The age-herald., 1901-12-22
Dr, Talrmage's Sermon,

consult the opening of the nineteenth century? "Ye have not passed this way before"
 Yea, our entire world is on new path way It may be swinging in the same old orbit as when by the hand of the Almighty immensity was sprinkled with worlds, but it has been rocked with earthquakes and scorched with volcanic fires and whelmed with tidal waves and wrought upon by climatic changes cities sunk and islands lifted, and mountains avalanched into valleys. So 1t Is another world than that which was first started in the solar system. Yet 1t Is all the time changing and will keep changing until the hour of it's demoli- ton. Of this beautiful world, this lus- trous world, this glorious world 1t may. be said, i'Ye have not passed this way before"
 3 What is the practical use of this sub ject? Instead of putting so much stress upon human advice and instead of ask ing of the past what we ought to do, follow the divine leading as the men of Joshua followed the golden lidded chest of acacia, which was the symbol of the divine presence.
 Teachers Reverence to God.
 That three-quarters of a mile distance. between the ark or sacred box and the front column of Joshua's troops mighti- ly impressed me. It was a forceful way of teaching reverence for the Almighty. They needed to learn that lesson of rev. erence, as we all need to learn it. Irrev-. erence has cursed all nations, and none more than our own. Irreverenee In the use of Gods name. Hear you it not on the streets and in social groups, and is m xrord fol1 necessary to point jocosity? Irreverence for the scriptures, the phraseology of the Bible often introduced into the most frivolous conversation and made mirth provoking. Irreverence for the oath in court room or custom house or legisla- tive hall by the conventional and me chanical mode of its administration. IT, reverence for the holy Sabbath by the way it is broken in pleasure excursion and carousal Irreverence on the part of children for their parents, insolence being substituted for obedience. IT, reverence for rules. which induces vile cartoons and assassination. Irreverence In church during prayer, measuring off song and sermon by cold, artistic or lit erary criticism, and in prayer time neither lowing the head nor bending the knee nor standing as one does in the presence of earthly ruler, thus showing more respect for a man than to the King of kings. We ask not for genu- flexions or circum1exions or prostrations, but when prayer Is offered let us either bow the head or bend the knee or let us in some way prove that we are not in- different. In how many places have pre- sumption and foolhardiness taken the place of reyerencel That three-quarters of mile between the chest of acacia covered with gold and mounted with wings-a symbol of the divine presence and the marching regiments of Joshua suggests a reverence that Is woefully lacking in social life, in legislative hall and religious assemblage. A farmer went to the wheatfield, taking his son with him. The child said. These stalks that stand straight up must have the best grain. Those stalks that bend over can not be worth anything" Then the father broke off two of the tops of the stalks and said, Child, that one that bends clear over has the grain.'' It is the soul that bows in deepest reverence which is the best soul.
 Follow the Divine Leading.
 But though Joshua's host observed the three-quarters of a mile command, they followed the ark, and you will do well to follow the divine leading, as the path you tread now has not yet been trodden. "Ye have not passed this way before." Many of you are suffering from just such annoyances as have not oc- cured in all your history. There have been meannesses practiced upon you or you have received sights or you are the subject of misinterpretations or you are in the midst of sore disappointments or there are demands made upon your strength and time more than you can meet of some physical ailment Is laying siege to your castle of health or you are under endorsements that you can not mention even to nearest friends. You say: Well, I never saw anything like this. I never expected such treatment as this. I have never thought it possible to be placed in such circumstances. And when you say all that you are only translating the words of my text into your own phraseology. If you had suf- fered something like this before, you would have known what to do, but here is a flank movement for which you are not ready.
 As you have had no experience of this kind upon which to draw for wisdom and as you can not fully state all the cir cumstances to any human ear, go to God and tell him all about it. He knows al- ready, but it will relieve you and help you If you tell him. That is what he has
 
 into trouble by disabedient behavior on the banks of the Euphrates. If in the first chapter of the Bible we see the gate through which the woes of the world entered, in the third chapter of the Bible we see the opening of the gate through which they are to be driven out. Prom ises by the scores and hundreds and thousands. Sacrifcial lambs foretelling the Lamb of God. Rock stricken into gushing floods. typical of the fact that the worlds thirst is going to be slaked. Pillar of fire hoisted above wilderness march. Star of hope over e.rthplace in a sbarn. Sepulchres rent open. Trum- pets of deliveranec sounded. All heaven to take part in the rescue of our planet. The Infinite God listening with an ear in which a whisper 10000 miles away is as audible as thunder.
 Perhaps 1t Is bereavement You have felt sorrow for those who lost children or thought you did, but now that the sorrow has come to your own nursery 1t is a different thing. You never could have imagined the siences about the house now that the little feet are quiet and the infant voice has ceased its pratt tie. What a sensation at eventide with no one to put to bed! What toys put away to be looked at on anniversary days! How Christmas day Is shadowed and the world Is changed! Get over it :? You never can get over it in this world. Perhaps it is your first sorrow. "Ye have not passed this way before," God grant that you may never pass this way again.