That chest is the sign of God's presence. There is the blood on the
mercy-seat, and there are the angels of gold looking at that spot of
blood. All the time the ark stood still in the bed of the river, the
people could pass in safety. There are many Jordans for some of us to
pass, but we need not to fear if God is there. There is the Jordan of
POVERTY. It is a deep stream, and the water runs fast: yes, but if the
ark goes first, thou shalt not be overcome. Does Providence call on thee
to go down in the world? Never fear! the Ark is there. "I will never
leave thee." We are thinking now of a friend of ours, not sainted, but
saintly, who has seen great reverses of fortune, yet her life has been a
psalm. She reminds me of a robin, for, like him, her song has been
sweeter than ever in the dark days. You may have to cross the river of
PERSECUTION, but the Ark is there. When the three brave men preferred
the furnace to idolatry, they found the Son of Man in the flames waiting
for them, and so shall you.
And when it comes to the Jordan of DEATH, we shall know the Ark has gone
on before. Some of you lame ones will step it out bravely when you see
the Ark. Don't you remember, that good old "Ready to Halt" left his
crutches on the bank? It was because he could see the Ark in the bed of
the river.