Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1901-12-21

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WASHINGTON, Dec 15.-This discourse
IS most unusual presenta lion Of things
that take place In many lives. and Dr.
Talmage pleads for nerciful lnterpre-
tatlon Of human behavior. The text Is
Joshua III. 1. ''Ye have not passed this
way heretofore"
In December 1889. waded the river
Jordan. and. although the current was
strong. was able to bear up against
II, 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. Ii
was at the dangerous sprngtime that
Joshua and the officers Of his army ut
tered the words of my text to the peo-
ple who were In few hours to cross
the Jordan. About that crossing we
saw but little. because on previous
occasion we discoursed concerning that
pllng 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 bril-
liant 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 advancing
thousands must be kept because or
reverence. There was a sanctity IN
that divine symbol that they must OBJ
serve by keeping three-quarters OF
a mile away. They must watch that
gIIttering 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,
"Ye have not passed this way hereto
fore" AID the subordinate officers at
the head of the regiments repeated it.
''Ye have not passed this way hereto
fore"
What was truthfully said of the an
clent Israc!.tes 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 aud no
ralIzed and emparcdised as to climate
and sol and character until II shan
become heaven for the ransomed, but
| do not link II. have an Idea that
heaven 4 already built somewhefe.
Our departed friends could not walt
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 wondrous 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 a new hour every century new
century. Other folks have gone over
the same road we are travelling, but II
IA our first trip. New appearances,
new temptations. new sorrows. new
ioys. That is the reason so many lose
their way. They meet some one Oh
the road Of life and ask for direction
and wrong direction is given. We
have all been perplexed by misdlrec'
ton after asking 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 destina
tion." 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 aud
trouble.
The fact Is. | blame no one for max
ing lifetime mistakes. ] pity them IN
stead of blaming them. There are Sc
many wrong roads. but only one righ
one. You cannot in midli.e draw upor
your youthful experiences for wisdom
for mldllfp Is so entirely different IRON
youth. You cannot in old age draw up
on midlife experiences. for the tV'
stages of existence are so diverse
What is wisdom for one man to az
would be folly for another to under
take. A man Of nerve and pluck Is no
uuallfPd to advise man timld ant
shrinking. An achievement that woulC
be easy for YOU might be impossibl'
for me. Human advice Is ordinarily o
little value. People review their owl
successes or failures and then tell u
what is best for us to do. not realizing
that our circumstances are different
our temperament is different. our phys
lcaI and npntal and moral capacitle
different. Most Of the great mistake
that have been made have been mad
under human advisement
SO. also. 1t may be said to every no
ton. "Ye have not passed this wa
before" Our own republic Is goinI
through novel experiences. Could wis
est statesman twenty years ago hav
propbesied present conditions! Ever
president. every congress. has new or
ses TO meet and new questions to SCI
tie. So prophecies made about coma
tions In this country 6fty years fror
now may turn out as far untrue as ID
prophecies made fifty years ago o
the greatest Of American statesme
when be declared on yonder Caplte
hill that II was unwlse to think or civ
nzation or prosperity the other side
| <ba Rocky fuountaius and accOrdln