Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1878-03-09
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
zntci national Sunday School Lesson
for March 10-EzexekIah's Coed
ReEgn-II. ChrOn. 80: Ill.
BY REV. E. P. RODGERS, u. ID.
From New York Observer.

From New York Observer.
Golden Text And i'm every work
that he began he did it with all bis heart
and prospered. I'll. Chron.. 3l:1
Central Truth Judgments upon
parents should warn children.
The history TO which this lesson in
vites us is in wonderful and beautiful con
trast with that which pl leceeds it. Alter
the wicked ard calamitOus reign of Ahaz
it is very comforting and refreshing to
turn TO the wise anu good and prosper
ous administration of the pious Hezekiab.
In some respects it surpassed all that
went before it. True piety was its great
feature. Zeal for the honor of God char
acterized all its history. HeZekiah was
not only good man. but he was saga-
clous. enterprising and successful ruler.
lie came to the throne at the age of
twenty five, and reigned twenty-nine
years. Ills name signifies "the strength
oi jehovah" and his molher's name, of
whicn particular mention is made, means
1.-The viii OF jehovah These two iGeas
were illustrated in his reign. He made
Jehoval's will his law. and by Jehovah's s
The first act after ascending the throne
(B. C. 40 was TO issue Il solemn prOcla
nation to the ministers of religion, on
the subject Of the purification OF the
house OF The Lord. He rehearscd the
great sins of his f,thcr, and the fearful
ildignity which had zen offered 10 the
true Cod and The dishonor which had
been put Oh his temple and worship by
those who had gone before him. He ac-
knOwledgpd Gods righteous judgments
III consequence Of these flagranI sins, and
announced his Intention to walk person.
ally, and as the sovereign of the nation
i'll covenant with the Lord.
PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS.
/. In lhe history OF Hezekiah we see
the inestimable value OF Il good mother.
His father was bad man and wick
ed king. His example and influence
must have been of The worst possible
character. lie might naturally have ex-
pected that his son would have been ike
him. And we could scarcely understand
Why there should have been such Il Won
derful difference iD The characters of the
TWO, had We rot known that HeZekiah
had good mother. The special mention
OF her nane and lineage, is evidence that
TO her training and influence Hezekiah
was indebted Tor his good character. But
for this what could have been expected
OF young man who Lad such,a wicked
father, and who was educated in th..
midst OF IA corrupt and demolalize.l court.
The problem presented in lis history
could not have been solved, had not the
sacred historian taken pains 10 tell us
a., hi ft1ar nd fc,I,.
daughter OF Il prophet OF God. This pious
mother. this good minister's daughter.
was doubtless the guardian hngel ot her
child. Her influence ia his young and
susceptible years was most benigilant.
And her lesson of piety. her ferven. pray
els. her good example, saved the Young
prince from the corruptng influences
which surrounded him in the idoiatrous
and profligate court OF his father.
No language is adequate to 10 justice
to the value of a good mother to her
la how many cases has She
been the light and the salt which has
both Illuminated and conserved the fam
lily. Even when paternal char
acter and example are what they
ought to be, Il good mother is
the choicest blessing OF the home; and
all good men delight TO honor Ter mem
Ory.
:. Religion makes man useful i'm the
state as well as i'm the church.
The history of the kings of Judah and
Israel would make Il valuable coutribu-
tion to valuable treatise on political
Invariably that history shows
that good men make successful rulers,
and that piety is principle of prosperi-
ty for the nations as we'll as individuals
The reigns of David and Solomon, Asa.
Jotham. Josiah and Hezekiah all illus
trate this principle.
HeZekiah was not merely good, piOus
man. as some people use that phrase, to
intimate that Il good man is rather a
welk man. but he WAS il sagacious. enter
prising. energetic and prosperous prince.
His administration was success. In his
case. ''the fear Of the Lord (lods) the be-
ginning of aoisdom." He understood
this fundamental principle of true polit-
ical economy, that righteousness eXalt-
eth Il nation. and sin is reproach 10 any
people," And he acted upon It. He
aimed first of all TO restore i'm his king
dom spirit of reverence for God. This
was the height of wisdom. For the com
mand "Fear Godn is in close and intimate
with that other Divine in
Junction: Honor the King" A people
who have no reverence for the heavenly
will not have much for the earthly ruler.
The men in our day who entertain the
most radical and dangerous social and
political heresies; who advocate COM
mumisn. who lead strikes, and invade
the right OF property, and are foes to
true national peace and prosperity. are
not men who tear God, and therefore
they are not good citizens.
g. Reverence for tile institutions of
religion and for the worship OF God
ought to be encouraged by our rulers
and magistrates.
This was the first thing this sagacious
and pions king did after assuming tile
reins Of government. lie took measures
to restore the worship of God, and stirred
up the ministers of religion throughout
his kingdom to greater zeal and fidelity
proved that this Was a wise and benig-
nant measure.
Let our own authorities learn a lesson
here. We are free people. But we DO
not recognize the right OF the state to
enforce religion by The civil la:v. But
we are, not nation of i"fidels. The
Christian religion is recognized practical
Iy in our legislation, and by the general
public. We haye laws for the restraint
and punishment of crime, tor the honor
of religion. for the observance OF the
Sabbath. for the suppression of drunken
ness and lawlessness and vice of various
kinds. Let these ldlUs be enforced The
"sober second thought OF the American
people demands and will sustain this.
These laws are dcfied by small army of
unprincipled men who live on the mis-
cries of their fellows. They are openly