Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-12-16

= most unusual preScufa ION OF things
that take place in many lives. and DIR.
TalnlIge pleads for merciful interpre-
tattoD Of human behavior. The text is
Joshua iii. 4. -Ye have not passed this
way heretofore"
Tn December. 1850. I waded the river
Jordan. and although the current was
strong. | was able to bear up against
IL, but in the time Of spring freshet.
when the SHOWS on Mount Lebanon
melt. nothing but miracle would en-
able any one to cross this river. 1t
WAS at the dangerous Springtime that
Joshua and the officers Of his army MT
tered the words OF my text TO the peo-
pie who we're in n few hours to cross
the Jordan About that crossing we
say but little. bee=Iuse on y previous
1ccs. sion we GIScoursed concerning that
piling up of the waters into crystal
bsrrieade We only speak of the march
fo. tfft brink OF the river. No stranger
thiug has ever occurred in all history.
The ark OF the covenant was a bril-
liant chest or 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 90 the crossing. That distance
between the box and the advancing
thouSa nds must be kept because of
reverence There was Il sanctity in
that divine symbol that they must OBJ
serve by Keeping three-quarters of
a mile away. They must watch that
glitterinS box and follow; otherwise
they would lose their way and not ar
rive at the right place for crossing
They had never been there before, and
they must be guided. For that reason
Joshua utters the words Of my text,
I'VE have not passed this way hereto
fore" And the subordinate officers at
the head OF the regiments repeated it,
''Ye have not passed this way hereto
fore"
What was truthfuIIy said of the an
cient Israelites may be truthfully 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 will be correct
ed and improved and purified and flo
rallied and emparadiSed as to climate
and soil and character until it shall
become heaven for the ransomed, but
j do not think il. ] have an idea that
heaven is already built somewhere.
Our departed friends could not wait
until this world is fixed up for sanity
and angelic residence Having once
gone out of the world. do not think
we will come back. except as minister
ing spirits to help those who remain
in the earthly struggle or perhaps to
look at the wonGrous spectacle of q
burning planet.
Travelling New Paths.
But. leaving that theory aside. we
are very sure that we are for the first
time walking the earthly pilgrimage.
''Ye have not passed this way before"
Every minute is a new minute, every
hour new hour. every century a new
century Other folks have gone over
the same road we are travelling, but it.
is our first trip. New appearances.
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 misdirec-
ton after asking the way to some
place we wished 10 visit, Some one
said to us. Take the first road to the
right and having gone mile on that
road, take the first road OH the left,
and you will soon reach your destina-
ton" We took the advice. but our in
former forgot a turn in the road or for
got 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 no one for max
Ing lifetime mistakes. | pity them in
stead Of blaming them, There are so
many wrong roads, but only one right
one. You cannot in midlife draw upon
your youthful experiences for wisdom;
for midIife is so entirely different from
youth. You cannot in old age draw up
on midlife experiences. for the two
stages of existence are SO diverse.
What is wisdom for one man 20 do
would be folly for another to under
take. man of nerve and pluck is not
qualified to advise a man timid and
shrinking. An achievement that would
be easy for you might be impossible
for me- Human advice is ordinarily or
little value People review their own
successes or failures and then tell Us
what is best for us TO do. not realizing
flat cur circumstances are different,
our temperament is different. our phys
sol opd mental and moral CAPACITIES