
shore than David and his family and
his old friend Barzillai, from Rogelim,
get on board the boat. Either with
SplaShfng oars at the side or with one
oar sculIing at the stern Of the boat
they leave the eastern bank of the Jor-
dan and start for the western bank.
That western bank is black with
crowds of people. who are waving and
shouting ut the approach of the king
and his family. The military are all
out Some of those who have been Da-
vid's worst enemies now shout until
they are hoarse at his return. No soon
CT has the boat struck the shore on the
western side than the earth quakes,
and the heavens ring with cheers of
welcome and cOngratulat1On. David
and his family and Barzfllai from Ro-
gelim step ashore. King David asks
his old friend to go with him and live
at the palace. but Barzillai apologies
and intimates that he is inf1rm with
age and too deaf to appreciate the mu-
sic and has a delicate appetite that
would soon be cloyed with luxurious
living, and 50 he begs that David would
Let him go back to his country seat.
The Lord Makes a Way.
I once heard the father of president
of the United States say that he had
just been to- Washington to see his son
in the White House. and he told me of
the wonderful things that occurred
there and OF what Daniel Webster said
to him. but he declared: 81 was glad to
get home. There was too much going
on there for me-" My father. IN aged
man. made his last visit at my house in
Philadelphia. and after the church serv-
ice was over and we went home some
one in the house asked the aged man
how he enjoyed the service. Well
he replied. Il enjoyed the service. but
there were too many people there for
me. It troubled my head very much"
The fact is that old people do not like
excitement. If King David had asked
BarZillai 80 years before to go to the
palace, the probability is that Barzillai
would have gone. but not now. They
kiss each other goodby. a custom
among men oriental but in vogue yet
where two brothers part or an aged
father and son go away from each
other never TO meet again. No wonder
that their lips met as King David and
old Barzillai, at the PROV of the ferry
boat. parted forever.
This river Jordan, in all ages and
among al languages. has been the sym
Dol of the boundary line between earth
and heaven. yet when. on 4 former &C.
casion, ! preached to you about the
Jortlanfc passage have no doubt that
some of you despondfngly said. The
Lord might have divided Jordan for
Joshua. but not for poor me- Cheer
up l want to show you that there is a
way over Jordan as well as through it.
My text says And there went over a
ferryboat to carry over the kings
household"
All our cities are familiar with the
ferrybOat. 1t goes from San Francisco
TO Oakland and from Liverpool to Birk-
enhead. and twice every secular day
of the week muftitudes are on the fer |
TyboatS of our great cities, so that you |
viii not need to hunt up classical die |
tionary to find out what | mean while |
! am speaking to you about the pas
sage of David and his family across
the river Jordan.
My subject in the first place. i'm /
presSC~ ne with the fact that when we !
cross over from this world to the next /
the boat viii have to come from the
other side. The tribe of Judah. we are /
sent this ferryboat across to /
get David and his household. l stand /
on the eastern side of the river Jordan. :
and find no shipping at all. but while .
] am standing there / see boat plow- .
ing through the river, and as hear the
swirl of the waters. and the boat comes
10 the eastern side of the Jordan. and