Connecticut western news., 1901-12-19

pathway. It may be swinging in the same old orbit as when by the hand of the Almighty immensity was sprin- kled with worlds, but it has been rock ed 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 val leys. 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 demolition. Of this beautiful world, this lustrous world, this glori- ous world, 1t may be said, "Ye have not passed this way before"
 What Is the practical use of this sub- ject2 Instead of putting so much stress upon human advice and instead of asking 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.
 Teaches Reverence to God.
 That three-quarters of a mile dis tance between the ark or sacred box and the front column of Joshuaas troops nightly impresses me. It was a forceful way of teaching reverence for the Almighty. They needed 10 learn that lesson of reverence, as Ne all need to learn it. Irreverence hks cursed all nations, and none more thap cur own Irreverence in the use kf Gods name. Hear you 1t not on tse streets and in social groups, and is nat a profane word sometimes thought nel for the Scriptures, the phraseology of the Bible often introduced into the most frivolous conversation and made mirth provoking. Irreverence for the oath in courtroom or custom house or legislative hall by the conventional and mechanical mode of its administration. Irreverence for the holy Sabbath by the way 1t is broken in pleasure excur- sion and carousal. Irreverence on the part of children for their parents, in science being substituted for obedi- ence. Irreverence for rulers, which in duces vile cartoons and assassination. Irreverence in church during prayer, measuring off song and sermon by cold, artistic or literary criticism, and in prayer time neither lowing the head nor bending the knee nor stand ing as one does in the presence of earthly ruler, thus showing more re- spect for a man than to the King of kings. We ask not for genufe1ions or circumfexions 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 indifferent. In how many places have presumption and foolhardiness taken the place of reverencel That three quarters of a 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 reverence that Is woefully lacking in social life, in legis- lative hall and religious assemblage. A farmer went to the wheatfield, talk ing his son with him. The child said, These stalks that stand straight up must have the best grain. Those stalks that bend over cannot 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 occurred in all your his- tory. There have been meannesses practiced upon you or you have re ceived 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 or some physical ailment is laying siege to your castle of health or you are under embarrassments that you cannot men | ton even to nearest friends. You say "WeI, I never saw anything like this | I never expected such treatment af this never thought it possible to bt | 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, yor | hor hot fn 6n hs1 here is a flank movement for whicf l you are not ready.
 | As you have had no experience o, this kind upon which to draw for wis dom and as you cannot fully state al the circumstances to any human ear go to God and tell him all about it He knows already, but 1t will reliev' you and help you if you tell him. Tha
 is what he has been doing ever sine
 the world got into trouble by disobedi ent behavior on the banks of the Flu pirates. If in the first chapter of tn
 Bible we see the gate through whicl the woes of the world entered, in tn ! third chapter of the Bible we see tn
 opening of the gate through which the,
 are to be driven out. Promises by tn
 scores and hundreds and thousands
 Sacrifcial lambs foretelling the Laml
 of God. Rock stricken into gushini
 floods, typical of the fact that tn
 worlds thirst is going to be slaked
 Pillar of fire hoisted above wilderness
 march. Star of hope over birthplac
 in barn. Sepulchers rent open. Trum
 pets of deliverance sounded. All heay
 CD to take part in the rescue of ou
 planet. The Infinite God listening wit
 an ear in which a whisper 10000 mile
 away is as audible as thunder.
 Perhaps 1t is a bereavement. To
 have felt sorrow for those who los
 children or thought you did, but no,
 that the sorrow has come to your ow
 nursery 1t is a different thing. To
 never could have imagined the silence
 about the house now that the little fee
 are quiet and the infant voice has ceat l ed It's prattle. What a sensation 8
 eventide with no one to put to bed
 What toys put away to be looked at O | <tl- n