Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-03-17

tnelr VOUdTleS. AuOlHGluS SCOueS, lHetSS-
es, etc, is used in idolatrous countries
to the present day, and the whole is gen.
orally smeared over with oil.-C.--
Every one has heard of the pillars or
obelisks of Egypt and Nubia. We learn
from Eusebius and other authors, that it
was very common in early times to rear
pillars of stone, to anoint them with oil
and then perform religious rites around
or over them. To these pillars the
Greeks gave the name of "Bartulia, an
evident derivative from 'Bethel," the
place of their origin.-Bh.
9.-Bethel-"The house of God,
(Hos. xii, A. and it will not appear a
thing forced or unnatural to call a stone
house, when one considers the common
practice in warm countries of setting IN
the open air by or on stone, as are
those of this place, abroad sheets of bare
rock, some of them standing like the
cromlechs of druidical monuments.
(Stanley.)-J. T. Bile calls the
name of the place Bethel, the house of
God. This is not the first time it re-
ceived the name. Abraham also wor-
SHIPPED God here, and met with the name
already existing. = My.-Abraham
had built an altar in the neighborhood
IA, s, Is, ~ and it is possible that
the spot thus sanctifed may have been
the very place which Jacob lighted on,
Is, I'D and which he found to be the
house of God and the Gate of heaven
S. C.-The city in the immediate
neighborhood was, at the time, called
Luz. The descendants of the patriarchs
transferred the name of Bethel to that
city. The Canaanites, not caring for
this continued to call it Luz, which was
retained till Joshua occupied the land.
Bethel, the holy place, is distinguished
from Luz, the city.-Kz.
90 Vowed.- The first holy votary
that ever we read of, whence Jacob is
also called the father of VOWS, which out
Of this text may be thus described A
VOW is nothing else but religious prom
Use made to God in prayer, and ground
ed upon the promise of God.-Tr.-
If.-He speaks like one who is firmly
persuaded that if God be with us and
keep us, the mere necessaries of life will
make us happy. He seeks not high
things for himself He asks not for
wealth or equipage, for rank or renown.
-Bh.-Let ''if'' be changed into
''since," and the language will appear
proper expression of Jacobs faith-ar
evidence of his having truly embraced
the promise How edifying often tt
mediate on Jacob at Bethel j. F. B
22.-IHis Stone.-It is not amiss, IL
making these holy VOWS, to take some
friend to witness, that, in case we be no
careful to fulfill them, they may minc
us, and admonish us of our duty in tina
behalf. FIR Tile tenth Mato thee
The number ten expresses the idea o
; perfection, as being the last of the car
dinal numbers. Among almost all an
cient people the tenth of their goods wa
set apart, and very frequently as holy
offering. This was an acknowledgment
that the whole was Gods property, ant
thus the possession and enjoyment Of tn
rest was sanctifed. How worth
less and wicked must that man be who i
continually receiving good from tn
Lords hands without restoring any par
for the support of true religion, and 70
f charitable purposes! To such God says
Their table shall become a snare to then
and that he will curse their blessings
God expects return of gratitude in thi
way from every man he that has muc
} should give plenteously; he that ha
, little should do his diligence to give G
that little.-C.-In chap. IA, 20 W
have an instance of Abraham givin
! tithes to Melchizidek. Here we hav
| another proof that the duty of giving
tenth to God was recognized before tn
giving of the laws. C.-The hous
of God shall not be unfinished, nor hi
b altar without sacrifice. 'Qf all thu
: thou shalt give me | will surely give tn
: tenth unto thee" to be spent either upo
d Gods affairs, or upon his poor, both {
= which are his receivers in this worlC
:, Probably it was according to some GEL
e eral instruction received from heave
}, that Abraham and Jacob offered tt
l. tenth in proportion of their achievement
n to GOd- Note, lSt, God must be hOl
:" ored with our estates, and must have h
dues out of them. When we recei,
W more than ordinary mercy from God. v
It should study to give some signal insta1
n ces of gratitude to him. I'd, The TEN
If is very fit proportion to be devoted
n God, and employed for him; though,
&c circumstances vary it may be more
= less, as God prospers us. 2 Chron. 8,
ot -Hen.-It seems very probable tn
e. Jacob intended to lay an obligation upC
his posterity to reserve tenth of Il
e. fruits of their labor for the maintenan
!, of religious institutions.-Bh.
e. Two MEN.-Said the late DIR. Mel
u cd: 1.-The man | call sectarian is t