The Penn's Grove record., 1901-12-20
DR., TALMAGES SERMON
SUNDAYS DISCOURSE BY THE NOTED
DIVINE.
Subject: h Meroiful Interpretation o.
Human Behavior-Follow the Divine
Leadfng-we viii Not Pass This Wa
Again, SO DO Your Good Now.

Subject: Tbe Meroiful Interpretation a.
Human Behavior-FolIow the Divine
LeadfnG-we win Not Pass This Way
Again, So 10 Four Good Now.
WAsHINeroN. D. C.-This discourse is
a most unusual presentation Of things
that take place in many lives, and Dr,
Talmage pleads for mereiful Interpretation
of human behavior. The text is Joshua
iii, 4, "Ye have not passed this way hereto
fore
In December. 1889, I waded the River
Jordan, and, although the current was
strong, | was able to bear up against, 1t,
but in the time of spring freshet, when
the SHOWS on Mount Lebanon melt, moth
ing but a miracle would enable any one to
cross this river. 1t was at the dangerous
~springtime that Joshua and the officers OF
his army uttered the words of my text to
the people who were in a few hours to
cross the Jordan. About that crossing we
say but little, because on a previous oeea-
sion we diseoursed concerning that piling
up of the waters into crystal barrlcade.
We only speak Of the march TO the brink
Of the river. No stranger thing has ever
occurred in all history.
The ark Of the covenant was a brilliant
chest of acacia wood, overlaid with gold,
On the top Of which were two winged
figures facing each other. 1t was five feet
long and three feet wide. Poles were
thrust through the rings at the side, and
by these poles the ark was lifted. This
splendid box was to be carried three
quarters Of a mile ahead Of the hosts Of
Israel on the way to the crossing. That
distance between the box and the a-vaac.
ing thousands must be kept because OF
reverence. There was q sanctity in that
divine symbol that they must observe by
keeping three-quarters of a mile away.
They must watch that giittering box and
follow; otherwise they would lose their
way and not arrive at the right place Tor
crossing. They had never been there be
fore, and they must he guided. For that
reason Joshua utters the words Of my text,
"Ye have not passed this way heretofore
&nd the subordinate officers at the head
OF the regiments repeated it, Eye have not
passed this way heretofore"
What was truthfully said of the ancient
Israelites may be truthflEy said of us.
We are making our first and last journey
Through this world. 1t is possible. as some
of my good friends believe, that this world
viii be corrected and improved and puri-
fed and foralized and emparaiised as to
climate and soil and character until it
shall become a heaven for the ransomed,
but I do not think it. | have an idea that
heaven is already built somewhere. Our
departed friends could not wait until this
world is fixed up for staintly and angelic
residence. Having once gone out of the
world, | do not think we will come back,
except as ministering spirits to help those
who remain in the earthly struggle or per-
haps to look Mt the %wondrous spectacle of
a burning planet.
But. leaving that theory aside, we ere
very sure that we are for the first time
walking the earthly pilgrimage. Eye have
not passed this way before Every min
ute is a new minute, every hour a new
hour. every century a new century. Other
folks nave gone over the same road we are
travelling. but it is our first trip. New APP
pearances, new temptations, new sorrows,
new joys. That is the reason so many lose
their way. They meet some one on the
road of life and ask for direction, and
wrong direction is given. We have all,
been perplexed by misdirection after ask
ing the way to some place we wished to
visit. Some one said to us. Take the first
road to the right and. having gone a mile
on that road, take the first road on the
left, and YOU will soon reach your destiua-
ton We took the advice, but our infor-
mer forgot a turn in the road or forgot
one of the roads leading to the left, and we
took the wrong road and were lost in the
woods, and night came on, and we were
put to great irritation and trouble.
The fact is. ! blame nj one for making
lifetime mistakes. | pity them instead OF
blaming them. There are SO many wrong
roads, but only one right one. You can
not in midlife draw upon your youthful ex-
perieuoes for wisdom, for midlife is so en-
tirely different from youth. You cannot
In old age draw upon midlife experiences,
for the two stages of existence are so di-
verse. What is wisdom for one man to
10 would he folly for another to undertake.
A man of nerve and pluck is not qualified
10 sdvise a man timid and shrinking. An
t5~rrStherftTha.a for YOU