The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-10-12

Ill., 8~l1s sstfa
 October 13, 1907.
 ISRAEL ENTERS THE LAND OF
 PROMISE.
 England behind her bulwark of the sea, could not be more complacent than the Canaanites, so long as their na. tural barrier stood between them and the Hebrew hosts. This river. aptly called the Descender, was running pression 200 feet deep. Jeremiah af- terward took this torrent as a last test of fortitude. saying What wilt thou do in the swelling of JordanT'
 True. Joshua's spies had reported the widespread trepidation among the Canaanites. aptly expressed by Rahab in the words. Our hearts did melt" but when they saw these mighty le- gions going into camp where the river ference was that they intended to tar " there until the flood subsided. So they anticipated considerable post ponement of the invasion.
 What must have been the conster- nation of the native scouts and out posts as. from acacia jungle or rocky watchtower, they saw their enemies breaking camp. The tent stakes are drawn the goodly curtains of the
 
 the tribes assume their relative march ing positions. But they face not to the north, as if they intended to make the circuit of the headwaters of the river; nor to the south, as if their purpose was to march to the Dead Sea they front squarely toward Jordan itself.
 And now people sehooled to mar vels witness one of the most stupen- dous miracles of their whole history. A finishing stroke Is given to the small courage remaining fin the heart of their enemy.
 The ark of the presence and cove nant of God. not wrapped in it's cur tains, as usual but uncovered, and It's golden surface glittering in the sun iight--not carried by common Levites as was wont, but the holier hands of priests--is borne, not in the center of the hosts, < as ordinarily but a thousand yards in advance, and so In fullest view ef every eye Under the spreading wings of the cheruetm. with their golden feathers. Gods people are as safe from flood and foe alike. He covers them that day with his featn- CTS, and under his wings they trust. :.
 When the sacred. sandaied rect oI palladium of Israel dipped into that brimming. foaming. impossible tor rent. the floods stood still in the pres- ence of their Maker. Jordan between Israel and the Camaanites availed the latter nothing. But the ark between Israel and Jordan was the safeguard of the former. The fiooda of great waters could not come niglB
 A river with an average fall Of sixty faet fo the mile surpassed in this re- spect by only one other river in the world, would quickly empty it's chan mel. There was left a bed Of sann. mixed with gravel-hard, clean, ano cornparatiyely dry, and stretching southward as far as the eye could reach.
 On that snowy, sparkling beach stood the chosen priests, firm-footed, hoioins aloft the giittering ark against the wall of water towering above them. Goodiy, inspiring, significant sight.
 And now that never-to-be-f e-forgotten march through Gods yiaduct began. Triba after tribe--the Lion-tribe Judah in the van--women and children. fIocks and herds. and all the impedi- menta of the camp, same safely to the goodly land. whose possession the son of Abraham had anticipated TUT houT hundred years.
 Moses' and Miriam's voices were hushed in death: but their psalms. sung on the hither side of the Red sea, lived in the peoples memory. If there was no inspired psalmist to celebrate with a new song the dividing of Jor- dan they could at least adapt the old plan to this new occasion:
 | will sink unto the Lord.
 The Lord is my strength and song, And he is become my salvation. Thou, in thy mercy, hast led forth The people Thou hast redeemed. Thou hast guided them in Thy strength Unto Thy holy habitation.
 The people shall hear and be afraid. Sorrow shall take hold on the inhabi-
 tants
 Of Palestina.
 All the inhabitants of Canaan shall
 melt away;
 Fear and dread fall upon them. By the greatness of thine arm they are
 still as stone.