Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-06-11
The Times-Dispatch Sunday
Sermon
BY J.. A. Eubank,


And Joshua said unto the people We are
| Witnesses against yourselves that We haye
| chosen you the Lord. serve Him And they
said, We witnesses. Now therefore put
| away, said he. the strange gods which are
| among you. and incline Your heart unto the
L1-crd God OF Israel. And the people said unto
! Joshua. The Lord our God Will serve and
! His voice will We obey So Joshua made "a
covenant with the people that day. and Sc,
Them statute and an ordinance in Shechcm.
Joshua NX!v. 2225.
In the above account we get a glimpse of
| one of the most remarkable assemblaEcs the
world has ever witnessed and there have
been. perhaps. but few events that have
welded more potent influence in shaping
the destiny of the human race.
Realizing that his days on earth were about
numbered Joshua. the successor OF Moses as
the prophet Of the Lord and leader of His
people. to whom entrusted the task Of
settling them in Israel. having finally con-
ouered all Canaan and made distribution of
the country by lot. assembled all the people
OF the twelve tribes of Israel together at
Shcchem and in their presence delivered his
farewell address in which he rccoun,cd the
many miracles performed by tho Lord In their
behalf in keeping His promise made TO Abra-
ham. and after enjoining upon them the duty
or faithfulness. concluded his remarkable eN-
horthtion by demanding OF them. III it seem
evil unto YOU to serve the Lord. choose YOU
this day whom yc will serve" The people
promptly responded by announcing their
them from bondage in Egypt and brought
them to their present estate in which they
arc about TO enter upon the tulnllmcnt Of
the promise. So Joshua put them record
as witnesses against themselves in the de-
libcratc choice they had made the
Lord God or Israel in solemn covenant. aud
TO further establish IL. he then and there set
them n statute and ordinance in Shcchcm.
1t is good for nations we'll as ind-
Niduas to sound their faith occasionally. Let
M Inc yal limo
be obtained on the present course Let them
bark back to the covenants OF old to see
how Ear they have deviRted from the ideals
Of the past. There is soundcr sentiment
Tor either the State or the individuals COM
posing /, than this. Il have purposed it. and
viii do it, II is In this sentiment that
covenants get their binding force and nations
as we'll as individuals that neglect to culti-
waite il arc heading toward danger
The American people. as individuals. have
habit at tic close OF the old and begin
ming OF the new year of INDUCING in self
examination and renewing the broken prom
ises OF tho PAST. There few whose
aspirations not toward better life. and
AS they look back over the wreck OF broken
resolves they feel tho humii alton that comes
OF failure. and fain would make another Of
fort. And they do. out Of this aspiration.
involving as il does renewal Of VOWS many
times broken. has come such progress we
have made toward higher civilization.
Would that we could impress upon the Ameri-
people In their collective capacity the
" isdcm OF recurring TO the covenant es;ah-
lished by the fathers OF our republic. Of study
Ing it's sacred obligations and rcsolv-
ing with al! tho strength OF purpose OF which
We arc unitedly capable TO be faithful TO
both the letter and the spirit OF It's terms.
Let us az the Israeites were enJoned by
Joshua to do, put away the strange gods
which are among and incline hearts
unto this sacred instrument. which as JET
ferson has we'll said. embraces tho principles
underlying the creed OF political faith.
tho text OF civic instruction. the tombstone
by which To try the services OF those
trust: and should wander from them in
moments OF alarm. let us hasten
TO retrace our steps, and to regain the road
which alone leads 20 peace. liberty and
safety"