Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-10-12
The Goa Of tbs ola Testament.


was at one time preacher of the Cos
pei, but abandoned the pulpit and now
takes occasion frequently to give his
ideas of the scripture. His last is CIV
en- below:
I'm making many gods there is no
end and much study would puzzle the
brain. Yet this Sunday night we will
spend in short review of the Old Tes-
lament god. The word is used in the
first sentence of the book I'm the be-
ginning God created the heaven and
the earth" The word in Hebrew ia
"Elohim" and signifies the Supreme
Powers. Thts was mans first idea of
the deity: He is power, force, all that
lies behind movement. The conception
OF the deity is good in fact; it cannot
be improved upon, but the writer's did
not stop there: The book goes on tell
ing what this god did and how he did
1t. Here is where the ludicrous part of
1t comes in and makes thinking men
laugh. God creates a world, makes all
the beasts of the field, birds of the air
and fishes of the sea. Then he makes
man out of the dust of the ground. But
this all wise god forgot to make man a
helpmeet, that is, he hadn't thought of
making the female of the species until
he lhad sent man out among the cows
and pigs in search of a wife. Then the
mighty deity struck OH plan for max
ing a woman. He put the man to sleep,
cut out one of his ribs, and made a wo-
man. The happy pair was then turned
loose in beautiful garden, but about
the time they were beginning to enjoy
themselves this deity threw the pail of
death over their lives by putting tempt
alton within their reach, and then.
threatening them with death if they
they disobeyed his commands. They
disobeyed through the deceitfulness of
this deity's devil. They were turned
out into the cold world, and permitted
to multiply. Aye, they multiplied un-
der the direct command of this deity.
Gods sinners are commanded to 90 on
breeding sinners. After the world had
become filled with sinners the deity de-
termines that he will drown them all.
women, children, infants, unborn babes
all go down under the orders of this vim
dictive god. 1t is characteristic of thi,
god that he always kills the Innocent
with the guilty. He makes no distinc-
ton between the infant and the old har-
dened sinner. But this big god conclu-
ded that he would save one family. so
he puzzled his head TO know how to get
up plan of salvation. He could have
lifted old Noah and family up and put
them on star until the food was over
but he never thought Of such an easy
method. Finally he concluded to 60 in
to the boat building business. Just
| think of it The Creator of the uni
verse, the Elohim of Eternity making
plans for raft to feat family and
save two and two of all animals. The
more we read Of the story of the flood
and the ark the more we laugh. It is
richer than all the funny papers put to-
gether. But the story goes on and on
and on with the same vascillatinp. vim
dictiveness Of this god Of weakness and
"ratn. AIter years OF such silly staff,
after centuries and centuries of such
training in the school of the deity, what
Is the result? Failure on every hand
and at every turn. At last, digusted
with his work, this mighty god closes
up the Old Testament with lamentation
and tears, mixed with spiteful threat
ening.
But as soon as you turn the pages of
the New Testament you find another
kind of God. Calm and serene is the
God of the New Testament. Jesus
Christ stands out as the best example of
what God ought to be. He is cool.
calm and self-possessed. His wonders
are performed without the least ripple
OF excitement. Jesus of Nazareth ia
the Mighty God, the Everlasting Faith
er and the Prince of Peace"
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