St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-01-18
ALONG NEW PATHS.
We Are Making Our Earthly Pill
grimage for the First Time.
Sermon of Dr.. Talmaxe in Which He
Pleads for Merciful Interpreta-
ton of Human EndeavOr-
Crossing the Jordan.
Y ATo- ~;

Crossing the Jordan.
1901, by Louis Klopsch. N. VI
Washington,
This discourse is most unusual
presentation of things that take place
in many lives, and DR.. Talmage pleads
for merciful Interpretation OF human
behavior. The text is Joshua 3, 4: I'VE
have not passed this way heretofore"
In December, 1889, l waded the River
Jordan, and, although the current was
strong, was able to bear up against H.
but in the time of spring freshet, when
the SHOWS on Mount Lebanon melt,
nothing but a miracle would enable
anyone to cross the river. 1t was at
the dangerous springtime that Joshua
and the officers of his army uttered the
words of my text to the people VINO
were in a few hours to cross the Jor-
dan. About that crossing We say but
little, because on previous occasion
we discoursed concerning that ping
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, Overland
with gold, on the top of which were
two winged figures facing each other.
1t was five feet long and three 1eet
wide. Poles were thrust through the
rings at the side, and by these polesthe
ark was lifted. This splendid box was
to be carried three-quarters OF 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 of reverence.
There was a sanctity in that divine
symbol that they must observe oy
keeping three-quarters of a mile away.
They must watch that glittering box
and follow, otherwise they would lose
their way and not arrive 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: Eye have not
passed this way heretofore" and the
subordinate officers at the head OF the
regiment repeated it: Eye have not
passed this way heretofore"
What was truthfully 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 pos
sible, as some of my good friends be-
ieve, that this world will be corrected
and improved and purified and floral
lied and emparadised as to climate and
soil and character until it shall become
a heaven for the ransomed, but do not
think it. / have an idea that Heaven
is already built somewhere. Our de-
parted 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 ministering spir-
its to help those who remain in the
earthly struggle or perhaps to look at
the wondrous spectacle of burning
planet.
But, leaving that theory aside, we are
very sure that we are for the first time
walking. the earthly pilgrimage. Eye
have not passed this way betc1e.'
Every minute is new minute, every
hour a new hour, every century new
century. Other folks have gone over
the same road we are travelling, but il
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 beer
perplexed by instruction after asking
the way to some place we wished te
visit. Some one said to us: "Take the
first road to the right and, having gone
a mile on that road, take the first roao
to the left, and you will soon reacl
your destina tion." We took the advice
but our informer forgot turn in thu
road or forgot one of the roads leading
| to theleft, and we took the wrong roat
| and were lost in the woods, and nigh
| came on, and we were put to grea'
irritat ton and trouble.
The fact is blame no one for making
lifetime mistakes. I pity them insteat
of blaming them. There are so man.
wrong roads, but only one right one
You cannot in midlife draw upon you
youthful experiences for wisdom, TO
midlife is SO entirely different from
youth. You cannot in old age draw
upon midlife experiences, for the tw,
stages of existence are SO diverse
What is wisdom for one man to d.
would be folly for another to under
take. A man of nerve and pluck is no
qualified to advise man timid an
shrinking. An achievement that woul
be easy for you might be impossibl
for me. Human advice is ordinarily o
little value. People review their ow
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, on
physical and mental and moral capae
tiles different. Most of the great mis-
takes that have been made have bee
made under human Amusement.
So, also, it may be said to every ns
ton: eye have not passed this way bt
fore" Our own republic is goin
through novel experiences. Could wis
est statesmen 20 years ago hay
prophesied present conditions? Ever
president, every congress, has ne
| crises to meet and new questions
settle. So prophecies made about col
ditions in this country so years fro1
! now may turn out as far untrue as tn
prophecies made so years ago by th
greatest of American statesmen whe
he declared on yonder Capitol hi
that it was unwise to think of civiliz;
ton or prosperity the other side OF tn
Rocky mountains, and according to h
belief the Pacific coast would be ii
perpetual abode of barbarians an