The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-02-18
FOLLOW DIVINE LEADING
Rev. DR.. TaImage's Discourse on the
Merciful Interpretation of Human
Behavior.
We Win Not Pass This Way Again, So Do
Your Good Now.

that take place in many lives and DR..
Talmage pleads for mcrciful Interpretation
of human behavior. The text is Joshua
iii, 4; ''Ye have not passed this way hereto
fore"
In December, 1859. I waded the Rivcr
Jordan, and, although the current was
strong, | was able TO bear up against it.
but IN the time OF spring freshet, when
the SHOWS on Mount Lebanon melt moth
ing but miracle would enable any one to
cross this river. 1t was at the dangerous
springtime that Joshua end 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 occa-
sion we discoursed concerning that pilinp
up OF the waters into crystal barricade
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
hgures 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 n mile ahead OF the hosts of
Israel on the way to the crossing That
distance between the box and the advanc-
ing thousands must be kept because of
reverence. There was a sanctity in that
divine symbol that they must observe by
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 be
fore, and they must be guided. For that
reason Joshua utters the words of my text
''Ye have not passed this way heretofore"
And 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 truthfuliy 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 corrected and improved and puri-
he'd and foralized and unparalleled as to
climate and soil and character until it
shall become heaven for the ransomed
but 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, l do not think we viii come back
except as ministering spirits to help those
who remain in the earthly struggle or per-
haps to look at the wondrous spectacle of
a burning planet.
But, leaving that theory aside. we arc
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 new century. Other
folks have gone over the same road we arc
p
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 misdirecton 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 mile
on that road, take the first road on the
lett, and YOU Will soon reach your destina-
ton" We took the advice. but our infor-
mer forgot 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 d., | blame no one for making
lifetime mistakes / pity them instead of
blaming them. There are so manv wrong
roads, but only one right one. NoU can
not in midlife draw upon your youthful ex-
perleuces for wisdom. for midliie Is so en-
tirev different from youth. y on cannot
IN old age draw upon midHfe experiences
for the two stages Of existence arc go di-
verse. What is wisdom for one man to
do would be folly fo' another TO undertake
A man of nerve and pluck is not qualified
to advise a man timid aud shrinking. An
achievement chat would be easy for you
might be impossible for me. Human adj
vice is ordinarily OF little value People
review their own successes or failures and
then tell MS what is best for us to DO. not
realizing that our circumstances are differ
physical and mental and moral capacities
different. Most OF he great mistakes
that have been made have been made un-
der human adviscmcGt
So, also. IL may be said 90 every nation
Eye have not passed this way before "
Our own republic rs going through novel
experiences. Could wisest statesman
twenty years 02o have prouhesicd present
conditions? Every President every Con-
grcss. has now crises 10 meet and new
questions to scttic So prophecies made
about conditions in this country fifty
years from now may turu out as far untrue
as the prophecies made fifty years ago hy
the greatest OF American statesmen when
he declared ON Wonder Capitol Hill that 10
was uuwise to think Of civilization or pros
pcrity the Other side of me- Rocky Mount
airs. and according to his belief tho Pc
ciiic coast would be the perpetual abode OF
barnariaus and mountain lions. and we
must not think OF anncSing those forbid
ding regions
Many prophec:oe in regard to orr nation
failed and many prophecies concerning its
future win fail. because 10 is travelling n
new. road Every step il takes on that
roc or Jefferson I'm the far past is not OF
az much value rs the opinion OF our wiscst
men now. How could men know iu 1898
what would be beet for This nation TO do
in 1902 10 is behttirg as well as unwise
for our sfatcsmcn. who arc quite equal to
the Statesmen OF thc past ard who have
I'm addition % thc natural talents of their
predecessor. attachments i'm knowledge
That were Impossible boo any decade but
our own. 90 Depend op advice nj men who
have been dead turce1uortrrs of ccu-
fury. ln an other things iha world has
advanced. Can it hc that iu statesman
chip i has gone back. and that this open.
lng of the twentieth century must consult
the opening OF Che nineteenth century?
"Ye have not passed ttg way before"
yea, our entire world ls ON new path