The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1904-02-17
"THELIMIT OF ENDEAYOR"
A Brilliant Sunday Sermon By Rev. c.
D. Case, Ph. B.
How Much Dare You Attempt for dodf--!,e
Dives Grace Both for Living aad Dying.

Nnurcn, MOntclalr, ". D., preached on sun
day his first sermon as pastor OF the Han
son Place Baptist Church. His subject was
"Ihe Limit of Endeavor." DIR. Case said:
in the fourth century OF the Christian
era the Goths, numbering nearly one mill.
ion people, men, women and children, came
down to the Danube, at that time swollen
by many rains, to escape to the other side.
A large fleet OF boats and canoes had been
provided, and for several days and nights
work went on necessarily. Yet notwith-
standing the most earnest care scores were
swept away in the flood.
Centuries before this remarkable occur
.snce another vas. horde of men, women
and children came down to another swollen
stream. BY count there were over 600,OOU
warriors over twenty years OF age, and the
entire host numbered about 100000. The
valley into which they descended was of
peculiar formation. The outer valley was
six miles and over in width, but there was
an inner valley or ravine half mile and
over in width, and still within this was the
river itself varying from twenty to sixty
yards in width. But this river, too, had
been swollen by many rains and the melt
ing SHOWS farther uD its course, and now
had overrun its usual banks and was rush
ing along with rapidity.
Strangely enough no boats had been pre-
pared for the crossing of this host, and yet,
as events proved, not one of the host was
lost in the crossing. Evidently there was
some vast distinction to be made between
these two great hosts OF antiquity. What
was that distinction? May it not be this.
the words that Isaiah uses in the forty.
third chapter and second verse. which may
be considered the text of this sermon:
when thou passeth through the waters
/ will be with thee, and through the rivers,
they shall not overflow thee"
On the part OF the lsraelites in their
crossing Of the Jordan some special prepar-
alton was needed, but not in the procuring
of boats. The commander of the army had
sent messengers throughout the host, and
commanded all to sanctify themselves,
which meant the washing OF garments and
the abstaining from all that might distract
the mind. Similarly Moses had once com
manded the people to sanctify themselves
to-day and tomorrow, and to wash their
day; for the third day Jehovah Himself
would come down in the sight OF all the
people on Mount Sinai.
It was critical moment for the hosts Of
Israel. To fail now meant to fail forever.
10 succeed now meant promise for the
future. Hereby ye shall know said
Joshua, "that the living God is among you
and that He will without fail drive out
from before you" the inhabitants of the
land. What nation or a man achieves
through God-given strength to-day is an
Assurance for victory for tomorrow. Sue
cess is handmaid of assurance. "Ye have
not passed this way before said Joshua;
new leaf in national history had been
turned; a new territory invaded.
A new endeav0r with the lsraelitish
army as with us to-day needed special
guidance. The sacred ark was to precede
Che people, but far enough in advance to
be seen by all that ''ye may know" said
the leader, "the way by which ye must go"
Reverence is needed for divine things, but
divine guidance more. The pillar of fire
and the cloud is now superseded by the
ark, and 1t in turn superseded by the
Christ, who said tv all disciples, 'Follow
Me" In each case the command is not to
make the Guide follow you, but you the
Guide
Five miles over the river ia walled city.
Thousands are watching from the walls the
foolhardy attempt of the disordered hosts.
One person, however, alone upon the wall,
unnoticed by the many, is looking down
with expectancy That one is Rahab. She
watches eagerly as the priests bearing the
ark by the poles step with measured tread
down to the river, wonders as nothing hap
pens, starts as the priests seen actually at
the very edge, but at last her hopes are
realized, as the rushing current Is stayed
by some unseen force and rolls up in q
mighty wall. while below the waters hurry
away until the last streamlets tricke down
over the stones and leave land for the pas.
sage of the army.
What, after all, is the limit OF endeav0r?
Evidently not reason alone if at all That
Israeiite who stays behind and watches
the foolish performance from the hill side
PAGES back and forth in his disgust. Such
foolish waste OF life! Such spectacular
display. Will Joshua never be done with
such undertakings! Any one might know
that that motley herd could not be gotten
safely across that boiling stream. No
boats, no possibility OF ,wading, or even
swimming-it simply, can't be done. But
watch. 1t is done. l heard teacher in u
certain normal school read in class Tor the
correction of professor and student what
she would say to a class OF boys and girls
about the crossing of the Red Sea by the
Israelites. A strong east wind, she said
blew the water down the sea until tie
Israelites could wade across, and then
when the Egyptians came up the wind had
changed and drowned all OF the Egyptians
in the passage. "And what do you sup
pose," said the would-be teacher. ''the peo
pie thought that God made the waters to
90 back" That's science for you. But, by
the way, such science il little out oil
date Even Huxley declared that Hume's
argument against miracles was unscientitic
since he maintained as a premise that
nothing miraculous or supernatural could
occur. As far as science is concerned it Is
not necessary for us to determine whether
thing is miraculous or not, the question
-, uiu tHc cSeut oSCuiJ anu ~ sos 'oi We
find a causey
Nor is the extent OF ones own power an
adequate limit to ones endeavor. Give
ye them TO eat" said Christ. Impossible
There are 5000 men beside women aud
children 1t would take an average mans
lfe's savings to feed them. We have, in
fact, enough to give a few men little t.
sustain them, paltry five loaves and twf
fishes. but what are they among so many
Ability says, We cannot feed them. Christ
says Arrange them in groups; make ready
What. then, are the limits OF endeayor'
One limit is certainly Gods command
The Lord commands and the host proceeds
aud the deed is done. The Bb.e TEEN,
with commands Are they becoming use
lessy Has the Bible vet become an obso
lete text booky Does it need revision
Some commands appear out dated; som,
foolish; some difficult to obey. Yet wha
He commands He win give strength to per
form, ssnd the word of Cana is the wore
to-day. Whatsoever He saith unto YOU
do it.
Bat there is another limit, which il still
farthet to the horizon of life. the limit o
Gods promises. Gods promises are IL
Him yea aud amen. Some one has said tina
Gods promises are the Lords branches
hanging over the water. that our Lord
silly, half-drowned children may take
grip OF them. Rather are they glimpses o
the mountain top. inspiring the traveller 4
mount the heights that he may see thu
heavenly realms beyond. Yet all OF God
promises have expressed or implied condi
hons Something must be done by us u
regard to His commands. Does He say. -
will give thee q crown OF life!" lie ais.
saws, -''lf thou art faithful unto death.