Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-02-23
CalnnaSe
Sermon
BY Rev.
Frank De Witt Talmaee, b. D.

approaching CclcDrallOn or WuSnlnS
toms birthday. to remind the nation Of
its Indebtedness to God throughout its
history for the same care and protec-
ton that he vouchsafcd TO his people
at crisis Of their national affairs.
The text is Joshua \. II, "Sun. stand
thou still upon Gibeon. and thou,
NOON in the valley of Ajalon."
This week we celebrate once more
the national festival which appeals to
the heart Of every patriot. There Is
no date in our history that compares
with It In It's claims on our reverence.
In honorng the birthday Of the Father
Of His Country we contradict the re-
proach that republics are always TN
grateful. Never so long rs this nation
lasts will the memory OF George Wash.
ington lose its luster. The greater and
the stronger and the more influential we
become among the peoples Of the earth
the more iIlustrious will be the posi-
ton we accord TO the man whom God
raised up at the birth Of this nation
to win for us freedom and indcpend-
ence. Many great and good men have
arisen to serve us since his time-m men
renowned in war, men sagacious IN
craftsmanship, men Of patriotic fervor.
We thank God for them. but 1t Is to
that man we turn with grateful rever-
ence who, in the darkness and disaster
Of our country's fortunes. held fast his
faith and kept his brave heart undis.
mayed.
1t IL with no desire Of be!itti!ng his
achievements that we trace his power
70 accomplish them to higher source.
He never failed to acknowledge that It
was by the help Of God that he won his
victories. If Washington had not had
,,nwavering faith IN God, his courage
and fortitude would have failed under
the trials he had to endure. There
were mighty forces contending on his
side that did for him more than his
poor. ragged soldiers could accomplish.
The heavenly cohorts were fighting on
his behalf. and in stirring up enemies
Of the great power with which he was
contending reduced that enemy's ca
pacty to oppose him and enabled him
10 overcome. 1t was the providence of
God that gave him the victory, as long
centuries earlier 1t had enabled the gem
pral who commanded the feeble forces
of the Hebrews to overcome the giants
of the Canaanites. God does Interfere
in human affairs. as history proves
again and again. Washington found in
the hour of his difficulty, as Joshua
found in his campaigns, that in the
Lord OF Hosts was his supreme sup.
port.
| choose today this story Of Joshua
MS topic for our thoughts because 1t
emphasizes with oriental imagery the
great lesson Of Washington's career
Tho materialist who would exclude
God from his universe is met here in
ancient and in modern history with
the sublime truth that the divine sym
patty is on the side of righteousness
and that God is able by his infinite
power 10 give the victory to the weak
who trust in him.
Mans InsiRnincance.
One reason given for the noninter
ference of God in human affairs is thai
man is an infnitesimal. Though man as
finite cannot drop fathom line Ions
enough to sound the bottom Of God.
deep seas of mysteries, that does mo-
prove that these "divine mysteries
are not true. Because many Of the
loading scientific men Of England
doubted the practically Of George
Stephenson's invention. that did no
make the iron traces within which wa'
hnrncssed the locomotive any les
strong. Because for years and year
Cyrus Fields attempts to marry tn
old world TO the new with the weddln,
ring Of an Atlantic cable was the but
and ridicule Of thousands of unbellcv
ing tongues, that did not make the pos
sbility of sending message unde
the seas any less IN attainable fact
Because We cannot explain to the sat
1sfactlon of skeptics this miracle o
the sun standing still. shall We aban
don our faith In Gods providence
Shall we not rather remind them tina
in our own national history his inter
ference on behalf of the weak was dis
played no less conspicuously and n
less effectively?
God has omnipotent power over tn
forces Of this wOrld--the SOctRlistic, tn
atmospheric and the angelic as we
ms the astronomical-and time IN
again he has compelled them to ben
the knee for the aid Of men. In thl
sermon / am going to show you tina
though man may seem to be insight
cant, yet he Is not 80 in reality. Ma
is so important In Gods eyes that Go
is ready 10 do everything possible
his interest aud for bis salvation. Fl
has not shrunk from the sacrifice Of b
only bcgotten Son. who is yet TO b,
come King of kings ard Lord OF all.
Let us first see how God has exalte
mans throne above the stars. Let u
study from the astronomical telescoT
how man. instead of being mere mol
descript. being unthought of, an III
recognizable. a forgotten pygmy in a
unknown world. swinging out upon IL
outskirts OF the universe IL more In
portant than all material worlds M
more important than any other creatul
living this side Of the New Jerusalem
Let us enter the throne room OF Il
heavens and see how in the past, Il
mans good, the stars have wheeled I'M
line and Obeyed Gods behests. even as
torchlight procession might march pa
the reviewing stand OF king or Il pre-
tdent.
Man mere nOndescript OH the OF
skirts az the uuivpraa. II Ia Is I'm