Newport weekly independent., 1902-12-26
THE PROMISED LAND.
It Lies Before Every One in the Pos
 abilities of the New Year.
SeasOnnbIe Sermon by the "Highway and Byway" Prenche on CaIeb's Brave Appeal and PauFs
 Noble Purpose.
Copyright, 1902, by A. N. Kellogg News
 paper Col

Copyright, 1902, by A. N. Kellogg News
 paper Col
 Chicago, Dec. 2S, 1902.
 Texts:-'Let us go up at once and pos sess it (the land); for we are well able to overcome it."-NumberS 13 80.
 This one thing l do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, l press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 313-4.
 The world loves a hero. It has the profoundest admiration for the brave, manly man. It is ever ready to ap- plaud the man of conviction who courageously stands up in the face of opposition and declares for the right. 1t is willing to step aside and give place to the man of noble purpose, who is consistently pushing toward high ideal. It is even eager, at times, to catch the inspiration of noble purpose and follow the lead of the fearless piooeer as he blazes the way into the new country of en- larged possibilities. Such characters may, perchance, be found in profane history. Certain it is that they are found in the sacred history of Gods Word.
 Two such characters step before us as the words of our double text fall upon our ears. Caleb, that in- trepid explorer, that fearless fighter, that true-hearted patriot; and Paul, that magnificent soldier of the cross of Jesus Christ, that sure, steadfast leader, that untiring preacher and writer. They stand before us in all of their overtowering manhood; Gods noblemen, their feet resting on the eternal purposes of the Divine will, and their hearts as true as steel and as uncompromising for the right as the mountain that feels unmoved the breath of the tempest. Caleb, with the black looks of cowardly fear cast upon him by the other ten spies, and with the faint-hearted and rebel lious people surging about him, stands up and courageously pleads: "Let us go up at once and possess it (the land): for we are we'll able to overcome it." Paul. with the clanb of the chains sounding in his ear, and with the form of the powerful Praetorian guard overshadowing him as he wrote to his beloved Philippian church, sees beyond his prison wall and the limitations of his surround ings, and eXclaims: "This one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, | press to- ward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus"
 Caleb and Paul stand face to face with the Promised Land of new pos abilities. In the unknown realm toward which their steadfast gaze was turned, hope and aspiration paint an attractive picture of fresh tri- umphs and enlarged opportunities, and they are eager to go up and pos sess the land. Caleb, with his faith full sword at his side and Gods sure promise of victory in his heart, is inn patient for the commands: "Forward, march," Paul, stripped of every inn peding weight, with every muscle set, and his eye fixed steadfastIy on the goal liste'.., eagerly for the word "Go," th will send him speeding over the purse to obtain the coveted prize.
 No less really does everyone who treads the narrowing border land of the Old Year stand face to face with the Promised Land of the New Year,
 
 roes. The long, and sometimes try ing journey of the Old Year has been made. The ediscouragements, and dis appointments, and failures, and mis- takes of the past are forgotten as you climb the mountain of hope and gaze off toward the Promised Land of the New Year. The pathway of the journey by which you have come bears the ineffaceable imprint of your hurrying feet. Here and there the footprints lead from the right path. At numerous places along the way may be seen the quagmires and pit falls into which you have tumbled. You may not retrace your steps and mark out a different record, but in
 
 your feet may follow straighter and a better course. And this is the message which comes to us out of Gods Word Caleb's brave hand reaches down through the centuries and grasps the strong hand of the Apostle Paul and they two unite their voices in the beautiful harmony of a single purpose as they plead with you and me to go up and pos sess the Promised Land of new op- portunities.
 As the fading days of the Old Year grow less and less, and the dawnino of a new calendar year begins to redden and glow on the horizon of Time, it seems most natural for the human heart to be impressed with the thought of a closing of old ac- counts and the opening of new Each