r
"ANGELS' VISIT"
Sunday Discourse By Dr. Chapman, (he
Noted Pastor Evangelist.
A Beautiful Lesson Drawn From the Ptalta
Written la Memory of the Wilderness
WonderlnfS Angela Guardians.
New Yonrc Citt. The following beau
tiful and uplifting sermon is by the Hev.
Dr. J. Wilbur Chapmnn, the bent known
evangelist in the country and one of the
most popular pulnit orator of New York.
It if entitled "Angels' Visit," and waa
preached from the text, "He nhall give Hia
angels charge over thee to keep thee in all
thv waya." Psalm PI: 11.
The writer of thin Psnlm la undoubtedly
Moses. We shall Appreciate its strength
and beauty all the more when we realize
th.1t it was written in the memory of the
wilderness wanderings. In these verse
we find that Moses apcaka of victory in
every sort of trial. Things hidden and
seen are to be overcome and influence!
most insidious as well as trials that are
most abundant and powerful would be as
nothing because of the fact that the Lord
is the leader of them all. and the very an
gels of heaven are their bodyguards. It ia
general Psnlm. evidently for every one,
is indicated by the words, "lie that 'dwell
til in the secret places of the most High."
Verse 1. It is a Psalm of sweetness be
muse the secret Tlace ia suggested whera
km may meet God, and not only tell Him
nir secrets, but listen to Him as Ht
pp;il;s. "for the secret of the Lord il
with them that fear Him." It ia a Psalm
il light ns indicated by the mention ol
ihadowa. foe ahadows ever accompany th
lisht and likewise a place of comfort, foi
the thought of the feathera would suggest
the building of a bird's nest, all the
thorns of which are covered with birds'
feathers, and Moses would mean in this
way as to the comfortable position of th
hild of God. It is a Psalm in which God
lubjects His faithfulness to His own, foi
n the 14th and the Kith veraca there art
t'x "I wills" mentioned.
"I will deliver him."
"I will set him on high.
"I will answer him."
"I will be with him."
"I will deliver him and honor him."
"I will satisfy him."
All these blessings as indicated by th
11th Psalm are for us if we stay in the ae
cret place of the Moat High and not with
out. To preach privileges without saying
to whom they belong ia like putting a let
ter in the post box on which no direction
has been written. Men have alwaya be
lieved in angels, and the Bible confirm
this belief. Their ministry ia quite dis
tinct from that of the Holy Spirit of God
and yet quite as real. They are not to be
confused with our beloved dead, for oui
loved ones are higher than they. In speak
ing of .Tesua the writer to the Hebrews,
ays, "Who being the brightness of Hit
glory, and the epren image of His per
son, and upholding all things by the word
of His power, when He bad by Himself
purged our sins, sat down on the right
hand of the Majesty on high; being made
o much better than the angels, as He
hath by inheritance obtained a more ex
cellent, name than they." Hebrews 1: 3-4.
And thnt we are to have tho same as
Christ has received is indicated in the
prayer of Jesus, "Father. I will that they
also whom Thou hast given Me be with
Me where I am: that they may behold
My glory, which Thou hast given Me, for
Thou lov-edst Me before tho foundation of
the world." John 17: 24.
The Holy Spirit in all dispensations haa
been the interpreter of the word of God,
but angels have had a more material work
to perform.
When Joshua was in trouble an an
gel aopeared unto him as the captain
of the hosts: when Peter was in pri
son an angel threw back the bolt of the
prison door and talked with him. The
best illustration of the ministry of the
two is in the life of our Lord. He wo
led by the Spirit, taught by the Spirit,
filled with the Spirit, hut was fed by an
gels, defended by ungels, strengthened by
angels. The law won spoken bv angels, so
the word of God declares, "Who have re
ceived the law by the disposition of an
gels, and havo not kept it." Acta 7: IB.
"For if tho word apoken by angels win
eteadfnat, and every transgression and dis
obedience received a just recompense of
reword." Hebrews 2: 2. While the) Goi--pel
was spoken by the Spirit, "Forsmch
as ye are manifestly declared to be the
epistle of Christ ministered bv us, written
not with ink, but with the Spirit of the
living God: not in tables of stone, but in
fleshy tables of the heart." 2d Corin
thians 3: 3.
Aneeb; are actual beings. They ate with
Abraham, they took Lot by the hand, they
refused to be worshiped and they accept
ed hospitality. They are a company rather
than a race; they do not marrv, neither
do they die; thev are of two orders, good
and evil, but they were not alwavs so.
Once they were all holy; then aome sinned
and kept not their first estate. Tho oth
ers are distinguished from this company in
the fact that they are called the elect-angels.
The employment of angela ia two
fold, heavenly and earthly.
First, they minister as priests in the
temple in the city of God. Isaiah beheld
such n vision, Isaiah 6: 1-8. "In the vear
tint King Uzziah died I saw also the Lord
sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up,
and His train tilled the temple. Above it
stood the seraphim; each one had six
wings; with twain he cevered his face, and
with twain he covered hia feet, and with
twain he did flv. And one cried unto an
other, and said, Holy, holy, holy is the
l-ord of hosts; the whole earth is full of
Hit glory. And the nosts of the door
moved, at the voice of him that cried, and
fie house whs filled with smoke. Then
anid I, Woo ia mo! for I am undone; be
cause I am a man of unclean lips, and I
""ell in the midst of a people of unclean
''; for mine eyea have seen the King,
the Lv.d of. hosts. Then flew one of the
seraphim unto me, having a live coal in
Jii hand, which he had taken with the
tong from oft the altar; and he laid it
"Pin my month, and said, Lo, this hath
touched thy lips, nnd thine iniquity ia
token away, and thy sin purged. Also I
i il r voic ' tne Lo "oy'nft. Whom
shall I send nnd who will go for ua!
then said I, Hera am I; send me."
lhry aie interested in creation. In the
very beginning they have their part in the
anthem if praise. Job 38: 7. ''When the
morning stara aing together and ell tin
?in!if P"'1 elicited for joy?" While in
ail that has to do with the control of na
ia'J i10? ro n-1 ctiye agencv. Psalm
103 : 20, "Hie, tho Lord, yo Hia angela,
that excel in strength, that do Hi. com
mandments, hearkening unto the voice ol
His word." Their office is seven fold.
';,(:' they guide When Philip was at
a i n maria they sent him into the
Acta 8 : 28-29. "And the angel ol
Lor(t epako unto Philip eaymg, Arise
ana go toward the south unto the waj
"iat goeth down from Jerusalem unto
will' llStlli" I"" he arose and
iunnAi.,ndf' bel,old' of Ethiopia, as
eunuch, of great authority under Gadace.
cfc". l V,". Ethiopians, who had th
charge of all her t.easure, and had comt
Jerusalem for to worship, waa return
ing and sitting in hia chariot read Ksaiaa,
PhilrP,het- rhon the Spirit said untc
chariot." "ear and ioin thy,elf t0 thi
he8w'a0.ni th? M? . f fed Elijah when
LorTl i " irv,n kni they ministered to out
"Then Hl? eakness. Matthew 4: 11,
angel? devil leveth hira' n tehold,
Thh-S .? nd, """'atered unto him."
in th. fc yJ,efend- When 1)l"liel
and Lnl den thcy oomfort,
and eoneerumg little children it ia said
thY. li!Td that,J- despise not one of
?,ne t-r 1 aay unto you, That
th. fu i le,r. anels 1 alwaya behold
v , " o'My Father which ia in heaven."
hi 18:.1"- That ia not the angels ol
tut c,h,ldl'en behold the face of the Father,
im,u "V61 tut guard the children be-
"iuf thSS!' " " " knW UU Wi" Cn'
P,m?U,'.'th,1 at"H ore the church.
f, "i haYe hlld thi 'n n'i when ha
aid, I'or I think that God hath set forth
in "".Pjatlea last aa it were appointed
t Ti r w Ir'"de apectacle unto
f wi .u11, a,nd to an!l nd to men." J
-onnthiau : 0.
i. ifV?' '''S,av,e charge of the dead, ai
tue JuaOi ami mmrcctiuu 0f Uzwua. uj.o
lrrifflrfacf thatar liorfr waa tn tno tome
and two angels were guarding Him.
Sixth, thcy shall accompany Christ at
Hia second coming. Prophets, evangel
ists, apostles all declare this truth.
Seventh, they shall be the executors ol
Judnment. Matthew 13: 41-42. "The Son
of Man shall send forth Hi angels, and
they shall gather out of His kindom all
thinga that offend, and them which do ini
quity and shall cast them into a furnace
of fire; there shall be wailing and gnashinf
of teeth."
It is my purpose to show something con
cerning angels visits in days that nra past
that I may make application of the truth
to the present time.
Their vwit to Abraham. Genesis 18:
1-2. "And the Lord appeared unto him ia
the plains of Mumre, and he sat in the
tent door in the heat of the day, and hi
lifted up hia eyea and looked, and lo, three
men atood by him ; and when he saw them
he ran to meet them from the tent door,
and bowed himself toward the ground."
We have here the thought of communion
of which the Christian Church ia ao much
in need in these days. It ij not ao much
eervice that is demanded now as fellow
ship with Him and waiting upon Him by
means of which, we may know Hia will. J
like to picture thia visit of angels. Abra
ham at hia tent door during the heat ol
the day, when suddenly the angels Ap
peared. There were three of them, the
anjrel of the Covenant being their leader
I stood on the very spot whore it is said,
according to tradition, the tent of Abra
ham stood and ,the place seemed holy
ground. I doubt not the tent was eve:
more beautiful to Abraham and Sarah, f3t
aa a matter of fact homes are transfigured
and lives made beautiful just in propor
tion that Christ, the Angel of the Cove
nant, fills us, and Ho still cones to us to
day, and in Hia coming Ho is tho came
yesterday, to-day and forever. He entered
the home of Zacrheus and gavo him a new
song, anil salvation came to his cntirs
household. Ho filled the heart of Peter ao
that when Paul waa converted ha came
down just to visit him that he might know
concerning his Master. Doubtless he saw
the couch where He rested, possibly the
room where He slept, and I havo no ques
tion at all but Peter and Poul journeved
together visiting the scones that wers
made sacred by His gracious presence. He
walked with the two on their way to Em
maue and illumined the Scriptures a.id
alao made their hearts burn. We may
have angels' visits in these days ia unex
pected ways.
I like the atory of the German boy whi
aat a place at the table for Christ, and
suddenly there waa a knock at the door.
When the child opened the door he found
there a peasant poorly clad; bado him
take the seat, feeling that since Jesus could
not come He had scut thia man i:i Hit
place.
Whatever may be thi diaiensational
interpretation of the 2Sth chapter of
Matthew, the 33th to the 41th vcrscj
are at least most striking in this connec
tion. "For I waa an hungered nnd ye gave
Me meat; I was thirsty and ye gam Me
drink, I waa a stranger, and ye took Me
in; naked and ye clothed Me; I was sick
and ye visited Me: 1 was in priso.i and ye
came unto Me. Then shall the righteous
answer Him saying. Lord, when saw we
Iheo an hunecrcd and fed Thee? or thirsty
and gavo Thee drink? When saw v.-a
Thee a stranger nnd tock Thee in? or
naked nnd clothed Thee? Or, when saw
We Thee sick or in prison nnd camo unto
Thee? And the King shall answer nnd
say unto them. Verily, I sa." unto you. In
ismuch ns ye have done it unto one of the
least of these. My brethren, ye havo done
it unto Me." Aa a matter of fact we
never give a cup of cold water, wo never
soy a kind word, we never lift another's
h lrdcn for the glory of Christ that vo do
uot do these things unto Him.
II.
Their visit to Lot. Genesis 1!): 1-3.
'And there came two nngels to Sodom at
even: nnd Lot aat in the gate of Sodom;
nd Lot seeing them rose up to meet them,
and he bowed himself with hia face toward
the ground; and he said. Behold, now, my
lords, turn in, I pray you, into your serv
ant's house and tarry all night, and wash
your feet, and ye shall rise up early, nnd
go on your ways. And they said, Nay,
hut we will nbide in the street all night.
And he pressed upon them greatly, and
they turned in unto him and entered into
his house, and he made them a feast, and
did bake unleavened bread, nnd they did
cat." Will you notice the difference be
tween the number of angela in tho first pic
ture and the second; three in the first, t xa
in the second.
Lot is a type of a worldly Chris
tian, a man who had a good start and
made a miserable failure. With sunh a
man the Angel of the Covenant can have
little fellowship, while for his soul he may
have a great longing. Note the steps in
Lot's downfall. He pitched his tent to
ward Sodom. They moved into Sodoin.
Then Sodom gained possession of him;
then he lost his influenco with hia owa
household, his fellow-citizens and with the
angels of heaven. He is like the man who
came into a service nftor he had been wan
dering from Christ for thirteen years.
Once he had been faithful and true,
brought face to face ngnin with Christ h
renewed his vows and then started out tc
win his children, but returned nt the close
of tho day after he had been in their beau
tiful homes to say that they had every oik
of them lapsed into infidelity, and he wai
powerless to move them. There may b
such a wanderer here who ia saying, it
there any hope. In nnswer I give you tin
picture of Jacob nnd the angels guardinj
hiin when he 4was a supplanter and a cheat.
Genesis 32: 1-2. "And Jacob went on hit
way, nnd the nngels of God met him.
And when Jacob saw them he said, This it
God's host, and he called the name of that
place Mahanaim." and of Peter concerning
whom the angels aaid as they gave tin
Master's invitation for the disciples tc
meet Him, "Ho told His disciples and
Peter."
These angeia went into Sodom and
that is the wny to work, not to ail
with folded hands in the pew and expect
the unsaved to come to us; thev hastened
Lot, for they were dead in earnest. Thf
church needs a baptism of enthusiasm
They laid hold upon the hand of Lot
Preaching is not enough; there must bf
personal contact with those who are loat.
III.
The angel of strength. Matthew 4: 11
"Then the devil leavcth him, and, behold,
angels came and ministered unto him.'
There is no reason why we should fail in
these coming daya granted the fact that
the flesh ia weak, the tempter strong, oui
appetite awful, but atill I Corinthians the
luth chapter and the 13th verse ia true,
"There hath no temptation taken you,
but auch aa ia common to man, but God ii
faithful, who will not suffer you to ht
tempted above that ye are able, but will
with the temptation also make a way to
escape that ye may be able to bear it.
In traveling through tho country yester
day a friend called my attention to ha
fact that the leaves which have been upou
the scrub oak all through the wtuter
months were now falling awoy. The
wind of the winter did not make them
fall nor the weight of the snow could not
make them break awav from the branches,
but now they were falling because the new
life of the spring in the tree is pushing
them off. This is the secret of victory
over sin with the new life within, and
while we may be hedged about with diffi
culties Satan can never put a roof over
us. There ia always a vision straight up
into the akiea. Do not look at your faith
or your feelings, but away to the promisee
of God. especially auch a one aa my text.
"He ahall give His nngels charge over thee
to keep the in all thy ways." Has He
ever failed, are the plancta overdue, do
the aeasona ever forget to come, haa He
ever failed to keep Hia word with any one,
is there any reuson why He ahould begin
with you? God ia faithful and will not
forsake ua.
IV.
The angel of comfort. Genesis 21: 14-21.
"And Abraham rose up early in the morn
ing, and took bread and a bottle of water,
and aave it unto llnifnr, putting it on her
shoulder, nnd the child, nnd sent bur away,
And ahe departed and wandered in the
wilderness of Reeraheba. And the water
was spent in the bottle. And ahe cast the
child under one of the shrubs. And ahe
went and sat down over against him a
good way off, as it were a bow shot; for
she said. Let me not see the death of the
child. And she aat over ngninst him and
lift up her voice and wept. And Ood heard
the voice of the lad; and the angel of Goi!
tilled, to llama- out of Lcivvu, and mid
nato her. What aileth thee. Hngar? fear
not; for Ood hath heard th voice of the
lad where he is, Ariso, lift up the lad. and
hold him in thine hand; for t will make
him a great nation. And Ood opened her
eves, nnd she saw a well nf water; and
she went and filled the bottle with water
and gave the lad drink. And Ood was
with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in
the wilderness nnd became an archer. And
he dwelt in the wilderness of Taran; and
his mother took him a wife out of the land
cf Egypt." This is a sad story of Ha-;ar
ard her child, but there is many a mother
whoso heart is just as heavy. It may b
because of sickness, possibly because of
trial, undoubtedly because of the sin of
some one. The 19th verse ia most striking.
The aniela showed Haiar n well of water.
Tho Bible ia a well, for all who are op
pressed, prayer ia a well for all who are
cast down, the church is auch a well,
stetip down and drink this morning and
go away refreshed.
Ths nngels in the tomb. John 20: 11-12.
"But Mary atood without nt the sepulchre
weeping; and as ahe wept ahe atooped
down, and looked into the sepulchre, and
seoth two angela in white sitting, the one
a; the head and the other nt the feet
where the body of .Teu had lain."
One of the most popular legends of Brit
tany was that relating to r.n imaginary
town called Is. which is supposed to have
been swallowed nn by tho sea nt some un
knewn time. There are several places
along the coast which are pointed out .i
tho sito of this imaginary city, nnd the
fishermen have mnnv stranfre tales to tell
of it. According tothem the tops of the
spire of the churches mnv be seen in the
hollow of the waves when the sen is
rough, while during it calm the music of
tlifir bells rin(j out the hymn appropriate
to the day.
There are many hearts to-day submerge!
by grief and despair nnd trouble no from
which there is rising a great cry. To meet
thia longing the nngels visit us.'
A Highland regiment in India a num
ber of year aio was for aomo un
known reason found to be actually
dying rapidly. Their food waa the best
and the water was perfect, but one day a
Scotch piper began to play a Scotch air
and instantly the whole command waa en
livened. They were simply homesick for
old Scotland, nnd tho most of us are home
sick for those daya when we were free
from trial, and best of all the better days
when we ahall see Christ aa He is, but alas,
between us and that fair city liea the
grave, nnd we ahudder nnd draw back,
hut I bring n word of cheer this morning
in the fact that if the Lord ahould tarrv
and wo should go into the tomb all the
wjjile we rest there angels will guard us,
for in every tomb from Christ's down to
the present time if a child of God rest
there the angela of heaven keep guard.
Our Cares.
"Casting nil your cares unvj Him."
What a vast amount of encouragement we
havo in that little word "all." Not only
the great trials and heart-breaking sorrows
that come to us but selrom, hut the little
worries, the petty vexations a id anxieties
that come to us daily as wo go nbrnt iur
duties. For, nfter nil. you nnd I know that
it is the little worries that cause us the
most trouble. Wo find them on every
hand. Thcy come upo us in every depart
ment of service. How glad, t'len, we
should be to remember that we are encour
aged by the Master to cast them nil not
some of them but all upon Him. Here,
then, is the great time-tried remedy for
tho world's worry. We hear much these
days about "don't worry clubs," but hero
ia something far better, even a gracious in
vitation from our Lord to bring every
thing that vexes us to Him. Kut having
cast our cares upon Him we should leave
them there. This is as important ns tho
casting. Many good Christian people go
through life burdened with cares that they
have tried to cast upon Him, but having
failed to leave them there are still strug
gling under the load. He has promised to
hear our burdens. How much better than
to take Him at His word, and when life's
trials, no matter how small, assail us, tike
them to Him in every truth, and having
done so, leave them there. It is only when
we get into the habit of daily, hourly inter
course with Him that we discover the true
meaning of such promises aa these. Tb.ua
only are we able to live rejoicingly no mat
ter what our condition in life may be.
Presbyterian Journal.
Salvation.
Salvation, aa a growth, is no cheap and
fleeting result. It haa dignity and endur
ance, and they who make it theirs, to any
good degree, are the men and women of
various and sterling growth, upon whom
the temple of civilization rests, with nil its
riches of use and beauty, aa on strong col
umns. Salvation, as the pufting forth of
our complex life into higher and better
growths, is a gradual achievement, and
cannot be consummated even in this sphere
of our existence. For whose nature, en
riched as it may be, has culmir ' tod in all
tho perfections of life? Tho great year oi
eternity is still a year of growth. Kver tho
way opens and the ardor rises. We may
find indilference low down, but never far
up; for ever wisdom nnd virtue nnd love
and piety know their own value, nnd find
in themselves the sufficient motive of pro
gress. Uni verbalist Leader.
Man's Fultli.
What we inherit, stricfy speaking, may
bo said to fix our trial, but not our futo,
Kvery man ia to be put to the proof aomo
how, and to a certain culent his natural
ancestry determines the mode of it: it de
pends on them, ao to sp,nl;, whether his
temptation is to be anger, intemperance,
greed, duplicity or whatever else. But it
does not depend upon tiieui what the issuo
of this trial U to be. It depends on tho
man himself, and above all iia faith in
God. Professor James Dennry.
Quakers on Intmterniic.
The Western yearly meet-ng of Friend in
session at Pluinfieid, Ind., adopted nil
amendment to the church discipline in
which it recommends to the subordinate
meetings that thcy do not appoint to any
official position L the cliurch any member
who is a meu-.b? of any secret organiza
tion, or who habitually uses or soils to
bacco or iatoxica'.lne liquor as a beverage.
FLOWERS OF FISH SCALES.
Novel Art Turned to Good Account
by an Adroit New York Woman.
There la a woman In New York whr
keeps a shop not far from the Wal
dorf-Astorla where aha pursues th
novel Industry of making fish scale
flowers -and leaves. The denizens ol
tho oceans In the tropics are notable
for the color and brilliancy of theli
scales and tins, the range ot cbro
matlc tints Including pink, rose, Bear
let, sky blue, ultramarine, apple green,
emerald, olive gold, orange, gray, II
lao and purple. The scales are easllj
fastened together or to wires with o
strong fish glue, which is singular!)
durable. The Industry passed to the
West Indies, where it was adopted bj
the Spaniards, and during tho Cubar
war came over to the' mainland and
found a home In Florida.
The finished flower possesses a fan
tastic beauty which is unique. Tb
shape and color ot the vegetable
world are present, but there Is a cer
tain transparency to all the tissues, i
flrmnoss to the lines and resilience
to the leaves and blossoms which arc
never found In tho floral kingdom
The New York woman Is making
quite a success of ber trade.
.; Badly 8tung by Jellyfish. . '
Mayor Adolph Lankerlne of Hobo
ken, N. J., who was stung by a Jelly
, fish, while bathing In the Shrewsbury
river a week ago, bad to have an op
jeratlon performed on bis left foot a
few days ago. The foot has swollen
; to three times its natural size and
' tbe doctor wbo performed the opera
.tloti snld that the mayor would nut be
!able to walk for at least a fortnight
THE SABBATH SCHOOL
International Lesson Comments For
October 19.
Subject: The Fall of Jericho, Join, vl., 3, 2t
Ooldea Text: Heb. xU 30 Memory
Verse, 20 Commentary oa
the Day's Lesson.
8. "When Joshua had apoken." Whes
he had given them directions as Cod had
commanded him, as to how they shoulc
proceed to take the city of Jericho. Th
caenpe of the spies, whom Joshua had
sent to learn the condition of the city, had
aroused the king of Jericho so that he toot
extra rare to have the gates of the citj
well secured against any further intrusion
from the Israelites. "The seven trumpets."
These instruments were probably made ol
horn, and were the same ns used on thi
jubilee, "ltcfore the Lord." Hefore th
ark, called the ark of the covenant, for il
contained the tablea on which the cove
nant was inscribed. "Mew." Instead ol
the dreadful trumpet of war, they sounded
the trumpet of joy, as already conqueror
acting faith in the promise of God. "Th
ark followed them." This was a sym
bol of God's presence, and showed that nil
the victories of Israel were from Him. H)
tnis token the faith and patience of tin
people were increased. The priests went
ahead that they might give the notice ol
their coming, nnd lead the way for thf
great company which followed.
0. "The armed men went before." Th
soldiers took the lend to clear the way ol
obstructions. "The rearward." The whol
company of Israel followed in the line ol
march. The order of tho procession seenn
to have been, 1. The soldiers. 2. The seven
prienta, blowing continually on lurge horna
3. The ark. 4. The main body of Israel.
The procession probably kept at a aafs
distance from the walls, so that no weap
ons or missiles could reach them.
10. "Ye shall not shout." xno procession
waa made in deep and solemn silence, ex
actly oa Joshua directed, without acclama
tion or noise of any kind. It seems a
strange manner for battle. No mount wai
raised, to sword drawn, no engine planted,
no pioneers undermining. It waa by strik
ing terror to their feelinga that Jericho wai
to be taken and subdued. There were
armed men in this approaching army, but
no stroke given. They must walk and not
tight. No doubt the people were astonished
at first eight, but whan they failed to re
ceive any hurt at first, they most likely
made fun of the spectacle. "Until the day
I bid you." Their victory would come by
perfect obedience to every command.
12. "Rose early." To begin the march.
They begun early because thcy were intent
on gaining tho victory. Kvery day was
equally important that the victory might
be obtained.
14. "So they did six days." Though
lately come into (,'anaan, and their time
very precious, yet they must linger so many
days about Jericho, seeming not to make
any progrcs.
15. "On the seventh day." The repeated
use of the number seven must not pass un
noticed. "Seven priests," "seven trum
pets," "seven days'' and "seven times on
the seventh day." Seven denotes perfco
tion. God's ways and works are all per
fect. One of tliese seven days must have
been a sabbath day. The Jews say it was
the last, on which the city was taken: and
as they were doing the work of God, for
Ilia glory, no objection arises against it
from tho fourth commandment, uuy more
than against the man carrying his bed on
the sabbath day in honor of Christ who
had healed him. If this be an illustration
of the way to apend our sabbaths, then
arc we not instructed to do on that day
seven timea as much service for the Lord
as on other daya? "They rose early."
Here not only Joshua rises early, aa in v.
12, but also the whole army, because a
great day'e work was before them. Karly
risers gain many victories that otherwise
would have been lost.
10. "When the priests blew." At the
exact time when God declared victory.
They kept in tune with God. Their ex
pectations were ao great, their faith so
firm, their ear so well tuned, that their
voices were at once raiacd to sound the
note of triumph when God aaid shout.
".Shout." They were to ahout by faith as
though the victory were already gained.
Thia they did and the walls fell only after
they had declared it aloud. There ia much
in the shouts of God's saints. 1. It strikes
terror to the hearta of their enemies. 2. It
insnirea courage in tho weak and faltering.
Gideon went forth to victory with a shout.
It ia aaid that the aoldiera of Oliver Crom
well camo to feel that there waa no defeat
for them, and they rushed into battle with
a ahout that caused the enemy to rice ter
ror stricRcn. M Jesus gavo His followers a
license to shout Ilia praises. Luke 10: 40.
Shouting saints seldom become discouraged.
But of course there is no virtue in the
noise; God looks at the heart and if that
ia pure we are accepted bv Him.
17. "The city shall be devoted to tho
Lord fit. V.)." The word from which the
word accursed," or "devoted," comes de
notes "to cut off, to devote, to withdraw
from common uo nnd consecrate to God."
This was the first victory in Canaan. It
was Israel's first fruits, and as such must
be devoted to tho Lord. The Canaanites
were alain because of their great wicked
ness. They had become corrupt and their
punishment was just. In the last day all
the wicked of the earth will full beneath
the anathema of tho Judge.
18. "Keep yourselves," etc. See R. V.
"It would be sacrilege to dedicate the
whole to Jehovah and then to take posses
sion of a part for their own use."
"Make the camp accursed" (H. V.). If
any one should take for personal use that
Which had been dedicated to God, it wouM
be the means of bringing a curse upon
them, and the camp would be troubled
and distressed because of it.
1U. "The silver," etc. Everything ot
value waa to be aet apart for the service
of the tabernacle, and counted amoug the
sacred thinga. God would be honored by
enriching His dwelling place. His cause is
built up by the destruction of the enemy's
strongholds. This would teach tho Israel
ites not to sot their hearta on worldly
wealth, and would show the nations around
that thev were not a aet of marauders,
seeking lor plunder. There was also spe
cial danger at this point lest Israel should
become contaminated by these heathen
nations.
20. "Fell down flat." Several commenta
tors, both Jews and Christiana, have sup
posed that the ground under the founda
tion of the walls opened, and that the
walla sunk into the chasm, so that there
remained nothing but plain ground for the
Israelites to walk over. Probably thi
wall fell down from its foundations in
every part. This miracle put into th
hands of Joshua the strongest city in
Canaan. It also gave both Israel and
Canaan overwhelming proof of the omni
potence of Jehovah and of His alliance
with Joshua.
An Intelligent Gander.
I A writer In "Our Fourfooted
Friends" relates the following story
it an Intelligent gander;
i "One morning lie came up alone.
: He evidently bad something on his
mind; he was troubled. He bowed
three times (be was ever polite) and
said something I could not understand
and then walked back along the path
to the corral. Finding I did not fol
low, he returned and bowed again
and said something. Then be walked
down .the path again, and It occurred
to me that he wanted me to follow,
.'which I proceeded to do, evidently to
bis great satisfaction. He led roe
down to the irrigation ditch, where
I beheld the wbolo flock seated In a
circle round bis favorite gooae, whose
. leg was caught In a steel trap set to
catch foxes. They appeared to be en
couraglug her with consolatory re
marks, and my appearance was greet
,ed with wild shrieks ot delight. I
.reelased her and received the thanks
;of all, with an eBpoclal speech from
, him. The goose was not hurt and hei
: mate noted his satisfaction with many
curea8e.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR TOPICS.
October 19 -Slf-Mstery." I Cer. ,'x. 2$
Cal v. 16 26. Temperance Meetinx.
8crlptur Verses. Prov. xxlll. 2;
Jer. xxxv. Luke xlv. 33; Rom. vl. 12,
13; rill. 13; xlv. 20, 21; xv. 1; Titus
11. 11, 12; Heb. xl. 24, 23; 1 Petor 11,
11, 12; Matt. xvl. 24.
Lesson Thoughts.
Every castaway .casts himself away.
Soul and body cannot both be in
the mastery. The only way to keep
the soul on top Is to keep the body
under.
Struggling, "buffeting," Is one
way to grow strong, and the strong
est passions, if courageously resisted,
make the strongest men.
Selections.
Once tho demonB enters,
Stands within the door.
Peace nnd hopo and gladness
Dwell there nevermore.
Some day the cry goes up, "A man
lost!" Where did he go down? Neith
er here nor there. He throw himself
away by piecemeal. He did not be
come a castaway In a minute. Look
out for the small bits of manhood, and
the man will take care of himself.
Downfall cannot be escaped, nor
can rescue be gained, by human
strength, whether one's own or
others'. There Is only one hand that
can keep men from falling or ralso
the fallen.
Railroad and insurance companies
say that young men who drink are
weighted In the race for employment.
Latest scientific authorities Bay that
alcohol Is not a food, but a poison, al
ways Injurious to tho healthy body.
"Keep the soul on top," was the boy's
version of "Keep the body under." "I
buffet my body." not to malm it, but
to make It serve tho soul.
Self-control reaches las highest dis
cipline In the absolute giving away
of the whole life to the care and ser
vice of God.
Suggested Hymns.
Take time to be holy.
Sin no more, thy soul la Tree.
I belong to Jesus.'
Turn thee, O lost one.
Empty me of self, dear Savior.
Come home! Come home!
EPWORTH LEAGUE MEETING TOPICS.
October 19 Self-Mastery I Cor. 9. 25; OaU
S. 16-24.
The two passages selected for our
study Inculcate the temperance ot
self-control in all things, and the con
flict of the flesh and the spirit. In
Galatlans Paul contrasts the two re
sults of living to the flesh and to the
spirit. True temperance includes
more than abstinence from strong
drink; it takes in the complete regu
lation and control of every faculty of
our nature, physical, mental, and
moral. The temperance man Is tho
self-mastered man.
Self-control means th direction ot
all the forces of our nature by the
judgment and the will. It Implies
also not only restraint, but the power
to bring Into active use the undevelop
ed forces ot our nature. This power
Is absolutely necessary for high effi
ciency In secular life as well aa the
religious development.
While we are ordered not to think
more highly of ourselves than wa
ought to think, we are at the same
time urged to think soberly, that is,
Justly and rightly. One will never
practice self-control until ho first
recognizes the dignity of his man
hood. The sacredness of life must be
felt. Tho worth of a soul must be
seen. He who cultivates a healthy
Belf-respect lays the foundation for
self-mastery. The human will Is po
tent, but not omnipotent. The best
of men will fall who trust to tholr own
will alone. The grace of God and the
help of Christ will be given to all who
ask. By these helps we may find the
mastery of self, the subordination and
subjection of every faculty and power
of the soul to worthy uses. Without
them we may fall. In these daya of
stress and trial how we need, la
Church and State, this manly Chrln
tlan trait ot true temperance, self
control. The self-mastered will not be sin
mastered. True temperance Includes
all habits and life. Personal absti
nence from intoxicants is one Im
portant factor in self-mastery. A
bridled tongue can only be secured by
a controlled Imagination and fancy.
The most effective prohibition Is per
sonal prohibition executed by my will.
The Christian must have himself per
fectly In hand; there must be noth
ing that he cannot say 'No' to, if
necessary. By self-control all the
higher powers of our nature are en
nobled, and all the lower held in sub
jection. The conscience becomes su
preme and Its dlstates are unquestion
ably obeyed. This Is the one determ
ining quality on which success or fail
ure In life depends. This pre-eminently
fits one for great emergencies.
He who has it not surrenders. He
who has It seizes the scepter and wins
the crown of victory."
Circulate the temperance pledge In
the League. Co-operate with the tem
perance committee of your Quarterly
Conference. Collate twenty Bible
warnings against intemperance. Urge
all present to Beek the help of Christ
for self-mastery.
RAM'S HORN BLASTS
HE force of tne
church Is In facts
and faith and net
in forms.
twl$lr sweeter than pois
oned honey.
Faith is time's
bridge between
man and God.
reA'lN A E ffeveecent
RSiV5'Sa5 Preaching can pro-
VV duce but effeive
M cent practice.
When sin becomes essential the
Savior becomes superfluous.
The noise made by some churches Is
but rattling ot dead bones.
There Is suffering without sin; but
there Is no sin without suffering.
Men may do their worst, It matters
not If you hare chosen tbe beat
Grief Is God's way of providing as
with the oil ot comfort for others.
A mean man may become a master
ot men but never a master-man.
To bo conformed to the truth is bet
ter oven than o be informed on lu
It Is no use getting up the stam of
real so long as you are choked ui with
the rust ot prejudice.
The devil Incites us to fight for the
ornaments of the church whllo he
steals the whole building.
It is not the service but Its spirit
that makes It sacred.
The day-book cr time determines tho
ledger of eternity.
THE GREAT DESTROYER
SOME STARTLINC FACTS ABOUT
THE VICE OF INTEMPERANCE.
This Coantrv Nede s Great TmprsnM
Revival The Man Who Drlnas antt
Has Been Perilous to Others Baa No
Riant ts Touch Ram.
The horrible brutality of Michael Leddy,
of Brooklyn, has sent a ahudder through
every community where accounts of his
deeds have been rend. After forcing his
hungry little girl to swallow a tiimberful
of wlnakv this mnd beast fell upon his wife
nnd kicked nut her remaining eye, the
sight of the other having been destroyed in
the same way two years ago.
Of course Leddy was drunk. Men who
do these arts of wanton and ferocious cru
elty are always drunk. Kven men who
when sober prove kind to their families are
often transformed bv drink into murder
ous demons. When they recover from their
madness and learn what thev have done
they cry out in amazement, shame nnd re
morse. Yet they are aware beforehand
that drink will turn them into maniac.
And their crimes committed, they' will, if
left nt large, generallv drink agnin. It is
voluntary lunacy. Therefore thcy are
rightly hold responsible by the law tor
what they do.
No man who drinks and haa ever been
drunk enough to he perilous to others has
nny right to drink at all. Short of being a
total abstainer, he ia a dangerous animal,
nnd knows it.
No wonder that those who give speri"!
nttentiftn to the effects of the drink habit
cry out against it passionately. It rav
ages are to be seen in all grades of life.
Women as well ns men are its victims. It
robs countless homes of happiness. It dc
pri.es children of their rightful ioys and
clients them of their chance in life. No
man whose childhood waa spent in a drun
ken home, no matter how long he may live,
can ever shake off the memory of the black
misery of those years that should have
been his brightest.
Drink is the master curse of this countrv.
aa of every other in Chiitendom. tt
spreada physicnl disease, mental incanaclty
and moral blight. It degrades the homes
of the rich and sends equalor, want and
bestiality into the homes of the poor. It
rota out the manhood of men and the wom
anhood of women.
Every intelligent agency exerting itself
to lessen the drink evil deserves the sym
pathy and encouragement of nil who wish
well tn their kind. It is easy to be critical
of zeal, but too much zeal ia incomparably
nobler than too little.
This country needs a great tempernnce
revival the old-time mass-meetings, tho
old-time enthusiasm, the ponnlar pledge
signing and a revivification of the societies
devoted to total nbatinence and ardent
missionary work for members. And the
churchea of the land could lead in no cause
more worthy of their religious energies.
New York American.
The Oreat Temptation.
On one occasion some years ago General
Phil Sheridan, known in war time as
"Fighting Phil," was standing with anoth
er general, an old friend, on the steps of a
big house in Washington, watching his
four bright children get into a cart and
drive down the street.
As the children drove along, aoon diwip
pearing from sight, and throwing "good-bye
kisses' to their papa, Sheridan's friend
naked: "Phil, how do you manage your litr
tie army of four"
"Dorl't manage; they nre michiivous
soldiers, but what good comrades! All the
food there is in me they bring out. ThejV
ittle mother is a wonderful woman, nnl
worth a regiment of olhcera, John. I of
ten think whnt pitfalls are in waiting for
my small, brave soldiers all through life. I
wish I could always help them over."
"Phil, if you could choose for your little
aon from all temptations which will beset
him the one most to be feared, what would
it be?"
General Sheridan leaned hia bend against
the doorway, and aaid, soberly: "It would
be the curse of strong drink. Boys are not
saint. We are nil self-willed, may be full
of courage nnd thrift and push and kind
ness and charity, but woe to the man or
boy who becomea a slave of liquor. Oh, I
had rather see my little son die to-day than
to see him carried in to his mother drunk!
One of my brave soldier boys on the Held
aaid to me just before a battle, when he
gave me his message to his mother, if he
ahould be killed, "Tell her I have kept my
promise to her. Not one 'drink' have I
ever tasted.' The boy was killed. I car
ried the message with my own lips to the
mother. She said: 'General, that ia more
glory for my boy than if he had taken a
city.' "
Villainy of the Saloon.
The average saloon ought to be con
demned. It is generally on a prominent
street, and it is usuully run by a sport who
cares only for the almighty dollar. From
this resort the drunken man starts reeling
to his home; at this resort the local fights
nre indulged in. It is a stench in the nos
trila of society and a disgrace to the wine
nml spirit trade. How, then, shnll we de
fend tho average saloon? We answer,
Don't defend it, but condemn it. We must
stand abreast of the most advanced public
sentiment; we must oppose prohibition,
but favor only a decent trade; we must of
fer society a substitute for the average sa
loon; we must auk society to join with us
in securing model license laws; we must
demand character qualifications and get
men in the retail liquor business who will
conduct their places as drug stores, for in
stance, are conducted. We muat help to
clean the Augean stables; we must lift the
business out of the rut into which it haa
run for so long a time; we must prove that
we are the friends of law, order, decency,
temperance. Bonfort's Wine and Spirit
Circular.
Most Pernicious Doctrine.
Tlie silliest and most pernicious doctrine
that waa ever proclaimed in the ears of
sensible men ia thai because the whiakv
aeUer ia eaaentially a law breaker, and will
not obey the statutes enacted by society
for ita own protection, therefore the pro
per thing to do is to compromise with him,
to kneel before him, to let him have his
wav in part, begging him, meantime, to be
at least moderate decent. Why not make
similar terme with thieves and murderers!
The thing to do with all who trample law
under foot ia to throttle them, to scourge
them, to make life eo hard and bitter for
them that they will cease to do evil and
learn to do well. Naahville Christian Ad-
vwuie. , ,
Fruit Aids Temperance.
It is claimed that in regions where much
fruit ia consumed there ia much leaa de
sire than elsewhere for alcoholic stimu
lanta. The Crosade In Brief.
The Waterloo (Iowa) Reporter save: The
temperance work in the Iowa diocese of tbe
Catholic church will be pushed strongly
henceforth.
The Pope ha admonished the priesthood
to "do their best to drive the plague of
intemperance from the fold of Christ by
asaiduoua preaching and exhoitation, and
to ehine before all aa models of absti
nence. A temperance movement looking to the
auppressiou of crime and the more etrict
enforcement of the Sunday laws haa been
inaugurated in Minnesota nnd Wisconsin
,7 th,.R"vL Ji; W- Knowlea, l'aator of
Grace Church, Duluth.
The postmaster of Boston is after drunk
en letter carriers with a eharp warning of
instant dismissal if they are detected.
Twenty -aix Indiana countiea are now ac
tively fighting saloons with the blanket
remonstrance recently held to be valid
by the Bute Supreme Court, thia remoo
atranee being that one person ha the
right to give another written authority to
aign a remonstrance against applicants' for
saloon licenc.
The Swiss Government has appropriated
a large amount of money this year for the
publication and distribution of five hooka
against the use of alcohol. These book
are scientific aa well as practical and in
dicate a mo it pleasing advance in the ef
fort to make the people acquainted with
th? Subject.
THE RELIGIOUS LIFI
READING FOR THE QUIET HOUR
WHEN THE SOUL INVITES ITSELF.
Poem: ComeTe Disconsolate God" 1
le Are Based on His Personal Char
acter He Undertake the Rf ponalbU
lt For Our Well-Belna.
Come, ye disconsolate, where'er you la
guish,
Come at the ehrine of God, ferrentljl
kneel:
Here bring your wounded heart, here tail
your anguish
Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannol
heal.
Jov of the desolate, light of the straying,
Hope when all others die, fadcleaa and
pure.
Here speaks the comforter, in God' name)
saying.
"Earth has no sorrow that heaven can
not cure." j
Go. ask the infidel, what boon he brings ml,
What charm for achil.g hearts be can re
veal.
Sweet as that heavenly promise hope sing
to u
"Earth hn no sorrow that God cannot
henl."
The Creator' Care,
"I have made and I will bear." Isaiah
4(1: 4. God's promises depend on mm
thing more promising than our perform
ances ; they are based on His personal
rhnracter. His promises nre but the reve
lation of the everlasting principles that
govern the universe. He is the author of
the principle that rules in natural nnd in
human lnw that the creation of a thing im
volves the duty to care for it. If Ood aoi
knowledges the responsibility for our being
Ho also undertakes the responsibility for
our well being.
We can be quite sure He has not created
u in order to destroy or to torture us. All
nature cries out against auch a thought.
Nothing is stronger in man than the mom
of responaibility for his offspring. Depend
unon it our yearning over and care foi
them is but the faintest reflection of the
same characteristic in God. If parentage;
involves protection and provision with nS
how much more perfectly does this princi
ple hold with Him! And ia there any
thing ao sweet and pleasing to the parent
as the utter reliance of the child or any
thing so honoring to God a our implicit;
trust in Him? If our hearts are moved
with pleasure by the child's dependence
cannot we hope to move God's infinitely
loving heart with a wondrous joy by the
very simple act of casting ourselves alto
gether on His care? To take up Hia prom
ises is not only our privilege, but it i Hi
good pleasure. What most blesses us most
pleases Him.
There is more than the promise of provi
dence; there is also that of preservation.
We are His workmanship nnd He will pro
tect it f -om damage, from assaults and ill.
1 he floods may rise, but He will bear tu
nbove them. He has not designed man
nnd then deserted him to the defacing of
the devil.
And, more than this, it involves perfec
tion. Cod never leaves His work half
done. hat He proposes that He per
forms. He has made us and He is stUI
making us. This imperfect, vacillating, in
fill, evil-loving and mourning heart is no
Hi finished product; this strange, weak
"'ill housed in this body frail and failing
and f.illing at Inst to decav; surely there i
something further and better beyond this!
Our hearts teach us ao to hope, and the
answer come back in the very glory of the
face of God; here is the model and pattern.
Ihis present imperfect life is but a stage
the process of God's perfecting of Ilta
workmanship. He who has put Hia hand
to this work will not ceaae until He has
fully established His likeness in it, until
the submissive clay seems to be alive with
the very spirit of the artist, until we "shall
be like Him He will bear us in His hands
through the purging of the furnace,
through the pain of all the processes that
lead to perfection.
The responsibility for all ia with the au
thor; the simple business of the created
being is to let Him work. He best remem
bers his creator who depends on Ilia cure.
ham a Horn.
Transfiguration.
There is only one way to get splendor on
any iace-froni within. And it makes little
uitierence whether the physical feature
are handsome or not, whether the cheek
are full and fair and blooming, or thin and
pale and pinched if the glory break
through from within, there is a transfigur
ation. The problem then ia to get the
beautiful thoughts, to have the sweet, ra
(liant inner life. If the angel is truly with,
in, the enawatlunga of flesh will by and by,
become transparent, so that the lovelinesi
shall shine through.
How to work out the problem is a quee
t ion-how to get in mind and heart the
beauty that will work out into the face It
u not ensy to live a heavenly life in a
world where the influences are antagonia
tic. It is much easier to conform to the
maxims, habit nnd dispositions of those
about us than to maintain a life of praver.
or Holiness, of love, in an atmosphere that
is uncongenial. People sometimes grow
weary m the struggle and say, "It is no
use. I cannot stem the tide of worldly ten
dency. I cannot keep my heart gentle and
sweet, amid the selfishness, the meanness,
the injustice, the dishonesty about me ,!
let this is just what we must do if wa
would be victorious in life.-Preabyterian
A Relf-Centered Lire. '
We as Christians must not live a selfish'
Me a Klt life True, the best care is taken
?,mlTyi ma? 'P!"""" when each faith
fully looks after I... own. But it i. not to
be troin a self view-point. That is a dispo
sition to look at everything with an eye to
ourselves and to our own "good. There i.
great weakness in this disposition. I
makes a weak character liable to fall in the
at.f tfmptat,on' JFor ,uch ""an L liK
a tree whose roota do not spread out into
the aurrounding ground. When the wind
blow ,, millt fJl n j, not ple,want6tW,
with a man who is self-centered. He m
nit.es his own interest, and claim, far
above every other'.. It i. .aid that one of
the sure signs of mental derangement is ex
cessive etogtism. Insane people magnif
jolt, .d .ee all things onlf ufAlSSTS
them-elves. So the moral state of a man
.IiVi f v:i"u" ""ranged when he eads
lv ,,1. n.0?w' ,nd then w " diligcntt
y cultivate the power f "looking also on
the live, of othcr."-Clirch Advocate. -
The Sabbath. 11.
a dfvof Sun'lay had not been ob.erred a
a day of rest during the last three centuriea
fi mi."0' tthe slighteat doubt that we
ahou d have been at thi. moment a poorer
people and lea civilized.-JIacauley.
Hemmed In With Ood.
All men are watched. The sheltering
wing, of the unsaen angela are close to
every one of us. The eve we, but in inff
mtejimal portion of wnat is around-w.
are hemmed in with Ood. Thi. great truth
we forget, but exceptional circumstance
transpire which for a moment rend the
veil and give u. to ae how public i. on?
Tli Mt-how the angela hear thi
thought of the mind.-Joaepii Parker.
Forgiven.
Never does the human aoul appear o
strong a when it foregoes revenge and
dare to forgive an injury-Chapin.
Teaches Dog to Rtad.
Lord Avesbury, better known as Sir
John Lubbock, the scientist, has beon
teaching his dog to. read. He bits
progressed so far that "Van" finds a
card with "out" priuted on it whan he
wishes to go for a walk, and picks out
other wori"i. In the same fashion.
Austrian Emperor Still Vigorous.
The Etuperor Franrla Joseph of
Austria Is 72. but Is st'll vigorous and!
takes an active lu tyres t lu all matters!
that concern bis people. j