The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1907-10-10
TIE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTS FOR OCT. f3 BY THE
REV. /. w. HENDERSON.
Subject: Israel Enters the Land Of
Promise. Josh. 3:5-15-Golden
Text, Ps. fO7:5-NIemory Verse,
17-Commentarv

AfAts tSs s-NttnOfy NtEStt
17-Commentary.
In accordance with the promise of
God. Israel enters the land of prom
Use. Under the direct and marvellous
manifestation of Gods providence
they cross the Jordan and stand
within sight of the walls of Jericho.
I Joshua's words, as given in the
fifth verse of our lesson, compel our
attention. "Sanctify yourselves, for
tomorrow the Lord will do wonders
among you" It is a call to conse-
Grafton because God is to work won
ders among them and because God
will not manifest Himself, and can
not, except they are prepared
The dedication of themselves was
followed as we see by transcendant
manifestation of the providence and
potency of God. The rite of sanctifi-
cation was fitting.
Israel was upon the threshold of
a new experience. She was about to
enter into new life. The hopes of
generations. the promises of centu-
ries were about 20 be consummated.
1t was a solemn time. The day was
momentous. History was in the maxi
ing. Joshua was aware of 1t. the
impressed by 1t. A new epoch was
about to begin. A nation was COM
ing to its own. To-day, the wilder
ness, its memories, its hardships, its
discouragements, the vision of a
promised inherltancel Tomorrow,
Jordan passed, hopes realized, prom
ises fulfilled, memories translated in
to hopes. 1t was a mighty moment.
1t was proper that they should be
peculiarly prepared. 1t was right
that they should be impressed by the
greatness of the occasion. The event
was too tremendous not to be SOL
emnized and signalized by a special
ceremony. The God who had led
them so far, so patiently, so decisive
ly, was entitled to the dedication and
the thanks of all Israel. They had
to consecrate themselves because
God was about to exalt them, because
the manifestation of Jehovah's power
was impossible without their submis-
sion entirely to His will.
So it has ever been. So will it
ever be. No man and no nation has
enjoyed the revelation of the pleni-
tude of the power of God except the
individual or national will has been
subordinated to the dictates of Di-
vinity. And no person or people will
ever experience satisfactory knowl-
edge of the inspiring providence of
God except the personal or popular
volition be subjected to the mandates
of the mind of God. Whenever and
wherever persons or peoples sanctify
themselves before God, acknowledge
ing their Indebtedness to Him, recog-
nizing their obligations under Him,
pledging their faith in undivided 10y
atty to Him, then and there God has
ever manifested Himself and done
wonders. And what time men or ma
tions in future determine to thank
God and to hail Him and to serve
Him then will Jehovah manifest Him
self nightly. Israel has proved it.
America has proved 1t. 1t Is to be
hoped that America will demonstrate
the truth again.
For along the highway of human
progress America has travelled under
the espionage of God to national
greatness We have triumphed over
difficulties and been victorious over
oppositions and gone through dis
tresses and Affections and despair.
We are now upon the border of
larger progress and of an increased
national prestige. No man of vision
can fail to discern in the signs of the
times limitless opportunities for the
development of our national re-
sources in money and men, in influ-
ence and character. The achieve
ments of America of to-day are but
slight adumbrations of the glories
that may be hers IN coming years il
she will, as she stands on the thres-
hold of nobler things, sanctify her
self in spirit and in truth.
We cannot be fit for larger useful
ness except we are right with God
and dedicated to Him. Jehovah cam
not utilize us more until we subject
ourselves to Him.
In order that we shall be ready for
service. and prepared for the further
ance of the projects of the Almighty
as they concern America we must
pay heed to the command of Joshua
to Israel as given in the ninth verse
of the lesson we are studying:
] Come hither and hear the words of
the Lord your God" For we cannot
build without plans and specifications
building that shall be durable and
beautiful. We cannot do Gods work
until we hear Gods message. To
serve efficiently we must hear the
captains orders. If we would labor
for God we must listen to God.
Much of the leadership of America
listens little to God. In the measure
that we have a leadership that is
deaf to divine directions, we are mis-
led, we are Handicapped. For pro-
gress Is only possible when we are in
harmony with the will of God. We
cannot know Gods mind except we
listen to Gods voice.
The task that God has delivered to
America, the future that He has pre-
pared for her, is too great to be ac-
complished without His inspiration,
His direction, His sustentation.
Americas future is cut after a divine
pattern. Only Divinity can effect its
realization. Only that humanity that
is surcharged with divinity will ever
enjoy the vision of it. Let us there
fore listen to the word OF the Lord
our God and with sanctifed souls go
on and up until this land shall be in
deed Gods country and the future of
our fatherland shall be secured.
Papers Room With Oyster Shells.
Among the oyster enthusiasts who
patronize a Seventh street establish
ment Is queer customer. who eats at
least three dozen raw primes day.
After satisfying his appetite the man
asks one of the walters to wrap up
the shells for him. The first few
times he did this the waiter did NOT